FWIW, according to the car's computer, I'm currently getting 41.6 mpg average lifetime on my manual Jetta TDI and it appears to be still slowly climbing (about 0.1 MPG per 100 miles or so). This is at 2,200 miles and includes a blend of 40% city and 60% highway driving at prevailing speeds.

In the least efficient category, we have to remember that above a certain weight (8,500lbs, IIRC - which is why the Hummer H2 is 8,600lbs) you don't have to report for economy. So there are some trucks on the road that are getting worse than what's in the list.

More support for small diesels. Compute the amount of embodied energy in each of these cars against their projected usable lifetimes. I have not done it yet, but I would bet my '05 Golf TDI (now running with a Greasecar kit on waste vegetable oil) that the diesels win hands down.
BTW, before I installed the kit, I was getting 47mpg on fossil diesel. The car was nowhere near broken in (worse mileage first 10-20 thousand miles) and I am a "spirited" driver. I paid $20,500 for the GLS, loaded.

I wonder how the Smart For2 stacks up.

What about the Lamborghini Murcielago?

9 mpg city / 13 mpg hwy

Or the Bugatti Veyron?

that thing eats 5 liters of fuel per minute.

Aren't diesels worse polluters, though? I've heard that they aren't worth the tradeoff - fuel efficiency vs. pollution?

The newer diesels meet the EPA regs just like everyone else, and with cleaner fuel on tap for next year it should only get better. On the other hand, the regulations are at least partly to blame for why the new VWs *only* get MPG in the forties. My 1984 VW Rabbit diesel gets 40MPG average, but doesn't meet EPA emissions requirements for current models (its also more noisy, has lousy accel, and isn't as comfortable. But hey, it was a $500 car eight years ago.)

I am very pleased with the MPG obtained with my 2006 Scion XB (toaster on wheels). On a long haul, I average 42 MPG, 38 MPG every day mixed driving. This with a 4 cyl., 5-speed manual trans and 87 octane gasoline. I would love the vehicle to accept E-85 or for Scion to do a hybrid. I laugh whenever a big Dodge Ram hemi speeds by me at 8 MPG. I guess he must be driving to the bank - to withdraw more $$$ for gasoline!

im planning to get a dodge hemi in a few days. i've been to "treehugger" camps and i know very well what's causing what in the environment. i have a comment with the person who said they were passed up by an 8 mpg ram who was probably going to the bank to get more money to pay for gas. you sound like you are jealous or hold some kind of resentment just because you were passed up. you have the classical signs of someone who is. dodge rams with hemi's get better gas mileage than you would think. it depends on the driving habits of the person just like it does with you and your treehugger of a car. someone said they get 22 mpg highway with their hemi (and yes its possible).

i've seen one "eco-fanatic" site that supported and encouraged its members and other people to give the finger to people they saw driving hummers. now, not only supported, BUT ENCOURAGED it. the site even had pictures. i really dont see the point in getting a vehicle like a hummer that gets gallons to the miles rather than miles to the gallon but to each his own. my point for bringing that up was that things that are supposed to be good can be taken way to far. i havent seen anything like that on this site yet which is kudo's to it and it's members. i've got a 2006 chevy cobalt ss right now that gets 30.9 miles to the gallon. someone might ask why get rid of it for a bigger, fuel consuming engine. the reason is that the car cant take a hit. i've spent enough money on repairs from hitting animals to make up well enough on the money i saved on gas. btw, i am a very responsible driver. small cars are good for cities and all but they cant take a lot of damage. every vehicle ever made has depended upon one thing that determined how many miles it got to the gallon, and that one thing is the driver. the making of fuel efficient vehicles is a very smart idea of not polluting as much, and i am not against, nor hate or resent anyone who owns one.