The federal government has announced that Hyundai Motor and subsidiary Kia Motors will pay $300 million altogether in penalties over fuel economy numbers that were overstated on about 1.2 million vehicles. Of that amount, $100 million will be paid in civil fines, while the companies will forfeit...Read More»
Owners of certain Hyundai and Kia models—and perhaps officials at those automakers—have cause to breathe a sigh of relief. That's because after a scandal in which the two brands were found to have reported EPA fuel economy numbers that were up to 6 mpg higher than true test numbers...Read More»
Gas prices are going up, up, up, and since the stuff only gets more expensive during warmer months, we doubt prices will slide anytime soon. That may help explain why shoppers are leaning toward more fuel-efficient rides and why the average fuel economy of new vehicles sold in January hit an...Read More»
Will the EPA's proposed 54.5-mile-per-gallon fuel economy standards, in the works for 2017 through 2025, end up costing consumers more? Or limiting their choice? Two of the largest consumer organizations, Consumers Union and the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), insist that the answer to both...Read More»
Oh, what a short memory vehicle shoppers seem to have with respect to high gas prices. While national-average pump prices surged into May, to a national average peak of about $3.98—topping off 20 consecutive weeks of price gains—they've since started to settle downward to about $3.71...Read More»
The original Model T that helped elevate Ford Motor Co. [NYSE: F] among the world's top automakers might have had a four-cylinder engine under the hood, but the automaker has never built a production three—until today, when Ford officially revealed an all-new three-cylinder engine design. In...Read More»
All the talk likening small cars to sardine cans can finally be retired. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has released new crash-test results and ratings for more than a dozen small cars and found that, thankfully, automakers have made significant progress in small-car...Read More»
The 2011 Toyota Prius remains the highest-mileage gasoline non-plug-in vehicle on the U.S. market, at an EPA-rated 51 mpg city, 48 highway, but when you look at sales-weighted averages, the fleet of new cars that Hyundai is selling, as a whole, beats that of Toyota. The sales and pricing data...Read More»
If you've ever crept along in gridlock and noticed the floor of your car getting a little warm, or 'seen' all the heat energy escaping from a hot exhaust pipe on a cold day, you know that exhaust systems send a lot of heat right out the tailpipe—heat that could potentially be put to use. What...Read More»
GM just dropped a very pleasant surprise for green-minded shoppers this morning. Up till now we've been anticipating that the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco will return a very respectable 40 mpg on the highway. Turns out the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco is even greener than we were led to think: 42 mpg. That...Read More»
If you're shopping for a serious people hauler, and by that, we mean one that can both carry several adults in comfort, as well as tow a boat or a horse trailer—you might consider one of the full-size (read: heavy duty or super duty) pickups. Or, for even more passenger comfort, take a look...Read More»
If we want to keep our vehicles as safe as they are and don't want to sacrifice performance either, improving fuel economy will come at a substantial extra cost per vehicle. That's the predictable conclusion made by a new National Academy of Sciences report released this week. The study had been...Read More»
Ford is on a roll lately, having unveiled its 2011 Fiesta subcompact and 2012 Focus compact. Now the company turns to refreshing its Edge five-seat crossover, both improving its gas mileage and adding its well-received MyFord Touch instrument panel and switch system. The new 2011 Ford Edge is...Read More»
G'wan, admit it. We say, "green car". You think, "Ugh, Toyota Prius," and look away. Oh, but there's so much more! And so much of it is just so darn ... weird. Consider, for example, the 10 most popular posts last year on our sister site GreenCarReports.com. The list includes a piece entitled...Read More»
We’ve been here before. The government mandates more fuel-efficient vehicles across the board, yet the American public continues to gravitate toward what’s big and powerful. Barring this era of greater responsibility and restraint, which might pass like a fleeting fancy with the recession, why...Read More»
What is it?: Mild hybrid version of the big Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan The basics: Teutonic solidity, impeccable equipment, better fuel economy On sale: This fall Price: $87,950 Exactly one year ago, our editor Marty Padgett wrote about the European launch of the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid...Read More»
For 2010, Chrysler has slimmed down the choices on its Dodge Caliber hatchback and spiffed up the interior, to make the car more competitive with the best of its class. It now offers just two engines and two transmissions, slightly improving the gas mileage. We've never rated the Caliber...Read More»
If you've got a clunker you've been meaning to trade in, you'd better take the rest of the day off, 'cause the whole Cash-for-Clunkers program winds up at 8 pm tonight. Here's our checklist of steps for anyone who's still hoping to get those $3,500 or $4,500 rebates for a new car that gets at least...Read More»
Over at our sister site GreenCarReports.com, we've been following the launch of the 2010 Ford Transit Connect van with keen interest. It's a vehicle that has very few direct competitors in the US, though in Europe, there are more than a dozen small urban delivery vans like it. Rated by the EPA at...Read More»
