It is 2009 and why not have a journey back and check out the Top 10 Fuel Efficient Cars in 2008. After all 2008 had been a year full of ups and downs.

With the increase of fuel prices around the world, everyone had problems with the finance and many of us were looking for ways to save more money on fuel.

If you want to get a new car this year, perhaps you would like to check out some of the hottest cars in the market that can help you save more fuel thanks to the fuel efficiency technology.

These are the top 10 cars in 2008 with their details.

1. 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid

No. 1 Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Vehicle
No. 1 Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Midsize Car

Fuel Economy
City: 48 mpg
Highway: 45 mpg

2. 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid

No. 2 Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Vehicle
No. 1 Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Compact Car

Fuel Economy
City: 40 mpg
Highway: 45 mpg

3. 2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid

No. 3 Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Vehicle

Fuel Economy
City: 35 mpg
Highway: 33 mpg

4. 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid

No. 4 (tie) Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Vehicle
No. 1 (tie) Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 SUV

Fuel Economy
City: 34 mpg
Highway: 30 mpg

5. 2008 Mazda Tribute Hybrid

No. 4 (tie) Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Vehicle
No. 1 (tie) Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 SUV

Fuel Economy
City: 34 mpg
Highway: 30 mpg

6. 2008 Mercury Mariner Hybrid

No. 4 (tie) Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Vehicle
No. 1 (tie) Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 SUV

Fuel Economy
City: 34 mpg
Highway: 30 mpg

7. 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid

No. 7 Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Vehicle

Fuel Economy
City: 33 mpg
Highway: 34 mpg

8. 2008 Toyota Yaris

No. 8 Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Vehicle
No. 1 Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Subcompact Car

Fuel Economy
City: 29 mpg
Highway: 36 mpg

9. 2008 Toyota Corolla

No. 9 Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Vehicle

Fuel Economy
City: 28 mpg
Highway: 37 mpg

10. 2008 Honda Fit

No. 10 Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Vehicle
No. 1 Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Small Station Wagon

Fuel Economy
City: 28 mpg
Highway: 34 mpg

Don’t forget to look out for the hot cars coming up in 2009!

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1. Before getting into your car, ask yourself "Is this trip necessary?"!

2. On short trips, try walking or bicycling. It’s good exercise.

3. Consider car-pooling and share the gas bill and ride.

4. Always use the shortest route and avoid sightseeing trips and bottlenecks.

5. Organize activities and perform as many errands as possible in one trip.

6. If possible, avoid driving during rush-hour & other peak traffic periods.

7. When bargain hunting, check newspaper ads and use your telephone.

8. Do they deliver? Let them pay for the gas! Try mail order firms, too.

9. Make a list and do all the grocery shopping once or twice a week.

10. Let the kids run some of the errands. Let them walk to school, too.

11. Public transportation may be cheaper, especially when traveling alone.

12. Pack as little in your car as necessary so it has less weight to carry.

13. Shop around for service stations with the lowest gasoline prices.

14. Check to see if there are "self service" gas stations in your area.

15. Don’t speed. Cars get about 21% more mileage at 55 mph then at 70 mph.

16. Better planning reduces the need for speeding, to get there in time.

17. When starting your car, don’t idle it for more than 30 seconds, even in cold weather. Today’s cars are designed to be driven almost immediately.

18. If you must stop for more than 30 seconds, don’t idle your car. The engine is more fuel efficient if your turn it off and restart it.

19. Drive evenly with a steady foot. Avoid jiggling the accelerator.

20. Keep tires properly inflated at all times. (Check pressure when cold).

21. Use air conditioning only when necessary. Try opening the window.

22. Avoid "jackrabbit" starts. When starting, press accelerator slowly.

23. Avoid panic stops. When possible, coast to stops such as traffic lights.

24. Remove items that cause wind resistance, such as luggage racks.

25. Don’t forget to release the emergency brake before pulling away.

26. Never rev engine before killing it. This wastes gas, wears out cylinders.

27. Keep tuned to radio traffic reports & avoid traffic jams, other delays.

28. Make certain your gas cap fits properly.

29. Use the lowest octane gas that won’t make your engine knock.

30. Use only your right foot for accelerating and braking. That way you can’t accidentally ride the brake and use excessive gas.

31. Shift into high gear as soon as possible. If you have automatic transmission, lift your foot from the accelerator about one second early.

32. Pass other cars as soon as you see you are overtaking them. Don’t wait.

33. Keep your car properly tuned for top fuel efficiency.

34. Keep brakes properly adjusted. Dragging brakes increases resistance.

35. Operate as small a car as possible for your driving needs. (Small cars weighing half as much as large cars use about half as much gasoline!)

36. Avoid cars with gas-consuming options such as air conditioning; power equipment such as window, etc: automatic transmission, etc.

37. In hot climates, drive a car with light colored exterior and interior, to reflect light, heat. Tinted glass also prevents heat buildup.

38. Use radial tires for less friction between tire and road.

39. When driving, keep your eyes moving and your feet still!

40. Keep your steering wheel still too. The more you weave back and forth, the farther your car has to travel and the more gas is consumed.

41. Don’t overfill your gas tank. It could leak or spill in heat or on a hill.

42. Use snow tires and/or chains as little as necessary because they make your car work harder and use more gasoline.

43. When you see a hill ahead, build up speed before you reach it, then maintain your speed on the slope. (If you must accelerate on the hill, you will use much more fuel). Then coast down the other side.

44. Keep wheels aligned for better mileage – Longer tire life, too.

45. Record all gas purchases for tax deduction purposes.

Popularity: 65% [?]

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It is not easy to fill up the gas. The price is up, so the amount of gasoline you can afford is going down. There is an average one car per family. However, most families have more than one children and so that makes about two to three cars per family.

If one car is difficult enough to maintain, why bother to have more cars? Not only fuel problem you will be facing but there is the maintenance you need to figure and not including the pollution you will be contributing to the nature.

Why not make it a one-car policy for every family? It might sounds hard to achieve but rather than not having a car, this might be a better option.

There is no need to increase the number of cars on the road because there are so many cars and one day you will be able to arrange all the cars on the road and yet there is not enough space to line up every car around the world. 

Pollution is getting worse day by day due to the emission of the gas from the cars, factories and power plants. Do we need to kill ourselves and our younger generations?

Popularity: 65% [?]

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Mahindra has launched two new series – Scorpio and Bolero with Fuel Smart System and Micro Hybrid Technology. What is so special about this system anyway?

The Mahindra FuelSmart system with Micro Hybrid technology switches off the vehicle’s engine after it has come to a complete halt. For example, if the vehicle comes to a halt at a traffic signal and is in neutral, the engine will shut down automatically after 10 seconds.

Just before stopping, the indicator light located in the instrument cluster will blink, indicating that the engine is going to stop shortly. Once the signal turns green and the driver presses the clutch pedal, the engine starts immediately for continuing the journey.

Apart from being fuel efficient, the engine is switched off during traffic signals / traffic jams so the release of a considerable amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere is avoided. This mitigates the adverse effects of global warming, thus helping to provide us with a cleaner environment to live in.

The system is also able to detect any battery problem, safety issues and even temperature of the engine. All these are to make sure your vehicle is safe for use and to inform you should there be a need for maintenance.

Popularity: 71% [?]

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DO you ever wonder how the EPA gets the fuel economy or fuel efficiency numbers for the vehicles in US? Well at least I have thought about it and here is how it is done.

Surprisingly there are two ways, one is the old way and one is the new way. The old way was used before the year 2008 whereas the new way is being used starting from 2008.

What are the differences?

EPA use a dynanometer to measure the fuel economy numbers (i.e. 24 MPG) for both old and new ways. There is no change here. 

The only difference between both ways lies in the requirements for the dynanometer. The variables are changable to meet the needs of the road such as in the city or on highway. Then, there are some new requirements for the new hybrids as well (in the new way).

The Old Way

When calculating fuel economy in the city, these are the requirements to be set on the dynanometer:

• Trip length: 11 miles
• Test time: 31 minutes
• Number of stops: 23
• Time spent idling: approx. 18%
• Maximum speed: 56 MPH
• Average speed: 20 MPH
• Engine temp at startup: Cold (75 degrees outside air temperature)

However, when calculating the fuel economy for highway, these are the requirements:

• Trip length: 10 miles
• Test time: 12.5 minutes
• Number of stops: None
• Time spent idling: None

The New Way

When calculating the fuel economy using the new way, there are some changes such as:

• Higher speeds – up to 80 MPH on the highway cycle
• Colder temperatures – tests will now start at 20 degrees Fahrenheit rather than 75
• More rapid acceleration
• Use of accessories – the air conditioner will be operated 13% of the time

With the use of new way, there are some effects as well that involves dropping city fuel economy estimates by 10% to 20%, with hybrids taking the highest percentage. Highway estimates will drop by around 5% to 15%.

Bear in mind that the new way only applies for new cars produced in 2008 and above. You will see that the hybrids are way ahead than conventional cars and perhaps it is time to switch to hybrids for a cleaner air and healthier environment.

Popularity: 67% [?]

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This is the first part of the Fuel Efficient Car Series to introduce some of the autos that can help to save fuel because of their fuel efficiency. In this part we will talk about Ford Focus, a car known to many because it is very popular among the US residents.

This is perhaps the most important information we need to know before we proceed:

EPA fuel economy 24 MPG city, 33-35 MPG highway.

Yes, it is correct. 24 MPG in the city and 33-35 MPG on highway. That is quite a high figure right so of course it will help to save some precious fuel (and money along the way).

Below is the specifications for Ford Focus:

• Body style: 2-door coupe, 4-door sedan
• Seating capacity: 5
• Trim levels: S, SE, SES
• Price range (including options): $14,695 – $21,300
• Test car model/price: Focus SES sedan, $19,210
• Base engine: 2.0 liter inline 4 cylinder, 140 hp @ 6000 RPM, 136 lb-ft @ 4250 RPM
• Optional engine: PZEV-compliant 2.0 liter inline 4 cylinder, 132 hp @ 6000 RPM, 133 lb-ft @ 4250 RPM
• Premium fuel required? No
• Transmission: 5-speed manual, 4-speed automatic
• Driveline: Front engine, front-wheel-drive
• EPA fuel economy estimates: 24 MPG city/35 MPG highway (manual), 24/33 (automatic)
• Where built: United States
• Standard safety equipment: Front airbags, front-seat-mounted side (torso) airbags, two-row side curtain airbags, tire pressure monitoring system
• Optional safety equipment: Antilock brakes, traction control
• Major standard features: Air conditioning, CD/MP3 player
• Major options: Power windows, locks and mirrors, upgraded interior trim, leather seats, alloy wheels, colored interior lighting, Sync media player and Bluetooth phone integration
• Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles bumper-to-bumper, 5 years/60,000 miles powertrain, 5 years/unlimited mileage outer body rust-through
• Roadside assistance/free maintenance: 5 years/60,000 miles roadside assistance

I would say that this car is suitable for those who are looking for an affordable car, fun to drive and a fuel efficient car. You don’t have to spend so much on maintenance for Ford Focus because it is one of the cars with the lowest maintenance cost.

Popularity: 70% [?]

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Hybrids are leading in the efficient car list of 2008. Hybrid cars such Toyota Prius is making its way up as the number one most efficient car in 2008. Toyota Prius has a surprising mileage number of 46. Other cars included in the list are:

1. Nissan Altima Hybrid 

2. Toyota Camry Hybrid

3. Two-wheel-drive Ford Escape Hybrid

The 2008 fuel economy figures for hybrids are about 20 percent lower than last year’s numbers, based on new testing procedures designed to better reflect real-world driving conditions, such as high-speed driving, use of air conditioning, and cold weather. 

There are two cars that are non hybrids that make it to the list. They are:

1. Toyota Yaris

2. Toyota Corolla

Some say that hybrid cars are often being exaggerated for having the highest mileage number. However, some diesel powered cars such as Mercedes E320 Bluetec, was rated at 23 in the city and 32 on the highway—well below the most efficient hybrids.

Therefore, hybrid cars are still on top in the list and those who want to buy a new car should consider to get a hybrid car especially the Toyota Prius. 

Popularity: 64% [?]

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Every day the researchers are working hard to find alternative fuel to replace the existing petroleum as there are less petroleum available and soon, we will have to rely on alternative fuel for cars and industrial use.

Ethanol is produced from agriculture so it is a renewable energy unlike the normal petrol. Of course, there are many more benefits that will help to save the environment as normal petrol destroys our planet faster. Below are the benefits of using ethanol as fuel.

1. Since ethanol is produced from agriculture, it is renewable unlike petroleum. 

2. Ethanol produce less pollution and reduce smog-forming emissions by almost 50%.

3.  Ethanol also produce less green house emissions.

However, there are some disadvantages using ethanol as fuel.

1. Ethanol might be more expensive than the usual gasoline due to the production and location.

2. Ethanol is only available at certain areas especially the Midwest.

3. You cannot drive as far as a gallon of normal gasoline. By using ethanol, you have lower fuel efficiency and you need to constantly refill the fuel especially when you are on a long journey.

Of course, we must applaud the researchers for spending their time researching for renewable fuel and ethanol has the potential to replace the normal gasoline. However, more research is needed and one of the researchs for ethanol involves how to improve the fuel efficiency and save more with ethanol. 

Popularity: 43% [?]

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Hybrid cars are also known as green cars. Green cars release less harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, which is why it is getting more popular among the consumers. Normal cars that run on petrol has a higher emission of carbon dioxide thus increase the carbon footprint on Earth and pollution. 

Hybrid cars have many advantages. Even though hybrid cars can be slightly more expensive other cars, the benefits are more satifying in long terms. Not only there is saving from many aspects, but the most important is that you get to save the environment. By purchasing green cars such as cars that run on electricity will reduce the carbon footprint on Earth and help to conserve the nature.

Other benefits of purchasing a hybrid car include road tax deduction and less fuel tax. These are the rules imposed in UK. For example, if you have a hybrid car that has low emission of not more than 100g/km, you don’t even have to pay road tax. If your car runs on electricity, you don’t even have to pay for fuel tax. These are the benefits of having a hybrid car in UK. 

To save more money, it is best to invest in a hybrid car so that you get to save more money in long terms and not short terms. Help to save the environment for a better future. 

Popularity: 32% [?]

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"Don’t use too much air conditioning in cars."

This is what you might have learnt when you are searching for ways to save fuel especially in times when fuel is more expensive than water. The reason behind this statement is because air conditioning can decrease fuel efficiency up to 12%. If you are driving at slow speed, you can consider to open the car windows for fresh air. 

Air conditioning use more fuel than anything else and if you are not in need of using air conditioning, the best solution is to turn it off and you will be surprised at how much you can save by just doing that.

"Close the car windows."

This is another important way to save fuel. Ok, so just now it is mentioned that you can open up the car windows when you are driving at slow speed, this time, when you are driving fast, shut the windows tight. This is to make sure less drag. The more drag needed to move your vehicle, the more fuel is consumed so think about the fuel being wasted when you are speeding especially on high ways.

Shutting the windows will help to decrease the drag and save more fuel. After all, fuel is so expensive, more expensive than water. As such, little details count when it comes to saving money on fuel.  

Popularity: 31% [?]

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