Fuel Efficient Towing?
With average gas prices across the US reaching well over $3, fuel efficiency is on almost everyone’s mind. Add that to the fact that boating and camping season officially opened last weekend, and you might think it’s time to do some research about the most fuel efficient towing vehicles.
According to www.edmunds.com, the top three most fuel efficient suv and truck models of 2007 are:
1. Ford Escape Hybrid mpg: 36 city / 31 highway
2. Mercury Mariner Hybrid mpg: 32 city / 29 highway
3. Lexus RX 400h mpg: 32 city / 27 highway
Toyota Highlander Hybrid mpg: 32 city / 27 highway
It would seem what you gain in fuel efficiency however, you lose in towing capacity, even if your pulling a light tent trailer Case in point, the conventional V6 Ford Escape (24 mpg city / 29 mpg highway) with towing package and the Premier Mercury Mariner (19 city / 23 highway), each tow 3500 lbs, while their sister hybrids have only a 1000 lb towing capability.
There is some good news though, in the Lexus RX 400h, a hybrid, you will find 3500 lbs towing capacity. And, even better is that next year’s (2008) Toyota Highlander Hybrid with tow package can tow up to 5000 lbs! Three cheers for Toyota’s engineers whose work increased the highlander’s safety ratings, brought the horsepower up to 270 hp and maintained excellent SUV mpg at 31 city and 27 highway.
