Entries Tagged 'gas mileage' ↓

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

	Chevy Aveo5 GM’s entry-level small car offers fuel efficiency and a low sticker price.
	Ford Focus An efficient four-cylinder engine and Microsoft Sync audio system make the Focus a popular choice.
	Honda Civic Hybrid Honda’s low-key, high-MPG hybrid delivers excellent fuel economy in a well-rounded package.
	Mazda3 The fun-to-drive Mazda3 easily exceeds the official estimates when driven sensibly.
	MINI Cooper Clubman The ever-so-slightly larger Mini Cooper Clubman handles like a dream and gets great mileage.
	Nissan Altima Hybrid While it’s not exactly a small vehicle, the Nissan Altima Hybrid is the sportiest of the hybrids.
	Nissan Versa The Nissan Versa isn’t just a highly affordable fuel-efficient vehicle, it has a quite a roomy interior, to boot.
	Pontiac G5 XFE Think American cars can’t deliver the MPGs? Think again. The Pontiac G5 XFE’s highway MPGs top the charts.
	Saturn Astra The Saturn Astra could sell like hotcakes here in America, as it does in Europe … if GM made one simple change.
	Scion xD The Scion xD scoots about with style. Consider it a canvas just waiting for customization.
	Suzuki SX4 Crossover The AWD Suzuki SX4 Crossover isn’t just the least expensive AWD in America, it’s packed with features.
	Toyota Corolla Toyota Corolla is the perennial choice for mileage conscious commuters.
	Toyota Prius The space-age Toyota Prius hybrid achieves remarkable gas mileage when driven sensibly.
	Toyota Yaris Real world MPG results on the Yaris are so good, there must be a conspiracy to cover them up.
	Volkswagen EOS The convertible VW EOS is like nothing else on the road.
	Volvo C30 A rare sight on the streets, the Volvo C30 is one of our favorite small vehicles.

It’s a common question. Folks look at the charts of any particular long running model and they wonder. Pour over the Honda Civic gas mileage figures for the past three decades, for example, and you can’t help but scratch your head.

But when you consider the changes in today’s cars, compared to those of the late seventies and early eighties, it all begins to make sense. The modern Civic is much more complex, much larger, and much heavier than its counterpart three decades ago.

Today’s Honda Fit is more akin to yesteryear’s Civic, yet it’s so much more.

I’m in the midst of testing a Fit this week and I can’t help but think how much it reminds me of my trusty old 1983 Honda Civic S. (I didn’t leave the “i” off … the S model predated the Si.) But the Civic’s interior was much tighter inside than the Fit. That’s not to say that it couldn’t haul stuff. I used the little hatchback as a moving van more than once, back in the day. But when I flipped the Fit’s Magic Seat around the first time, I was flabbergasted. There’s a remarkable amount of cargo space inside the little critter.

And the highway mileage?

It’s good. Really good. This is one of the cars that responds so well to light-footed driving that you have to question the official numbers …

I had the good fortune to sit down with Barb Samardzich, Ford’s Vice President of Powertrain Engineering at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show with the camera rolling. I’ve been intrigued by Ford’s decision to aggressively pursue their EcoBoost (turbocharged direct-injection) here in the States, rather than take the diesel route. We shot this candid discussion in one take, in a conference room in the second floor of Ford’s sprawling booth. While there was no editing of the flow of the conversation, I took the liberty of cutting away to supporting displays in the booth to liven things up.

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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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I’ve test driven a lot of vehicles over the last six months or so, spending a week with each of the best selling hybrids, as well as a handful of the smaller SUVs and a slew of small fuel-efficient vehicles. Over this time, I’ve come to realize that there’s a very simple way to increase gas mileage without spending a dime or taking undue risks. This gas saving technique is remarkably simple, yet many folks have never given it a try.

It all starts by asking yourself this basic question …

When you’re driving, what percentage of the time is your foot completely off the accelerator? To be clear: not resting on the accelerator, but resting on the carpet.
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