Cars That Kill You at the Pump

Gas is pushing $4.00 per gallon in many states, and the active hurricane season doesn’t bode well for future oil prices either. Everyone has been feeling some degree of pain at the pump ever since oil prices shot up. As a result, some drivers have opted to purchase smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles that are friendlier to the environment and a lot cheaper to drive. Others, however, are staying strong with their gas guzzling SUVs and other eco-unfriendly rides. However, you might think you drive a car with reasonable gas mileage, but looks can be deceptive. We’ve made a list of the top ten cars with unexpectedly bad gas mileage and compiled some tips to help you make the most of what you drive.

Ten Cars with Shockingly Bad Gas Mileage

Here are ten closet gas guzzlers:

2008 Saab 9-7x Aero: 12 mpg city, 16 mpg hwy
2008 Jeep Wrangler: 15 mpg city, 19 mpg hwy
2008 Jeep Liberty: 15 mpg city, 21 mpg hwy
2008 Saturn Vue XE: 15 mpg city, 22 mpg hwy
2008 Pontiac G6 GT: 15 mpg city, 22 mpg hwy
2008 Mazda RX-8: 16 mpg city, 22 mpg hwy
2008 Mazda CX-7: 16 mpg city, 22 mpg hwy
2008 Volvo S80: 16 mpg city, 24 mpg hwy
2008 Pontiac Solstice: 19 mpg city, 24 mpg hwy
2008 Saturn Sky: 19 mpg city, 24 mpg hwy

How to Improve Gas Mileage

So you might be shocked and dismayed to find out you drive a closet gas guzzler, but not all hope is lost. Here are some tips to maximize the gas mileage you get, no matter what kind of car you drive.

Get regular tune-ups. You can save 11.4 miles per gallon by properly maintaining your car. You want to make sure your air filter is in good shape, your spark plugs are not worn, and your oil is clean.
Inflate your tires properly. Underinflated tires will cause your car to use more fuel. You can save up to 3.3% on gas by keeping your tires to the proper inflation specified in your owner’s manual.
Drive steady, drive slowly. Experts say that for every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph, you are essentially adding $0.10-$0.20 per gallon of gas you buy. So reduce your speed to increase your fuel economy. Also avoid stop-and-go traffic whenever possible, and avoid jackrabbit starts and stops so you don’t waste gas unnecessarily trying to drive like a NASCAR champ.