The Geo Metro repeated as the most fuel-efficient car on the American road among 1997 models, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
The EPA said in its latest annual review of automobile gas mileage that the Geo Metro got 44 miles per gallon in city driving and 49 mpg on the highway.The General Motors subcompact has been the top mileage achiever in seven of the past eight years. Two years ago it came in second to the Honda Civic hatchback but regained the top spot last year.
Runnerup among 1997 models were two Volkswagens - the Golf-GTI die
sel and the Jetta - both at 40 mpg in the city and 49 mpg on the highway. Volkswagen, which had no cars in the top 10 last year, had four among this year's leaders.
Also in the top 10 were a second version of the Geo Metro, the Suzuki Swift, two Honda Civics and the Ford Aspire.
As has been the case in most years, luxury and high-performance cars were at other end of the list. The gas-guzzling champ was the Vector Aeromotive Avtech SC, a limited-edition automobile that gets nine mpg in city driving and 13 on the highway.
The other worst gas guzzlers were: two models of the Ferrari 456 (nine city, 15 highway, and 10 city, 16 highway); and seven models of the Rolls-Royce, all 11 mpg in city driving and 14 to 16 mpg on the highway.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Tops in gas mileage
The 1997 model vehicles with the best gasoline mileage in miles per gallon in city, highway driving, according to the Environmental Protection Agency:
Model City Highway
Geo Metro 44 49
Volks Golf-GTI 40 49
Volks Jetta 40 49
Geo Metro 39 43
Suzuki Swift 39 43
Volks Passat 38 47
Passat Wagon 38 47
Honda Civic 37 44
Ford Aspire 34 42
Honda Civic 34 38
Note: Models with identical names have different mileage because of variations in engine size or transmission systems.