'Prius', 'Alto' Top in Most Fuel-Efficient Cars of 2011

Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism released on March 30, 2012, the "10 Most Fuel Efficient Cars in 2011." The Toyota Prius was ranked the highest in the small-to-medium size passenger car category for the sixth year in a row with the same fuel efficiency as the previous year's 32.6 kilometers per liter (km/L). Except for the Mazda 'Demio' with a fuel efficiency of 25.0 km/L, all others in the top 10 were hybrid cars. The Suzuki Alto, which was ranked sixth with 22.6 km/L in the previous year, topped in the mini vehicle category with 30.2 km/L.

The rankings are published every year by the ministry with an automobile fuel efficiency list, which evaluates the fuel efficiency of automobiles with the aim to raise awareness of energy-saving among car owners and also to promote the development and widespread use of fuel efficient vehicles.

The ministry officially adopted the JC08 mode fuel efficiency value that is closer to actual driving patterns than those of the current mode, and evaluated all gasoline cars (excluding manual transmission vehicles) that were being sold at the end of 2011.

According to the list, the latest overall average fuel efficiency of gasoline cars available for 2010 improved 21 percent to 18.3 km/L, from 15.1 km/L of 5 years ago, or by 36 percent from 13.5 km/L 10 years ago, when using the values obtained under the 10-15 mode, which was about 10 percent higher than the current standard value.

New Fuel Efficiency Standards for Passenger Vehicles Finalized (Related JFS article)
'Prius', 'Move' Top the Ten Most Fuel-Efficient Cars List of 2010 (Related JFS article)
Mitsubishi Model Tops EPA's List of Fuel Efficient Electric Vehicles (Related JFS article)

Posted: 2012/07/25 06:00:15 AM