Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Finding the most fuel efficient vehicle for your family

Every single day, Americans use 378 million gallons of fuel to power their vehicles.  As a car dependent society, finding a vehicle that is fuel efficient can have a major positive impact on our environment.  Not only that, by finding the most fuel efficient vehicle possible, you can save hundreds of dollars a year!

Analyze your needs: Before you consider what sort of vehicle you should purchase, think about what a vehicle absolutely must have.  If it is just you and one passenger, a small coupe might be perfect. But if it is for you, your spouse, three kids and a dog, that won’t do the trick.  Think about the features that your car must have, not that you necessarily want, and this will point you in the direction of the vehicle you should be driving. 

Size: This is related to your needs analysis but also looks at things like cargo space and legroom.  Finding a vehicle that is the right size for you can take a little trial and error but don’t be afraid to take that time to make sure you get a vehicle that will fit your actual needs.

Driving type: When most people think of fuel-efficient vehicles, they jump right to hybrids.  If your driving is generally limited to just hopping around the city, a hybrid might be the perfect vehicle for you.  However, if you’re like me and have a 30 minute commute on the highway to work everyday, a small 4-cylinder might actually get better mileage.  Track your driving for a week or two to see where you do the majority of your driving.  The results may surprise you.

Amenities: Last but not least, think about those one or two things that your family absolutely loves in a vehicle.  Although these may not help you find the most fuel-efficient vehicle, they can talk you out of a less fuel-efficient vehicle.  For example, I normally drive SUVs because I like the higher seating position.  However, upon driving crossovers, I found that I can get the same seating position with much better mileage.


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