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Entries Tagged 'diesel' ↓
February 11th, 2009 — diesel, vw
Sometimes, things work out for the best. I’ve been happy as a clam this week, test driving a 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Sportwagen. I had initially hoped to test drive the Jetta TDI last summer when the model was first reintroduced to America, but circumstances being what they’ve been, the opportunity did not present itself until now.
And that’s a nice turn of fate.
At the peak of last summer’s gas price madness, diesel fuel was a dollar or so more expensive than regular gasoline, with prices dancing around five dollars a gallon. As gas prices crashed last fall, diesel fuel prices fell, but a large price differential remained between gasoline and diesel. At some point, that gap began to narrow. Now I’m not going to be a complete cynic and attribute the narrowing gap to the departure of the oil men from Our Nation’s Capitol, but it does seem odd. Perhaps what we’re seeing right now is a result of the switch in refinery production from heating oil to diesel fuel. Or not. I was just glad to have not paid five bucks a gallon testing a car that I was drooling to drive … for hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of miles (for your benefit, of course).
This morning, with the Jetta TDI’s tank just under half full, I decided to head up the road a few miles to the next town to fill up the tank. Now some folks still cling to the thought that diesel fuel is hard to come buy.
To that I gladly and wholeheartedly say hogwash.
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February 8th, 2009 — diesel, gas mileage, review
We spend a good bit of time testing small vehicles here at MPGomatic, for one basic reason. Small vehicles represent not just the present, but the future of transportation for most parts of the world. In Europe, where fuel prices are astronomical, small cars rule the roost. But in here in America, the popularity of small vehicles has had its fits and starts, as well as its Fits and Smarts (if you’ll pardon the pun). We’ve been able to live life large out on the road, due to the relatively inexpensive cost of gasoline. The SUV phenomena was a direct result of our nation’s lack of a coherent energy policy.
Our legislators recently set the goal of a national fleet average of 35 miles per gallon by the year 2020. This was not a lofty or ambitious goal. In fact, it’s achievable today … should we choose to express a preference to buy a small vehicle. The automakers are in a pickle: they need to sell what the public will buy. Our perceptions need to change. Folks have to look at small vehicles as a desirable purchase, rather then a compromise.
We’ve test driven some fantastic small vehicles over the past year. While our absolute favorites – the MINI Cooper D and BMW 123d – are diesel-powered European models that have not yet been imported to America, the trend is clear. All of the German automakers are now marketing highly fuel-efficient clean diesels in the United States, and we’ll be reviewing each and every one, as schedules permit.
Small Vehicle Reviews
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GM’s entry-level small car offers fuel efficiency and a low sticker price.
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An efficient four-cylinder engine and Microsoft Sync audio system make the Focus a popular choice.
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Honda’s low-key, high-MPG hybrid delivers excellent fuel economy in a well-rounded package.
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The fun-to-drive Mazda3 easily exceeds the official estimates when driven sensibly.
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The ever-so-slightly larger Mini Cooper Clubman handles like a dream and gets great mileage.
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While it’s not exactly a small vehicle, the Nissan Altima Hybrid is the sportiest of the hybrids.
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The Nissan Versa isn’t just a highly affordable fuel-efficient vehicle, it has a quite a roomy interior, to boot.
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Think American cars can’t deliver the MPGs? Think again. The Pontiac G5 XFE’s highway MPGs top the charts.
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The Saturn Astra could sell like hotcakes here in America, as it does in Europe … if GM made one simple change.
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The Scion xD scoots about with style. Consider it a canvas just waiting for customization.
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The AWD Suzuki SX4 Crossover isn’t just the least expensive AWD in America, it’s packed with features.
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Toyota Corolla is the perennial choice for mileage conscious commuters.
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The space-age Toyota Prius hybrid achieves remarkable gas mileage when driven sensibly.
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Real world MPG results on the Yaris are so good, there must be a conspiracy to cover them up.
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The convertible VW EOS is like nothing else on the road.
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A rare sight on the streets, the Volvo C30 is one of our favorite small vehicles.
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January 21st, 2009 — diesel, gas mileage, trucks
Pickup truck gas mileage is ripe for improvement. With today’s most fuel efficient small pickup trucks only reaching the mid-twenty mile per gallon (MPG) range on the highway, it’s clear that there’s much work to be done. At one point in time, not all that long ago, America had a domestically produced 45 MPG pickup truck. Decades later, the best truck gas mileage we can do is roughly half that amount. It’s sad but true.
One basic change could be made to improve our trucks gas mileage results: replace the gasoline engines with diesels. But as of this writing, not one manufacturer has committed to selling a small pickup truck with a diesel here in the United States. The problem, in many ways, is related to our country’s lack of a coherent energy policy that would put diesel fuel on the same footing as gasoline. Per gallon pricing is the barrier … and the opportunity.
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January 21st, 2009 — awd, diesel, gas mileage, hybrid
There’s no better time then the dead of winter to test AWD gas mileage. (As I write this, I’m in the midst of reviewing an AWD 2009 Mazda CX-7 GT. While the official estimates are par for the course, I’ve been able to exceed the numbers on the window sticker.) Unfortunately, AWD gas mileage is nearly always lower than the FWD variant … when all four wheels are driven, fuel economy always suffers. It comes down to simple physics. Even the best gas mileage AWDs top out in the 30 mile per gallon (MPG) highway range.
A good number of the current AWD gas mileage champs use hybrid technology. I’ve put the Lexus 400h, Ford Escape Hybrid, and Toyota Highlander Hybrid to the gas mileage test over the past year and have achieved excellent results with each vehicle.
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January 14th, 2009 — diesel, gm, vw
From the looks of the mob of reporters and cameras, one might have thought that a pop culture icon had descended upon the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) floor.
But it was not a Grammy-winning diva or Hollywood actress flocked by paparazzi … it was a man in the running for the Motor City’s least favorite Washington politician, Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee.
After exiting from a proverbial back room, Corker made his rounds of the NAIAS show floor, starting with the GM booth, where he received a car-by-car briefing on the latest designs and technology from the largest of the Detroit Three.
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