Who is to say that luxury car buyers aren’t affected by high gas prices? If you want to drive in comfort, style, and have the latest high tech goodies in a car, you shouldn’t have to pay more at the pump for it. Here are our picks for the top 10 most fuel friendly luxury cars, ranked in order of their combined city/highway mpg numbers.
Quite a few luxury cars hit the 29 mpg mark combined. The most impressive of the bunch is the Buick LaCrosse, which manage to get solid fuel economy, despite its bigger size. The Infiniti, Mercedes and BMW vehicles make do with a high-power pairing of a six-cylinder engine and an electric motor, which gives the end result of over 300-hp.
The Buicks use a mild hybrid system called eAssist which pairs a 2.4L four-cylinder engine with a conventional automatic, and a compact lithium ion battery to get its impressive fuel economy numbers.
The Lexus RX has lead the fuel-efficiency race for crossovers for over 6 years. In the RX450h a V6 engine joins forces with an electric motor in order to make 295-hp and 30 mpg combined. For more capability the RX450h is also available with AWD, with rear-drive electric motors. The AWD models don’t take too much of a hit in fuel efficiency either, getting 29 mpg overall. Pricing for the RX450h starts at $46,310.
Another Lexus makes the list, this time it’s the GS450h sport sedan. Using the same powertrain as the RX450h, the GS manages to make 338 horsepower, and can blast to 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. This rear-wheel drive Lexus is still fun to drive and manages to get 31 mpg combined, making it frugal and exciting. The $59,450 is a bit steep, but at least you won’t have to pay much more in fuel.
This list isn’t just full of hybrids, though this diesel powered Audi A3 is the only vehicle here that doesn’t have some kind of electrified powertrain. Using a 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel engine, which makes 140 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque, the A3 TDI is an affordable yet luxurious compact which gets an EPA rated 34 mpg in combined driving conditions. For $30,250 this is one of the cheapest cars on the list, and will still keep you smiling at the pump.
The ILX hasn’t been the sales success Acura hoped, though the hybrid model is a good blend of fuel efficiency and premium features.
Although it still uses Honda’s integrated motor assist system (IMA) it can put out decent fuel numbers, even if the car can’t run on electricity alone, like many of the other hybrids on this list. The ILX Hybrid is also available for under $30,000 which is a steal when you see that it can get 38 mpg combined.
The Lexus ES used to be a symbol of boring, drab luxury. However, with the new model, which is based on the same platform as the Toyota Avalon, the ES300h hybrid benefits from having a solid powertrain, which puts out 200 hp, and manages 40 mpg from its 2.5L four-cylinder and electric motor.
For $38,850, you also get Lexus’ impressive styling with that great looking spindle grille, not to mention the standard Lexus interior quality, which looks great, and manages to be comfortable for longer trips.
The last Lexus on the list is the diminutive CT200h. By combining a 1.8L engine with an electric motor, the CT200h manages to put out 134 hp. For just $32,050 this Lexus achieves 42 mpg combined, and although it’s far from quick it’s still has a sporty feel due to its small size and short wheelbase.
The most fuel efficient hybrid on the list is the new Lincoln MKZ. By getting 45 mpg combined, the sleek and luxurious MKZ is sure to be a hit, if buyers can get their hands on it. Sadly Lincoln is dealing with some production issues and setbacks which puts the MKZ out of mind for now. When Lincoln finally delivers the MKZ, buyers will have to see if that 45 mpg mark is an easy target to attain. Discuss this one more at our Lincon MKZ Forum.
By using a extended range electric drive train, the Fisker Karma manages to get 52 MPGe and 300 miles of range. However, that range comes from combining two electric motors to a 20.1kWh batteries and a 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder generator. Those electric motors send 402 horsepower to the rear wheels, allowing the Karma to hit 60 mph in just about six seconds.
The Fisker Karma isn’t cheap, though it certainly is a luxury car, with its stand-out styling and a price that starts at $102,000.
How do you save money at the pump? Try not visiting them at all with the Tesla Model S. Available with either a 60 kWh battery, or a longer lasting 85 kWh battery, the Model S gets 95 MPGe or 89 mpge respectively. The bigger battery helps the Model S net a 265 mile range. This $62,400 model (after a $7,500 tax rebate) is no slouch when it comes to performance, helping it reach 60 mph in 5.6 seconds. An elegant looking car, the Model S also has an impressive array of technology inside the cabin, including a 17-inch touchscreen.