The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently released its fuel efficiency ranking on 2011 models.  The rating is based on both city and highway testing. If you looking to buy a car that doesn’t need a lot of gas to get you from places to places, you may want to check out the top 10 more fuel-efficient cars ranked by city MPG :

1. 2011 Toyota Prius: 51/48 MPG City/Highway
2. 2011 Ford Fusion hybrid, Milan hybrid, Lincoln MKZ hybrid: 41/36 MPG City/Highway
3. 2011 Honda Civic hybrid, Honda Insight hybrid: 40/43 MPG City/Highway
4. 2011 Honda CR-Z (auto): 35/39 MPG City/Highway
5. 2011 Lexus HS 250h: 35/34 MPG City/Highway
6. 2011 Ford Escape hybrid, Mazda Tribute hybrid, Mercury Mariner hybrid: 34/31 MPG City/Highway
7. 2011 Smart ForTwo: 33/41 MPG City/Highway
8. 2011 Nissan Altima hybrid: 33/33 MPG City/Highway
9. 2011 Lexus RX 450h: 32/28 MPG City/Highway
10. 2011 Honda CR-Z (manual): 31/37 MPG City/Highway

For years, cars from Japanese automakers have dominated the rankings of most fuel efficient vehicles sold in this country, with Toyota Prius being the gold standard. Even though that’s the still the case for the 2011 model year, I am glad to see that American cars, especially hybrid models from Ford, are catching up in this category. I have heard news about GM Chevrolet Volt, which was launched this week after the rank was released. Wondering where it will be on the 2012 list.

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Yesterday, the Obama administration issued an ultimatum to GM and Chrysler, asking Detroit’s troubled auto makers to restructure immediately or they will face other options including bankruptcy. Unlike last December when the Bush administration gave GM and Chrysler $17.4 bailout to keep them operating, this time the government decided to take a hard line on both car makers after a review showed that on reform the government demanded was made since receiving the first funding more three months ago. As part of the government’s plan, GM CEO Rick Wagoner was asked to resign from the post over the week. In addition, the Treasury Department also sets an array of conditions before handing out another check, including negotiating further cuts from the UAW, reducing its unsecured debt, and coming up with a plan that works.

If again no progress on restructuring is made after 60 days, GM could end up a bankruptcy court, which could deal a severe blow to the U.S. auto industry and millions of workers employed by the auto makers as well as suppliers. On the other hand, if you are customer of GM or Chrysler who recently purchased a vehicle from either manufacture, then you may wonder what will happen to your car that’s still under warranty if one or both of them goes under. While the government is reluctant to help GM and Chrysler this time, they want to make sure consumers are protected with Warranty Commitment Program announced yesterday by the president.

Under the program, the U.S. government will work together with GM and Chrysler to establish a fund to cover costs of warranty repairs of cars made by either GM or Chrysler if either files for bankruptcy protection later:

If you buy a car from Chrysler or General Motors, you will be able to get your car serviced and repaired, just like always. Your warranty will be safe. In fact, it will be safer than it’s ever been, because starting today, the United States government will stand behind your warranty.

At least, that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about.

*Photo from automopedia.org

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Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) today released its top safety picks for 2009. The reward is given to vehicles that

do the best job of protecting people in front, side, and rear crashes based on good ratings in Institute tests. Winners also have to have electronic stability control (ESC), which research shows significantly reduces crash risk.

For 2009 model year, a total of 72 vehicles won recognitions from IIHS after going through vigorous tests that are designed to evaluate how drivers and passengers are protected in crash from all directions, front, side, and rear. According to IIHS, winners of this year’s awards come from all car categories and the number of vehicles getting the nod is twice as many as that of last year, a sign that automakers are improving the safety of the vehicles they build. Actually, that’s what this reward is all about: “providing incentives for manufacturers to offer safer vehicle designs that go far beyond basic federal standards.” For example, more cars now have side airbag as a standard safety equipment and electronic stability control (ESC) is also more common now than before.

Among the auto manufactures participating the test, Ford and its Volvo division won the most rewards at 16 while Honda and its Acura brand received 13 top picks. Chrysler, on the other hand, is the only major automaker that failed to receive a single reward.

Following is the list of 2009 model year cars receiving IIHS top safety pick. More details can be found in the status report (PDF file).

Large cars

• Acura RL
• Audi A6
• Cadillac CTS
• Ford Taurus
• Lincoln MKS
• Mercury Sable
• Toyota Avalon
• Volvo S80

Midsize cars

• Acura TL, TSX
• Audi A3, A4
• BMW 3 series 4-door
• Ford Fusion with optional ESC
• Honda Accord 4-door
• Mercedes C class
• Mercury Milan with optional ESC
• Saab 9-3
• Subaru Legacy
• Volkswagen Jetta, Passat

Midsize convertibles

• Saab 9-3
• Volkswagen Eos
• Volvo C70

Small cars

• Honda Civic 4-door with optional ESC (except Si)
• Mitsubishi Lancer with optional ESC
• Scion xB
• Subaru Impreza with optional ESC
• Toyota Corolla with optional ESC
• Volkswagen Rabbit 4-door

Minicar

• Honda Fit with optional ESC
• Minivans
• Honda Odyssey
• Hyundai Entourage
• Kia Sedona

Large SUVs

• Audi Q7
• Buick Enclave
• Chevrolet Traverse
• GMC Acadia
• Saturn Outlook

Midsize SUVs

• Acura MDX, RDX
• BMW X3, X5
• Ford Edge, Flex, Taurus X
• Honda Pilot
• Hyundai Santa Fe, Veracruz
• Infiniti EX35
• Lincoln MKX
• Mercedes M class
• Nissan Murano
• Saturn VUE
• Subaru Tribeca
• Toyota FJ Cruiser, Highlander
• Volvo XC90

Small SUVs

• Ford Escape
• Honda CR-V, Element
• Mazda Tribute
• Mercury Mariner
• Mitsubishi Outlander
• Nissan Rogue
• Subaru Forester
• Toyota RAV4
• Volkswagen Tiguan

Large pickups

• Ford F-150
• Honda Ridgeline
• Toyota Tundra

Small pickup

• Toyota Tacoma

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It has been nearly a year since I did a service on my Accord and the “Maintenance Required” light has been on for quite some time (I did change oil regularly though). I felt it was due for a service, but didn’t really find time to do it. Last Thursday on my way to work, the “Check Engine” light even went on. No more delays, I told myself.

I took the car to a Honda dealer near by Tuesday to get the service done. Actually, not just the service, but also to check if there’s anything serious with the engine. I have more than 85K miles on the car and it was running very well, didn’t give me any big trouble in the past seven years. So maybe it was about time for a major service.

While I was waiting, the CSR came to me with a list of recommendations:

1. The cost of the service is $210
2. There was a minor leak (EVAP leak) that caused the “Check Engine” light to come up. The cost of diagnosis and fixing the leak is $90.
3. The battery is weak so it will affect the car’s performance. A new one will be $135.
4. The four rotors are rusty and the front one has deep curves on the surface that can’t be smoothed out. For your safety, they need to be replaced for $899.
5. The timing belt and water pump are due for replacement as well, this is again for your safety at a price of $660.

I was shocked to see a bill that ran to almost $2,000! That’s a lot for a car that has a fair market value between $7,000 and $8,000.

Eventually, I declined to get a new battery and four rotors from the dealer and chose only to replace the timing belt and water pump. I know this can be done at many garages, but my past bad experience with a local shop made me feel it’s better to go with the dealer. Four years ago, I replaced the timing belt of my old Corolla at a small garage that I used many times for regular service. Don’t know if the belt was defective or not, but it broke a little more than one month later while I was 30 miles away from home. Not a pleasant experience. Since then I tried to use dealers when the service involves critical parts, even it means I have to pay a little more.

Yesterday, when I picked up my car, I signed a credit card bill of $953.37.

Ouch!

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The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety released its Top Safety Pick 2007 today and the new Acura and Ford models scored highest rating in front, side, and rear crash tests. According to the IISH news release, the ranking is determined based on the combination of performance and design:

The Institute rates vehicles good, acceptable, marginal, or poor based on performance in high-speed front and side crash tests plus evaluations of seat/head restraints for protection against neck injuries in rear impacts. The first requirement for a vehicle to become a Top Safety Pick is to earn good ratings in all three Institute tests.

In evaluating the vehicle’s safty, the IIHS also noticed that carmakers are adjusting their designs in order to earn the rewards. For example, the IIHS now requires electronic stability control (ESC) to be equipped (even optional) for the vehicle to be ranked. The 2008 Ford Taurus was selected over the 2006 winner Ford Five Hundred because the Five Hundred doesn’t offer. The following is a list of winners in five categories tested:

Large car

• Audi A6
• 2008 Ford Taurus
• 2008 Mercury Sable

Midsize cars

• Audi A4
• Saab 9-3
• Subaru Legacy

Minivans

• Hyundai Entourage
• Kia Sedona

Midsize SUVs

• Acura MDX
• Acura RDX
• Ford Edge
• Honda Pilot
• Lincoln MKX
• Mercedes M class
• Subaru B9 Tribeca
• Volvo XC90

Small SUVs

• Honda CR-V
• Subaru Forester

We have a 2005 Honda Odyssey and we bought the car mainly because of its reputation in reliability and safty. However, I am a little disappointed to find out the it wasn’t included in this list and the Comsumer Report’s reliable car list in the minivan category.

Source: The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety

Photo: Edmunds.com

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