Electric cars have become popular in recent years thanks to the introduction of the Toyota Prius in 1997. Although the Prius is a hybrid electric vehicle, it reintroduced the world to how much of a positive environmental impact these vehicles can have and led to the continued popularity of these fuel-efficient vehicles.
However, the Prius wasn’t the first EV on the market. This title goes to the first commercially successful EV known as the Electrobat, which was patented in 1894. Since then, there have been numerous EVs in use in the early part of the 20th century, from ambulances to the Studebaker Electric. The invention of a cheaper alternative in 1908, the Ford Model T, led to the downfall of early electric vehicles.
As a result of increased environmental concern, as well as increased gas prices, the last decade has marked the emergence of a number of up-and-coming electric vehicle companies. The leader in the EV movement has been Tesla, which has led the way for many other companies to introduce their own electric vehicles. Major automakers are increasingly offering electric models in different classes. Ford somewhat shockingly released an electric version of what has long been the top-selling car in America: the F-150. But for as many new electric and highly fuel-efficient hybrid cars as there are on the market, there are still plenty of gas-guzzling vehicles for the many Americans who scoff at the green movement.
Average emissions from new vehicles have dropped significantly over the past four decades, but the most egregious gas guzzlers are lagging behind when it comes to fuel efficiency. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average passenger vehicle emits around 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. The least fuel-efficient vehicles average more than triple that.
To find the least fuel-efficient cars for 2023, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed greenercars.org ratings of 2023 model year cars based on the report GreenerCars 2023: Efficiency and Weight — Not Just Electric vs. Gas — Shape Environmental Impact. Greenercars.org is part of the nonprofit research organization American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Cars are ranked based on the Green Score, which runs on a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 being the least polluting and 0 most polluting. The environmental damage index reflects the cost to human health from all emissions in cents per mile.
The least fuel-efficient vehicles (that are not super luxury like Bugatti or Ferrari) are muscle cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks. Larger, heavier vehicles naturally take more energy to operate and generally consume more gasoline. Although many companies make fuel-efficient vehicles, like the Hybrid Toyota Highlander, with an average mpg of 35, which is 40% better than traditional gas SUVs, they are still not as popular. Although sales are increasing and the prices of hybrids, by companies like Ford, have been getting lower in an effort to entice buyers.
Vehicles with high-performance combustion engines need a massive amount of power, which equates to burning a lot of fuel. These vehicles, which are considered the worst polluting cars in America, with their low fuel efficiency, are not cheap to purchase or run. Almost all are recommended to use premium gasoline, and most have MRSPs of $70,000 or more. Many of these vehicles have similar, more fuel-efficient models, including hybrid and electric models. (Here are The Best Cities to Drive an Electric Vehicle.)
The vehicles with the absolute worst fuel efficiency are the SUVs and pickup trucks that have supercharged engines. These heavy vehicles use a tremendous amount of gas to produce rapid acceleration, high speeds, and considerable torque. (These are the most fuel efficient full-size SUVs.)
Click here to see the worst new cars for humans and the environment.
12. Dodge Charger SRT Widebody
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.17 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions: 13 tons per year
- Weight: 5,000 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 12 mpg; Highway: 21 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $6.98
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $12,000
- MSRP: $81,040
The Charger SRT Widebody is a supercharged muscle car that Dodge claims to be the world’s fastest four-door muscle car. That much power burns a considerable amount of fuel. It is the lightest car on this list at 5,000 pounds and is one of the few vehicles that is not an SUV or truck.
11. BMW X6 M
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.18 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions (tons/year): 13
- Weight: 5,500 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 13 mpg; Highway: 18 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $6.98
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $12,000
- MSRP: $113,700
The X6 M is an all-wheel drive large SUV that uses premium gasoline, and a lot of it considering its fuel economy of 13 mpg in the city and 18 on the highway. The luxury SUV is a high-performance vehicle that packs a V-8 engine and a maximum of 617 horsepower.
10. Chevrolet SILVERADO 4WD ZR2
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.19 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions (tons/year): 13
- Weight: 6,000 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 14 mpg; Highway: 17 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $6.98
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $12,000
- MSRP: $70,100
Chevrolet offers several models of the Silverado, its standard pickup truck. The ZR2 is the supercharged version with several features designed for off-roading. It packs a 6.2 liter V8 engine that gets 14 mpg in the city and 17 on the highway.
9. Ford BRONCO RAPTOR 4WD
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.19 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions (tons/year): 13
- Weight: 6,000 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 15 mpg; Highway: 16 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $5.57
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $7,750
- MSRP: $73,780
The Ford Bronco was brought back for the 2021 model year after a 25-year hiatus. The Raptor 4WD has a V6 engine that packs 418 horsepower and is also designed with additional features for off-roading.
8. BMW X5 M
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.21 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions (tons/year): 13
- Weight: 6,000 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 13 mpg; Highway: 18 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $6.98
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $12,000
- MSRP: $108,900
The X5 M is another high-performance luxury SUV from BMW. The X5 M retails for a little cheaper than the X6 M but is even less fuel efficient.
7. Mercedes-Benz G 550
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.28 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions (tons/year): 13
- Weight: 6,000 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 13 mpg; Highway: 16 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $7.48
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $13,500
- MSRP: $141,050
The G 550 has the second highest MSRP of vehicles on this list and is a high-performance luxury SUV. The boxy vehicle has become a symbol of wealth but is terrible for the environment.
6. Jeep Grand Wagoneer 4×4
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.29 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions (tons/year): 13
- Weight: 6,500 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 13 mpg; Highway: 18 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $6.98
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $12,000
- MSRP: $89,995
Two Jeeps make the list for their poor fuel-efficiency. The Grand Wagoneer 4×4 is a large SUV that has three rows of seating and room for eight passengers. It also has a high-performance engine with considerable horsepower and torque.
5. Jeep Wrangler 4dr 4X4
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.33 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions (tons/year): 14
- Weight: 5,500 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 13 mpg; Highway: 17 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $7.48
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $13,500
- MSRP: $45,730
The Wrangler 4dr 4X4 is less expensive and smaller than the Wagoneer but does even worse in fuel efficiency. The Wrangler is a mid-size SUV that is equipped with off-roading features and a powerful engine.
4. Dodge Durango SRT AWD
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.44 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions (tons/year): 14
- Weight: 6,000 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 12 mpg; Highway: 17 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $8.06
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $15,250
- MSRP: $92,780
The Durango SRT AWD is a large SUV equipped with a supercharged engine that packs 710 horsepower. Dodge claims it is America’s fastest SUV, and it is branded as a crossover between an SUV and a muscle car.
3. Cadillac Escalade V AWD
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.58 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions (tons/year): 15
- Weight: 7,000 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 11 mpg; Highway: 16 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $8.06
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $15,250
- MSRP: $149,195
The Escalade V AWD has the highest MSRP on this list and gets just 11 miles per gallon in the city. The high-performance luxury SUV averages 15 tons of emissions per year while retailing for nearly $150,000. The Escalade V has a supercharged engine that burns even more fuel than the standard Escalade engine.
2. Ford F150 RAPTOR R 4WD
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.67 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions (tons/year): 16
- Weight: 6,500 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 10 mpg; Highway: 15 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $6.96
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $12,000
- MSRP: $107,350
The base Ford F150 is a standard pickup truck that gets around 20 mpg in the city. The F150 Raptor R 4WD has a supercharged engine that rapidly burns through gasoline, getting 10 in the city and 15 on the highway.
1. RAM 1500 TRX 4×4
- Cost to the environment (per vehicle): 2.78 cents per mile
- Greenhouse gas emissions (tons/year): 16
- Weight: 7,000 pounds
- Fuel economy: City: 10 mpg; Highway: 14 mpg
- Cost to drive 25 miles: $8.73
- Extra spending over 5 yrs compared to avg vehicle: $17,250
- MSRP: $86,450
The RAM 1500 TRX 4×4 is the least fuel-efficient vehicle out there. Like the F150 Raptor, it is the supercharged version of the RAM’s base 1500 pickup truck. The high-performance truck rapidly burns through premium fuel
Methodology
To find the least fuel-efficient cars for 2023, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed greenercars.org ratings of 2023 model year cars based on the report GreenerCars 2023: Efficiency and Weight — Not Just Electric vs. Gas — Shape Environmental Impact. Greenercars.org is part of the nonprofit research organization American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). To avoid repetition, only the lowest-scored model for each car is included. Also, because the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are identical, GreenerCars also included the Silverado.
The organization determines its ratings based on fuel economy and emissions results from different sources as well as estimated pollution from vehicle manufacturing, from the production and distribution of fuel, and from vehicle tailpipes. The combined emissions estimate factors into a Green Score that runs on a scale from 0 to 100, with 100 being the least polluting and 0 most polluting. The environmental damage index reflects the cost to human health from all emissions in cents per mile.
Most data is from the report, except for five-year extra spending in fuel costs for each vehicle compared to an average vehicle, which came from the Environmental Protection Agency’s fueleconomy.gov site. The manufacturer suggested retail price came either from the EPA site or from Car and Driver.
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