Average Mileage Drops In 2002 VehiclesSUVs Hold Down Overall RatingsPOSTED: 1:02 p.m. EDT October 9, 2001 WASHINGTON -- The appetite for SUVs is holding down the overall fuel economy numbers released by the Environmental Protection Agency for new model cars, trucks and vans.
The statistics show new passenger vehicles average about 21 miles per gallon -- and just 6 percent of the 2002 models going to showrooms get more than 30 miles per gallon.
The annual fuel economy statistics list 865 cars, trucks and vans. Only 48 models get 30 miles per gallon or better.
Average fuel economy for the cars was nearly 24 miles per gallon, a slight decrease from 2001.
That compares with nearly 18 miles per gallon for models or variations of SUV's, vans and pick-ups -- a slight increase for this year.
The EPA said that the Toyota RAV-4 got the best milage among SUVs, at 25 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. The worst in that category were the Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon Denali and the Land Rover Range Rover.
The most efficient cars were the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius, which are both electric-gas hybrids. The top 10 also included several Volkswagon models: the Jetta and Jetta wagon, the New Beetle and the Golf.
Other top performers were the Honda Civic HX and the Toyota Echo.
Bentley vehicles -- which are some of the most expensive in the world -- were listed as the worst in several categories, including subcompacts, compacts, midsize and large vehicles.
Click here for the list of best and worst mileage for each size vehicle. Copyright 2002 by ThePittsburghChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |








