While it's true that some manufacturers have begun churning out a surprising number of incredibly efficient vehicles, it's still possible to get a gas guzzler. I asked Jody Victor to give us the top 10 gas guzzling cars, trucks or SUVs that anybody can aspire to park in their own garage, or not, as the case may be.
Jody Victor: To be fair, I left superexotic cars with 16 cylinders and as many turbochargers off the list, also "special" models and any car over $100,000 - all too easy a target. So, here's the list (according to the EPA's "Model Year 2010 Fuel Economy Guide") of the 10 worst gas guzzlers from the 2010 model year.
Hummer H3 Alpha - While Hummer has a reputation as the Earth-crushing leviathan that is single-handedly responsible for all of the oil drilling in Alaskan preserves, the reality is that the H3 Alpha manages 13 mpg city/16 mpg highway. Those figures aren't bad for the level of off-road capability the Hummer provides.
GMC Sierra 1500 4WD - The GMC Sierra 1500 4WD is one of just two full-size trucks on our list. With a massive 6.2-liter V8 engine and a heavy 4-wheel-drive system, the pride of The General's hauling fleet doesn't have anything to brag about at the pumps. Expect 12 mpg city/19 mpg highway, good for 14 mpg combined.
Nissan Armada 4WD - While the common conception is that Japanese automakers create more efficient vehicles than their domestic counterparts, the truth is slightly different in the case of the appropriately named Nissan Armada. This thing can seat eight people and tow more than 9,000 pounds. A big 5.6-liter V8 engine swallows gas by the bucketful, dishing our around 12 mpg city/18 mpg highway.
Lexus LX 570 - With its 5.7-liter V8 engine and full-time 4-wheel-drive system, the LX 570 could be the poster child for inefficiency, which is somewhat ironic coming form a company that specializes in hybrid drivetrains. Throw in a curb weight of 6,000 pounds and the Lexus LX 570 manages just 12 mpg city'18 mpg highway.
Mercedes-Benz GL 550 - The Mercedes-Benz GL 550 is as big as you can get from the Silver Arrow without stepping up to the $100,000-plus G-Class. In the GL 550, a 5.5-liter V8 engine produces 382 horsepower, and the cavernous interior makes room for up to seven passengers. Even with an efficient 7-speed automatic transmission, this big guy manages only 12 mpg city/17 mpg highway - 14 mpg combined.
Nissan Titan 4WD - It's hard to believe that Nissan, a company known for its small, fuel-efficient cars, could be capable of a truck with the Titan's consumption habits. At 12 mpg city/17 mpg highway, the truck is no green machine. Those figures come courtesy of a huge 5.6-liter V8 engine and a go-anywhere 4-wheel-drive system.
Infiniti QX56 - By now you can probably guess what that"56" stands for in the QX56's name. Yes it represents the same 5.6-liter V8 engine found in the Nissan Titan 4WD and the Nissan Armada 4WD. Throw in 6,011 pounds of all the luxury you'd ever need and suddenly you're at 12 mpg city/17 mpg highway. Expect those numbers to plummet if you take advantage of the 8.900-pound towing capacity.
Land Rover LR$ - The LR4 brings a heap of luxury to the equation, and its 5.0-liter V8 produces 375 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque. That's more than enough to overcome whatever obstacle is in your way but it's not going to do you any favors at the pump. Expect 12 mpg city/17 mpg highway.
Land rover Range Rover Sport - While the Range Rover Sport technically uses a smaller, 4.2-liter V8, the hefty blower on top of the engine helps the SUV produce 510 horsepower and 461 lb-ft of torque. All that extra gusto means the Range Rover sport manages just 12 mpg city/17 mpg highway for 14 mpg combined.
Porsche Cayenne GTS - So what truck, SUV, car takes top honors as the vehicle with the worst fuel economy of the bunch? The 2010 Porsche Cayenne GTS. This high-riding German utility vehicle uses a 4.8-liter V8 engine with 405 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. All that power serves up numbers of 11 mpg city/17 mpg highway.
Thanks, Jody! Something to think about.