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Most Fuel-Efficient Vehicles Announced for 2012

The most fuel-efficient vehicles are now hitting the roads to help Canadians save on fuel costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources, today announced the Government of Canada's 2012 ecoENERGY for Vehicles Awards recognizing the most fuel-efficient new vehicles sold in Canada in 10 different classes. Fuel consumption ratings for all 2012 model year vehicles are now available on Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) website at vehicles.nrcan.gc.ca.

"These manufacturers are developing the latest vehicle technologies to help Canadians reduce their greenhouse gas emissions," said Minister Oliver. "The fuel consumption ratings for vehicles provide Canadians with the right tools to help make informed decisions to lower their fuel costs while reducing their environmental impact."

Award Winners:

--  Two-seater car: Honda CR-Z (co-winner) 
    
    
--  Two-seater car: smart fortwo (co-winner) 
    
    
--  Subcompact car: Mitsubishi i-MiEV 
    
    
--  Compact car: Chevrolet Volt 
    
    
--  Mid-size car: Nissan LEAF 
    
    
--  Full-size car: Hyundai Sonata 
    
    
--  Station wagon: Toyota Prius v 
    
    
--  Pickup truck: Toyota Tacoma 
    
    
--  Special purpose vehicle: Ford Escape Hybrid 
    
    
--  Minivan: Mazda5 
    
    
--  Large van: Ford Transit Connect Van
    
    

Transportation is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions in Canada, and personal vehicles account for over half of this energy use. The ecoENERGY Efficiency for Vehicles program supports the Government of Canada's commitment to reduce Canada's total greenhouse gas emissions by 17 percent by 2020 - a target that aligns with the U.S.

Consumers can use NRCan's online Fuel Consumption Ratings tool to compare the fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions of new cars and light-duty trucks sold in Canada. This tool allows Canadians to conveniently search for vehicles by class, make, transmission or fuel type and can display the results sorted by model, fuel efficiency or carbon dioxide emissions.

The 2012 Fuel Consumption Guide will be released in January. The guide lists fuel consumption information for new light-duty vehicles sold in Canada and will be available at most new vehicle dealerships, motor vehicle licence agencies, participating Canadian Automobile Association offices and participating credit union offices across Canada.

NRCan's news releases and backgrounders are available at www.nrcan.gc.ca/media-room/home/1784.

Backgrounder

The 2012 ecoENERGY for Vehicles Awards

Each year since 1999, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) recognizes the manufacturers of the most fuel-efficient new vehicles sold in Canada in each of 10 classes. The 2012 ecoENERGY for Vehicles Awards will be presented at the Canadian International AutoShow in partnership with the Canadian automobile industry and its associations.

The winning vehicles for model year 2012 are:

Two-seater car: Honda CR-Z (co-winner)

--  1.5 L, 4 cylinder hybrid, continuously variable (CVT) 
--  Fuel Consumption: city: 5.6 L/100 km (50 mi./gal.), highway: 5.0 L/100
    km (56 mi./gal.) 
--  Annual Fuel Cost: $1,113 
--  Annual Fuel Use: 1,060 L 
--  CO2 Emissions/yr: 2,438 kg

Two-seater car: smart fortwo (co-winner)

--  1.0 L, 3 cylinder, 5-speed automatic (with manual mode) 
--  Fuel Consumption: city: 5.8 L/100 km (49 mi./gal.), highway: 4.7 L/100
    km (60 mi./gal.) 
--  Annual Fuel Cost: $1,219 
--  Annual Fuel Use: 1,060 L 
--  CO2 Emissions/yr: 2,438 kg

Subcompact car: Mitsubishi i-MiEV

--  49 kW electric motor, 1-speed automatic 
--  Fuel Consumption city: 1.9 Le/100 km (149 mi./gal.e), highway: 2.4
    Le/100 km (118 mi./gal.e) 
--  Annual Fuel Cost: $449 
--  Annual Fuel Use: 3,740 kWh (420 Le) 
--  CO2 Emissions/yr: 0 kg

Compact car: Chevrolet Volt(i)

--  111 kW electric motor / 1.4 L, 4 cylinder plug-in hybrid, continuously
    variable (CVT) 
--  Fuel Consumption: 
    --  Electricity: city: 2.5 Le/100 km (113 mi./gal.e), highway: 2.5
        Le/100 km (113 mi./gal.e) 
    --  Gasoline: city: 6.7 L/100 km (42 mi./gal.), highway: 5.9 L/100 km
        (48 mi./gal.)
--  Annual Fuel Cost: $869 
--  Annual Fuel Use: 780 Le 
--  CO2 Emissions/yr: 1,088 kg

                                                                            
(i)ranking is based on a combined electricity and gasoline value of 3.9     
Le/100 km                                                                   

Mid-size car: Nissan LEAF

--  80 kW electric motor, 1-speed automatic 
--  Fuel Consumption: city: 2.2 Le/100 km (128 mi./gal.e), highway: 2.6
    Le/100 km (109 mi./gal.e) 
--  Annual Fuel Cost: $506 
--  Annual Fuel Use: 4,220 kWh (480 Le) 
--  CO2 Emissions/yr: 0 kg

Full-size car: Hyundai Sonata

--  2.4 L, 4 cylinder, 6-speed automatic (with manual mode) 
--  Fuel Consumption: city: 8.7 L/100 km (32 mi./gal.), highway: 5.6 L/100
    km (50 mi./gal.) 
--  Annual Fuel Cost: $1,533 
--  Annual Fuel Use: 1,460 L 
--  CO2 Emissions/yr: 3,358 kg

Station wagon: Toyota Prius v

--  1.8 L, 4 cylinder hybrid, continuously variable (CVT) 
--  Fuel Consumption: city: 4.3 L/100 km (66 mi./gal.), highway: 4.8 L/100
    km (59 mi./gal.) 
--  Annual Fuel Cost: $966 
--  Annual Fuel Use: 920 L 
--  CO2 Emissions/yr: 2,116 kg

Pickup truck: Toyota Tacoma

--  2.7 L, 4 cylinder, 5-speed manual 
--  Fuel Consumption: city: 10.0 L/100 km (28 mi./gal.), highway: 7.7 L/100
    km (37 mi./gal.) 
--  Annual Fuel Cost: $1,869 
--  Annual Fuel Use: 1,780 L 
--  CO2 Emissions/yr: 4,094 kg

Special purpose vehicle: Ford Escape Hybrid

--  2.5 L, 4 cylinder hybrid, continuously variable (CVT) 
--  Fuel Consumption: city: 5.8 L/100 km (49 mi./gal.), highway: 6.5 L/100
    km (43 mi./gal.) 
--  Annual Fuel Cost: $1,281 
--  Annual Fuel Use: 1,220 L 
--  CO2 Emissions/yr: 2,806 kg

Minivan: Mazda5

--  2.5 L, 4 cylinder, 5-speed automatic (with manual mode) 
--  Fuel Consumption, city: 9.5 L/100 km (30 mi./gal.), highway: 6.7 L/100
    km (42 mi./gal.) 
--  Annual Fuel Cost: $1,743 
--  Annual Fuel Use: 1,660 L 
--  CO2 Emissions/yr: 3,818 kg

Large van: Ford Transit Connect Van

--  2.0 L, 4 cylinder, 4-speed automatic 
--  Fuel Consumption: city: 9.9 L/100 km (29 mi./gal.), highway: 7.4 L/100
    km (38 mi./gal.) 
--  Annual Fuel Cost: $1,848 
--  Annual Fuel Use: 1,760 L 
--  CO2 Emissions/yr: 4,048 kg

Le is gasoline litre equivalent; gale is gasoline imperial gallon equivalent.