While today’s hybrid gas mileage figures may seem impressive when compared to the majority of conventional vehicles on the market, there’s still a long way to go. This unfulfilled dream is clearly evident when studying the historical chart of hybrid gas mileage. The earliest models of the Honda Insight set the bar remarkably high (regardless of the change in the EPA’s testing procedures implemented in 2007); so high that they remain to be equaled by a production vehicle today.
Viewing the statistics, it’s easy to understand how the Insight hybrid achieved those remarkable gas mileage results. Weighing in at under a ton, Honda’s little spaceship had a big headstart, with a diminutive 1.0 liter three cylinder engine providing just enough oomph and efficiency to land the micro hybrid’s gas mileage in the stratosphere.
With the Insight put out to pasture after the 2006 model year, the Toyota Prius snatched the hybrid gas mileage crown, edging out the Honda Civic Hybrid. Continue reading →
I’ll be the first to admit that Nissan’s 3.8-liter 480 horsepower twin turbo V6 Skyline GT-R is more than a bit out of character for MPGomatic.com … but when we strolled by the bad boy at the New York Auto Show this week, I couldn’t resist the temptation to shoot a segment just for my kid. He’s been a fan since the first time he saw that silver Skyline in the second edition of Fast and the Furious …
While Nissan refers to their formidable GT-R as a supercar, I took the reference with a grain of salt after walking through a lobby full of Lamborghinis at the Javits Center on Thursday afternoon … even so, seeing the Skyline in the flesh for the first time, I felt that pang … and couldn’t resist shooting this video. My kid dug the footage so much that he volunteered to do the post production work in Final Cut …
Nissan unveiled the latest Maxima at the New York Auto Show this week. We skipped the press conference, but grabbed a nice long look to share with our friends. The 2009 Maxima is slated to arrive this summer, as Nissan marks a return to the “four-door sports car” of days gone by.
With an upgraded 3.5 liter V6 pumping out an estimated 290 horsepower (HP) and 261 pound feet of torque, the 2009 Maxima boasts a improvement of 35 HP and 9 foot pounds of torque over the present model. Nissan is aiming for ratings of 19 city / 26 highway, which is in line with the 2008 Maxima’s gas mileage.
The Altima Hybrid is a mid-sized front-wheel-drive sedan that competes with the Honda Civic Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid in the “hybrid that doesn’t look like a hybrid” market.
Hybrid vehicles typically get better gas mileage in the city than on the highway. The Altima is a case in point. The EPA gas mileage estimates for the 2008 Altima Hybrid come in at 35 city / 33 highway. In a week of driving in mid-thirty to fifty degree weather, our gas mileage met those numbers.
The compact Nissan Versa was introduced to America in the 2007 model year as the entry-level car in Nissan’s line up. The Versa delivers highway gas mileage in the low 30 mile per gallon (MPG) range and is available as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback. Nissan’s most affordable offering is frequently noted for its abundant and well-designed cabin and cargo space.
The 2008 Nissan Versa is equipped with a 1.8 liter DOHC four cylinder engine, producing 122 horsepower (HP) and 127 foot pounds of torque. The front-wheel drive Versa can be fitted with a six-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission.
Internationally, the Versa is also known as the Nissan Tiida. A high-MPG 1.5 liter common rail diesel is available in some markets abroad. The Renault-sourced diesel produces 105 HP and 240 Nm of torque, as well as remarkable mileage ratings (by American standards).
Nissan formed an agreement with Chrysler in January 2008 to begin distribution of the Versa in South America. This may open the door for Chrysler to sell a Dodge-branded version of the Versa in the USA.
