The American Automobile Association (AAA) has released their revised 2020 edition of their Car Guide, which according to their website is created for consumers so they can “understand the latest automotive technology so they can purchase vehicles that best suit their needs.”
The guide covers categories like ‘Top 10 Vehicle Ratings Overall’, ‘Best Vehicles Above $50K’, and ‘Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles’.
While you might think the Tesla Model 3 would top at least one of those lists, particularly the one for fuel efficiency, you’d be wrong, as AAA named the Nissan Leaf SV Plus as the winner, with the Jaguar I-Pace as the runner-up.
At least we think that’s how they ranked them, because their list is a little confusing. The Jaguar I-Pace EV400 HSE received a rating of 89 out of 130, the highest on the list. Yet the Nissan Leaf SV Plus receiving a rating of 85 out of 130, but that was apparently enough to give it the #1 category ranking.
Then there’s the Kia Niro EV EX Premium, which achieved a rating of 86 out of 130, but was placed 3rd in the category.
However the rankings actually work, it’s surprising because the Nissan Leaf SV Plus, while still very fuel efficient only gets a combined city/highway rating of 94MPGe. The Jaguar I-Pace is even lower at a combined rating of 72MPGe.
But none of the cars on their list come close to the rating of the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus (SR+), which is the most fuel efficient electric vehicle ever tested with a combined rating of 141MPGe.
Related: Tesla Model Y now the most efficient SUV and limited production has already begun
The AAA website doesn’t mention how or why they picked the automotive brands that appeared on their list. Some of the vehicles on their lists include the IIHS Top Safety Pick+, something which the Tesla Model 3 has already won this year.
Not only that, but the complete edition of their 2020 Car Guide discusses Tesla and it’s safety features at length, so it seems a little strange that it wouldn’t be included in their analysis of most fuel efficient vehicles.
Why do you think Tesla didn’t make their list of most fuel efficient vehicles? Let us know in the comments below.
