Ideas For Getting The Best Gas Mileage

By Guenther Page

Today gas prices are becoming harder and harder to pay with our economy in the state it is. While it was once easy to just get in a car and go anywhere, transportation is becoming a bigger burden. So how might one be able to get the best gas mileage?

Whether you want to buy a new car or just change the way you drive, there are options for reducing the amount of gas you use. The suggestions below can help.

1. Buy a Smaller Car

In general, a smaller car gets better mileage. This is because it is much easier for a small car to move forward (or backward) than a large car. Some of the big cars that generally have worse gas mileage are sports utility vehicles (SUVs), vans, and trucks. These vehicles often get less than 20 mpg (miles per gallon). Sedans and other small cars usually get somewhere between 20 - 40 mpg.

Exceptions to this rule exist, though. While SUVs usually get worse gas mileage than sedans or compacts, they can have better. Hybrid SUVs usually get around 30 mpg, and at the very least get better mileage than other large vehicles. Another exception is that sports cars often get lower than 20 miles per gallon even though they are on the small side.

2. Car Makes

Different car makers emphasize different aspects of their cars. If you are looking for a new car, try to focus on companies that put emphasis on the mileage of their cars. Browsing different versions of similar cars to see which make/model has the best mileage is a good idea. A good phrase to search with is "best mpg cars" because it will probably give a list with comparisons.

3. Accelerate More Slowly

When you are at a stop, it is easy to accelerate very quickly when you get the green light. However, this is not good for mileage. If you push down quickly on the gas pedal, you use more gas and get lower mileage. Thus, accelerating more slowly will save you money. If someone follows close behind you because you are accelerating slowly, you can move over and think about the extra money in your bank account.

4. Driving Style

If you drive like a racer, tail other cars, and generally weave in and out of lanes, you probably use more gas than necessary. This is because, as discussed above, accelerating uses more gas. If you drive recklessly, you are likely accelerating and braking quickly, as you may end up behind slower cars. This severely reduces your car's mileage. Keeping a good distance behind the car in front of you and only accelerating when necessary can increase your car's mileage.

5. Avoid Using Car as Closet

If you use your car as a closet, you can significantly reduce its miles per gallon. This is because cars with more weight in them use more gas. While keeping emergency supplies and temporary items in a car can be necessary, other items are not. In order to increase long-term mileage, you should reduce the amount of things stored in your car by taking out any unnecessary items.

Following these suggestions should help improve gas mileage. Even if you are not looking for a new car, you can still reduce the amount that you pay at the gas station. - 29952

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here