Cars that get 40 mpg: what buyers need to know

If you're worried about rising gasoline prices, you'll find plenty of options for fuel-efficient cars in 2011.

Five years ago, few vehicles got better than 30 miles on a gallon of gas, but vehicles that can get 40 mpg on the highway or in city driving are becoming more common, prompted by new government rules and advances in technology. Around 20 vehicles from the 2011 model year have reached this leading edge of efficiency, about triple the number in 2006, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Automakers are being forced to raise the efficiency of cars to meet tougher government standards. The average fuel efficiency of all new cars and trucks sold in 2016 will need to reach 35.5 mpg. That's about 40 percent higher than current standards, and requirements will only get stricter. Regulators are considering requirements that could reach 62 mpg by 2025.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE:

Cars getting 40 mpg or more include those with hybrid, electric and combustion engines with advanced technology. The cars are generally pricier than their gasoline counterparts. But paying more upfront could offset gasoline costs over the lifetime of the car, especially if pump prices keep rising.

Among hybrids, you'll find the Toyota Prius and Honda's Insight and Civic hybrids. Ford offers the Fusion and Lincoln MKZ hybrids. Hybrids use a conventional gasoline engine and a big battery to power the car.

The Civic hybrid starts at around $24,000 while the Prius costs around $23,000. By comparison, a basic Civic with a combustion engine starts around $16,000.

Diesel fuel is another option. Volkswagen makes diesel versions of its Golf, Jetta and Sportwagen. The small Golf starts at $23,000 — about $5,000 more than the gasoline version. The diesel wagon costs about $25,000.

General Motors offers the Chevrolet Volt, which goes about 40 miles on battery power before it needs to be recharged with a backup gasoline engine. The engine can extend the car's range to 375 miles. Nissan is offering the Leaf, an all-electric car, which can travel 100 miles on battery power before it needs recharging.

The base sticker price for the Volt is $40,280 and the Leaf has a sticker price of $32,780. Both qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit.

Several niche electric cars also beat the 40 mpg benchmark, such as the Tesla Roadster, but these are well out of reach of mainstream buyers. The Roadster costs $109,000. Tesla plans to sell a less expensive Model S next year for $49,900, including federal tax credits.

GAS PRICE WORRIES:

Automakers want cars they can sell to people concerned about pump prices, which are rising. They're averaging more than $3.19 a gallon — 53 cents higher than a year ago — and could climb to $4 if unrest in the Middle East continues to disrupt oil supplies.

In fact, the price of oil briefly hit $100 per barrel on Wednesday for the first time since Oct. 2008. Higher crude prices push up the cost of gasoline.

In 2008, when gasoline prices soared past $4 a gallon, many companies were caught off guard with truck-heavy lineups.

For consumers, the high-mileage vehicles offer upfront costs and long-term benefits.

David Friedman, research director for the clean vehicles program with the Union of Concerned Scientists, estimated that a consumer who moved from a vehicle that gets about 30 mpg on the highway to one that gets 40 mpg on the highway would save more than $4,000 over the life of the vehicle if gas cost $3 a gallon.

If gas rose to $4 a gallon, the savings would be even greater, about $6,000 over the car's lifetime.

HOW TECHNOLOGY HELPS:

Automakers boost fuel efficiency with a variety of technology — from turbochargers and diesel engines to batteries and materials such as aluminum, which lowers the weight of cars and trucks.

Turbochargers increase the power of the engine by pumping air into the combustion chamber at higher-than-normal pressure, creating higher power output.

Mercedes-Benz is planning to put "start-stop" technology on its vehicles, stopping the engine when the vehicle halts at a red light or in traffic and then restarting it when the driver hits the accelerator. Others are using lighter materials such as aluminum and high-strength steel, using more efficient tires and finding ways to improve aerodynamics.

GM's Chevrolet Cruze Eco, which exceeds 40 mpg on the highway, has a unique air shutter system behind the car's front grill. Sensors open and close the shutters automatically, depending on the vehicle's speed, to reduce wind drag.

Companies are also using fewer eight-cylinder and six-cylinder engines and have shifted some truck-based SUVs — such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee — to car-based crossovers, which don't use as much gas. The goal is to improve fuel efficiency but still attract families who want extra space.

Dave Westcott, who owns Buick-GMC and Suzuki dealerships in Burlington, N.C., notes that a 4-cylinder GMC Terrain crossover gets fuel efficiency ratings (23 mpg combined) that are comparable to some cars.

"People are used to convenience in size," he says. "If you have three kids and you have to take them to school, it's hard to get three car seats in the car."