Cars Consuming Premium Fuel On The Rise Despite Higher Crude Prices

The rise in oil prices is not keeping auto manufacturers from producing more cars that consume premium fuels.

According to research by Kelley Blue Brook, vehicles utilizing costlier fuels surged to 282 in 2008 in comparison to 166, six years ago. One has to wonder with all the hype about hybrids and ethanol fuel dependant automobiles, why this trend is prevalent?

The truth of the matter is that there is higher demand for compact cars with higher performance engines that use more expensive fuels – the use of premium fuel, in turn, increases power without comprimising on mileage.

General Motors’ GMC Yukon sport utility, Chevy Cobalt compact and Chevy HHR small SV; Mazda’s MX-5 sports car, CX-7 crossover and RX-8 sports coupe; Volkswagen’s Eos convertible and different versions of GTI, Jetta, Passatm R32 and Touareg are some of the most recent of these gas guzzlers.

David Champion, auto testing chief for Consumer Reports told USA Today, “People really, really, really dislike putting premium into their car. You see the cheaper fuel right in front of you, and you can’t use it.”