Fuel Efficiency

Science and technology has made leaps and bounds in developing new, highly fuel efficient road vehicles in recent years. With the ongoing trend of eco-friendliness, car manufacturers are working hard to modernize and update their products, and new competitors are entering the fray. Therefore, there are more options available to prospective drivers than ever before. Here are some of the most fuel-efficient vehicles available to North Americans.

Volkswagen Jetta

One of the best selling Volkswagen vehicles on the market, the Jetta boasts incredible mileage at 9.5L/100km in cities and 6.9L/100km on highways. Highly fuel efficient and reliable, this four-door sedan is also roomier and more comfortable than other vehicles in its price range, and offers a tremendously smooth ride compared to other compact sedans. As a result, it is hugely popular and commonplace, and is highly economical to drive for years to come.

Toyota Prius

A top favorite amongst environmentally minded individuals, the Toyota Prius is one of the most popular and fuel-efficient vehicles currently available on the market. With filling-up costs equal to less than $800 CAD annually, this compact eco-friendly ride provides a real bang for your buck. It is capable of 4.6L/100km city and 4.9L/100km highway mileage, and a hybrid option is readily available.

Mitsubishi Mirage

One of the most lightweight and economical four-door vehicles available, the Mitsubishi Mirage is anything but an illusion. This subcompact has a wonderful fuel economy and mpg, with 5.9L/100km city and 4.6L/100km highway mileage. The Mirage offers a highly efficient and comfortable ride, with a large rear seat capacity and low power consumption rate culminating in a total weight of merely 895 kg.

Tesla Model S

If you’re seeking super-clean and innovative transportation for a large initial investment but massive savings in the long run, then look no further than the Tesla Model S. Tesla Motors is world-renowned for their line of electric vehicles that provide extremely clean and reliable transportation to eco-friendly drivers. Being entirely battery-powered, fuel costs are nonexistent, making it and other Tesla vehicles the most cost-effective vehicles on the market.

It is important to save money whenever possible, and for many, vehicles bring with them astronomical fuel and maintenance costs. However, by opting for one of the reliable, comfortable, award-winning, and highly fuel-efficient vehicles from this list, you’ll be more capable than ever of cutting costs and living without fuel-related financial stress. Available at varying starting prices, there is an economical solution here for every budget.

No motorist wants to spend more on gasoline than they absolutely have to. At the same time, we don’t enjoy having to make sacrifices just to make ends meet. By applying some effective cost-saving methods to our driving habits, we can get the best of both worlds by being able to drive without putting as many dollars in our gas tanks.

Fill Up Early or Late in the Day, and Early in the Week

Many drivers don’t consider the influence a fuel’s temperature will have on their vehicle’s consumption rate. As temperatures rise throughout the day, gas density lowers and as a result, you’ll not get as much out of your hard-earned dollars by filling up at noon. Gasoline with a cooler temperature is denser, and you’ll be able to save money as a result. Gas prices typically are lowest during the beginning of the week, so try to fill up between Sunday and Tuesday early in the morning or later in the day to get the very most out of the gasoline you buy.

Keep an Eye on Your Fuel Filter and Tank Level

Your vehicle’s fuel filter is a vital and highly useful component that serves as the lifeline of your engine. Not only does it work to keep your fuel lines and engine clean and in working order, but it also acts as a barrier for unwanted debris and sediment. If you live in a rural or dusty area, checking your filter for cleanliness is an important step to take. Dirty or clogged fuel filters are less effective and will waste useful gas, and they will also endanger the overall long-term health of your engine and fuel lines. Incidentally, don’t wait until your tank is nearly empty before filling up. Driving on low speeds up the dirtying of your filter, as your vehicle has no choice but to rely on sediment-rich gas at the bottom of the tank.

Maintain an Aerodynamic Profile

Stuffing your vehicle with belongings or adding attachments such as roof racks increases it’s weight. As a result, the vehicle has to push itself harder and consume more gasoline to reach intended speeds. By ensuring you drive with little to no additional clutter, it will be easier to lower fuel costs. Also, it is crucial that you eliminate wind resistance by keeping windows and sunroofs closed whenever possible. This helps to reduce drag and maintain a thoroughly effective aerodynamic shape, forcing air over your vehicle more efficiently to reduce the need to hammer on the gas pedal as much.

Driving is in many ways an art. With practice, we learn how to get the very most out of our investments and how to be more cost effective without sacrifice. By applying these methods to your driving habits, you’ll be able to easily save more on gas costs, which is more important than ever when considering today’s prices.

Many drivers swear by gasoline and ethanol mixtures (of which there are several varieties). There are many benefits to opting for this cleaner and more environmentally friendly approach to filling up, and every day more and more motorists are switching over to this popular renewable resource.

Better for Engine Health

As ethanol is infinitely cleaner than gasoline and free of sediment, it is better for the overall health of your vehicle’s engine. Your fuel filter will be able to more efficiently keep your fuel lines and engine clean, as less actual gasoline is used when combined with ethanol. This will result in your vehicle’s internal components and engine lasting several years longer than if using plain old gasoline, which is especially important to bear in mind if you’re the type to drive with as little gas in your tank as possible to cut costs. Driving this way with regular gasoline will clog your filter and damage vital components relatively quickly, but using an ethanol mixture helps to rectify this issue (even though it isn’t recommended).

Less Harmful on the Environment

Ethanol is a non-fossil fuel that is generally derived from sugarcane, corn, wheat, and other agricultural crops. As a renewable fuel source that burns more cleanly than straight gasoline, it produces less of a negative impact on the environment. In fact, ethanol’s ability to minimize emissions has been recognized by major important figures and parties. For example, Canada’s Renewable Fuels Regulations require that gasoline contains an average renewable fuel content of 5%, and many ethanol fuel mixtures contain anywhere between 10% and 85% of this cleaner resource.

Less Gasoline Consumption

When using an ethanol-blended gasoline, drivers are able to burn through their tanks a little more slowly. As a result of this dependence on multiple resources mixed together, vehicles using ethanol blends don’t need to be filled up at the gas station quite as often. Not only will this help to save drivers valuable dollars in today’s expensive motoring age, but also it will help to lower our collective carbon footprint through a reliance on ethanol and its benefits of being a more clean-burning fuel.

Fuel mixtures of ethanol blended with gasoline are still debated to this day due to various health and safety-related concerns. Until proven otherwise, however, it makes sense to opt for ethanol as a cleaner, renewable, and highly efficient resource that also helps to protect our vehicles from typical gasoline-related wear and tear.

We think of driving as a necessary expense — after all, many of us depend on our vehicles as a means of access to vital goods and services. However, you may be shelling out more money than is necessary thanks to some subtle but financially harmful driving habits. Here are a few examples.

Sudden Braking

Every time you slam on the brakes, you consume more fuel than you would by removing your foot from the gas pedal before braking. Allowing your vehicle to breathe before gently slowing to a stop at a yellow or red light or stop sign makes the most use of its available momentum. In addition to saving on fuel consumption, this approach will help protect your brakes from increased wear and tear.

Ignoring Aerodynamics and Over-Packing

All vehicles are meticulously engineered and developed for maximum aerodynamic efficiency, which also helps you to maintain a higher speed with minimal drag. Always remove unnecessary attachments such as roof racks and hood decorations, and be sure to maintain a streamlined airflow by keeping your sunroof and windows closed. Also, habits such as loading racks of belongings on your roof, towing large loads, and generally over-filling your vehicle with items have a profoundly negative impact on how fast and aerodynamic it is. This can impede on planned travel schedules as well as gasoline costs, as heavier vehicles require increased fuel consumption.

Revving Your Engine

It is imperative that vehicle owners avoid revving their engines as much as possible, particularly when ignition has just been engaged and during colder months when it takes longer to warm up a car’s engine. This prevents the engine from receiving proper lubrication and puts unnecessary and dramatic strain on it. As a result, expect to pay for expensive engine damage repairs or even replacements if you have a revving habit. Allow your engine to wake up and come to life as intended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Operating With Low Fuel

While many drivers claim that operating a vehicle with as little fuel in the tank as necessary is a great way to save money, it really is more expensive in the long run. The sediment from gasoline always settles at the bottom of a vehicle’s gas tank, and if you constantly run on low it means that your vehicle can only use the dirtier fuel that is available. The fuel filter won’t be as effective at trapping and catching the increased amount of sediment, and before long your engine, filter, and fuel line will suffer as a result. The cost of repairing such pointless damage to your vehicle’s components far outweighs the cost of having a more adequately filled gas tank at all times.

Correcting these habits can keep your vehicle healthier for far longer, and it is also less taxing on your budget. In today’s modern age, we depend on road transportation to maintain a pre-established standard of living. By being mutually respectful towards our vehicles and subsequent investments through less toxic driving habits, you can remain on the road towards a brighter future.