If you’re one of those “I’m going to fill up tomorrow morning” types, pay attention. MarketWatch Guides recently published a study outlining the vehicles that offer the shortest driving distances after the fuel light comes onSo don’t ignore the warnings if you own one of the vehicles on the list.
The Hyundai Kona 2.0 Essential was the vehicle that offered the shortest distance with low fuel consumption, at 36.97 miles. Other vehicles on the list include:
MarketWatch calculated those numbers by looking at each vehicle’s maximum fuel tank capacity. It divided the total by ten to determine a ten percent low fuel mark and then used each models fuel consumption ratings to calculate a range. It is worth noting that a number of factors can affect fuel consumption, including weather, driving style and road conditions.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Toyota RAV4 offers over 73 miles of range, closely followed by the Ford F-150. Some of the models MarketWatch lists are not sold here, such as the RAV4 Icon FWD, but the vehicles are close enough in configuration to the US configurations to give a good approximation of driving distances with low fuel consumption.
Most experts advise against regularly driving with a low fuel light on. This can damage the fuel pumpfilter and other engine components. When the tank is almost empty, fuel pump can pick up dirt and sediment from the bottom of the tank, which can clog the fuel filter or overheat the pump.