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December 22, 2009

Green Thinking

2010's most fuel-efficient trucks

Fuel-efficient cars by body style

Choosing a new car? Weigh the impact of your choice on your wallet and on the planet. The following cars are ranked by city miles per gallon (MPG), followed by highway MPG based on the Environmental Protection Agency's Fuel Economy Guide for the 2010 model year. (For details of the testing, see the notes below.)


Rank Model MPG: city/hwy Annual fuel cost * Carbon footprint
(tons/yr of CO2)
Additional info
1 Ford Ranger 22/27 $1670 7.7 tons two-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, 2.3 liter, manual 5-speed, regular gas
2 (tie) Chevrolet Silverado 15 Hybrid 

Chevrolet Silverado 15 Hybrid 21/22 $1822 8.3 tons two-wheel drive, 8 cylinder, 6 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas
2 (tie) GMC Sierra 15 Hybrid
GMC Sierra 15 Hybrid 21/22 $2822 8.3 tons two-wheel drive, 8 cylinder, 6 liter, automatic (variable gear ratios), regular gas
4 Toyota Tacoma
Toyota Tacoma 20/26 $1822 8.3 tons two-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, 2.7 liter, manual 5-speed, regular gas
5 (tie) Suzuki Equator Suzuki Equator 19/23 $1906 8.7 tons two-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter, manual 5-speed, regular gas
5 (tie) Nissan Frontier
Nissan Frontier 19/23 $1906 8.7 tons two-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, 2.5 liter, manual 5-speed, regular gas
7 (tie) Chevrolet Colorado 
Chevrolet Colorado 18/25 $1906 8.7 tons two-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, 2.9 liter, automatic 4-speed, regular gas
7 (tie) GMC Canyon GMC Canyon 18/25 $1906 8.7 tons two-wheel drive, 4 cylinder, 2.9 liter, automatic 4-speed, regular gas
9 (tie) Ford Explorer Sport Trac 
Ford Explorer Sport Trac 15/21 $2355 10.8 tons two-wheel drive, 8 cylinder, 4.6 liter, automatic 6-speed, regular gas
9 (tie) Ford F150 Pickup
Ford F150 Pickup 15/21 $2355 10.8 tons two-wheel drive, 8 cylinder, 4.6 liter, automatic 6-speed, regular gas

Notes:

* Annual fuel cost estimates are based on the assumptions that you travel 15,000 miles per year (55 percent in the city and 45 percent on the highway). Fuel cost estimates listed here assume fuel costs $2.67 per gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, $2.91 per gallon for premium gasoline and $2.80 for diesel. Visit www.fueleconomy.gov to calculate fuel costs based on current fuel prices and your driving habits.

Each model is allowed to appear on the list only once regardless of variations in its trim, options and/or specs.

Note that the models featured on the research pages linked here may have slight variations to the models specified in this list.

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