Gas-powered cars that get 40 mpg

Gas-powered cars that get 40 mpg.

2011 Hyundai Elantra

For non-electric, non-hybrid cars, 40 is the new 30 (mpg).

To put an automotive spin on an old axiom, 40 really is the new 30—in miles per gallon. What’s particularly remarkable is that this impressive highway-mileage figure is increasingly being achieved not only by hybrids and other alt-fuel cars—which post their best numbers in the city—but by regular gasoline-powered vehicles with relatively low price tags.

A look at eleven current and forthcoming cars that deliver 40 mpg highway reveals MSRPs ranging from $12,490 (for a two-door Smart car) to around $20,000 (for a four-door Ford Focus SE). With global turmoil continuing to push pump prices higher, it’s clear manufacturers understand they can boost sales by focusing on a statistic that for most of the past few decades was a non-issue for the American automotive consumer. In fact, Ford recently started running ads that specifically boast about reaching the 40 mpg mark.

“Even five years ago, consumers wanted horsepower and driving dynamics, but now we have rising gas prices,” says Tracy Handler, senior analyst at IHS Automotive. “In the end, even more than CAFE standards (federally mandated fuel economy targets) gas prices really drive what companies are doing now, because of what concerns their customers. So they’ve set 40 (mpg) as a target, mainly for advertising reasons, and are achieving it with innovations ranging from air-flow louvers with sensors to simply cleaning up the underbody for better aerodynamics.”

Here’s a quick look at models that deliver 40 mpg on the highway:

2011 Ford Fiesta SE Sedan,

 40/29 highway/city mpg (6-speed automatic transmission), $16,290: Ford commercials may boast about the Fiesta's 40 mpg, but you'll only see that kind of savings if you spring for the optional automatic transmission ($1,095), which uses an extra gear ratio to eke another 3 mpg out of the manual version's 37 mpg highway figure. This compact sedan is a bit short on cargo room, but offers quality interior appointments along with its impressive mileage. A list of high-tech options is available, but remember that the more weight you add, the worse the fuel economy.

 2011 Chevrolet Cruze Eco (manual transmission), 

42/28, $18,175: The Cruze takes the same 1.4-liter engine stuffed inside its Volt cousin but in this guise integrates this engine’s turbocharger housing into the exhaust manifold, thus reducing weight. Also on board are electrically controlled air louvers that adjust according to the car’s aerodynamic needs.

2011 Smart ForTwo, 

41/33, $12,490: This European import (and staple of cramped Old World capitals) belongs in the city, where it fits in tight parking spaces and can literally be parked with its rear to the curb. Concerns include the limited cargo space, and the thought of what might happen if you're unlucky enough to get T-boned by a 6,000-pound SUV.

 2012 Honda Civic HF, 

41/unavailable, spring: Honda’s entry into the 40 mpg arena comes in the form of this competent if plain sedan, packing a 1.8-liter engine good for 140 hp. It also shares its aerodynamic exterior design with Honda’s current Civic Hybrid.

 2012 Hyundai Veloster, 

40/-, summer, $17,500: This Tiburon replacement promises to win the Korean automaker even more attention, thanks to aggressive styling and a dual-clutch automated transmission that’s responsible for a 5% mileage gain over a traditional auto box.

2012 Mazda3,

 40/-, fall: Mazda’s already handsome and well-regarded 3 gets a facelift as well as a new engine called the Sky-G. The two-liter inline four-cylinder engine generates 158 horsepower and is linked to a new six-speed auto transmission, whose improved efficiency and reduced weight no doubt contribute to Mazda hitting the big four-oh.

Gas-powered cars that get 40 mpg