The CR-V is a best-seller in the crowded five-passenger SUV market, competing against a slew of competitors including the Toyota RAV4, Ford Edge and Escape.
Now in its third generation, the CR-V has come a long way from its humble and boxy roots. The styling is sleek and rounded, while the ride and handling are decidedly car-like. With a 166 horsepower i-VTEC four-cylinder and 5 speed automatic, the CR-V never feels underpowered.
The EPA’s gas mileage estimates for the AWD CR-V are 20 city / 26 highway miles per gallon (MPG). Those numbers appear to be fairly accurate. While some readers have experienced lower MPG results, in a week of testing, we averaged 24.5 miles per gallon combined. Continue reading →
The Jeep Renegade Concept is a flashback and a flash forward. There’s no mistaking the visual cues … this little lime green beauty hearkens back to the legendary Meyers Manx dune buggy of the 1960s. But this is no air-cooled kit car dropped on a bug’s frame … it’s a rock ‘em, sock ‘em Bluetec diesel electric hybrid … with a bold target of 110 miles per gallon (MPG).
The tiny Bluetec diesel engine does not propel the car. It’s merely a generator that recharges the Lithium-Ion batteries (a la the Chevy Volt). The Renegade concept’s battery pack has a 40 mile range.
Who could resist a 110 MPG Hot Wheels car sprung to life, complete with a pair of scuba diver propulsion devices on the rear deck lid and a hose-out interior?
The Renegade Concept isn’t just the perfect beach house accessory … it could fill a very cool niche for beach patrols looking for a maneuverable, economical and green solution to lessen the dependence on gas-hungry SUVs and pickup trucks.
Here’s hoping that Jeep gives their little green gem the green light for production …
One of the keys to restarting the American economy is staring us in the face. While our future hinges on the rapid adoption of fuel-efficient vehicles, our government stands in the way of a rapid free market solution.
35 MPG can be an immediate reality, with one domestic manufacturer, if the United States government would only allow it to happen. Our elected representatives need to be aware of the facts and make the appropriate decisions.
Chrysler is uniquely positioned among the Big Three US automakers. Unlike Ford and General Motors, Chrysler is already building a slew of high-MPG diesel-powered vehicles right here in the United States.
Amazing as it may seem in these difficult times, Chrysler is not allowed to sell those cars domestically, due to recently tightened emissions regulations. With the exception of the domestically-available Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel, all of Chrysler’s North American manufactured high-MPG diesel-equipped vehicles are being shipped abroad.
Each and every one of Chrysler’s European models is available with a diesel engine, with the exception of the Dodge Viper. In fact, a diesel engine can be found under the hood of more than 50% of the vehicles that Chrysler sells in Europe.
All-in-all, a dozen Chrysler, Dodge, and Jeep diesel-engined models are currently available outside of the United States, but are not sold domestically.
Here’s the eye-opener … half of those models currently achieve 35 miles per gallon combined.
That’s 35 MPG … right now.
And what’s even more crazy? All of these 35 MPG cars and SUVs are built in North American plants by North American workers … American citizens cannot buy and drive the fuel-efficient cars they build.
The thriftiest of the bunch delivers nearly 50 MPG on the highway … and it’s no dog off the line, turning in 0-62 mile per hour (MPH) times under nine seconds. The fastest in the pack delivers 7.6 second 0-62 times and 35.6 MPG on the highway.
Needless to say, these are wonderful world-class cars, a world apart from your Uncle’s noisy, slow, smelly 80’s-era diesel.
The Legacy 3.0 R Limited is a five-star safety rated American-made All Wheel Drive sport luxury sedan that competes with the Audi A4 Quattro, BMW 335xi, and Volkswagen Passat 4Motion.
The EPA gas mileage estimates for the 2008 Legacy 3.0 R come in at 17 city / 24 highway. In a week of driving, we found those estimates to be low, as we achieved 27.3 on the highway and 21.9 in suburban driving in mid-thirty degree weather.
That’s not bad for an all wheel drive sedan with this much power.
The Legacy 3.0 R is fitted with a 3.0 liter six cylinder Subaru Boxer engine. The conventionally aspirated horizontally opposed six cranks out 245 horsepower and 215 foot pounds of torque.
When the Ford Edge was introduced in the 2007 model year, it marked a clear departure for Ford away from their traditional truck-based SUVs to a modern crossover platform. Nevertheless, the five-passenger 2008 Edge delivers average gas mileage for its size.
While the Edge is less stingy with gas than its stablemate, the Ford Escape Hybrid, it takes the lead when it comes to options like the voice-activated SYNC communication and media system, rear seat DVD system, and Panoramic Vista Roof.
Chrysler is uniquely positioned among the Big Three US automakers. Unlike Ford and General Motors, Chrysler is already building a slew of high-MPG diesel-powered vehicles right here in the United States. 
The thriftiest of the bunch delivers nearly 50 MPG on the highway … and it’s no dog off the line, turning in 0-62 mile per hour (MPH) times under nine seconds. The fastest in the pack delivers 7.6 second 0-62 times and 35.6 MPG on the highway. 
