Soon after the Department of Transportation (DoT) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) presented the new fuel economy and emission levels label that would inform the American customers about the attributes of the car they are about to buy, the Consumer Federation of America went to work and decided to put the cars on sale right now to the test.
According to the group, 19 percent of all the cars on the US market would fail miserably if they were to be subjected to an imaginary EPA exam, which takes into account the requirements for 2013, all getting 16 mpg or less in combined driving. Most others (70 percent), although providing better mileage, would fail as well. As a side note, the top performer of the CFA test was the Toyota Prius, with 50 mpg, while the worst were the Chevy Suburban and Ford's E350 van, both with 12 mpg.
"If, like school, you consider anything below a 60 to be a failing grade, then 70 percent of the 2011 models would fail under the new fuel-economy labeling requirement," the CFA's Director of Public Affairs Jack Gillis said in a statement.
The new label announced by the EPA for 2013 will include new ways to compare energy use and cost between new-technology cars, estimates on how much consumers will save or spend on fuel over the next five years, compared to the average new vehicle, emission levels and a comparison with cars from the same class, estimate of how much fuel or electricity it takes to drive 100 miles and information on the driving range and charging time of an electric vehicle in the case of the electric vehicles.
According to the group, 19 percent of all the cars on the US market would fail miserably if they were to be subjected to an imaginary EPA exam, which takes into account the requirements for 2013, all getting 16 mpg or less in combined driving. Most others (70 percent), although providing better mileage, would fail as well. As a side note, the top performer of the CFA test was the Toyota Prius, with 50 mpg, while the worst were the Chevy Suburban and Ford's E350 van, both with 12 mpg.
"If, like school, you consider anything below a 60 to be a failing grade, then 70 percent of the 2011 models would fail under the new fuel-economy labeling requirement," the CFA's Director of Public Affairs Jack Gillis said in a statement.
The new label announced by the EPA for 2013 will include new ways to compare energy use and cost between new-technology cars, estimates on how much consumers will save or spend on fuel over the next five years, compared to the average new vehicle, emission levels and a comparison with cars from the same class, estimate of how much fuel or electricity it takes to drive 100 miles and information on the driving range and charging time of an electric vehicle in the case of the electric vehicles.