If you live in an area where temperatures plunge well below freezing, you might already know that grill blockers improve winter fuel economy a bit by keeping ultra-cold air out of the engine compartment. While cold weather presents challenges, we can fight back against Old Man Winter by taking simple measures to stabilize temperatures under the hood. Take a look at the trucks in any random parking lot; it’s no secret that engines are most efficient when run at an optimum temperature. Jury rigged apparatus abound at this time of year – from slabs of zip-tied quick-and-dirty cardboard on up to the most aerodynamic and weather-resistant designs. But you won’t find an off-the-shelf bolt-on product at AutoZone, PepBoys, or Costco. It’s all about the D-I-Y …
mpg-o-editor
Why Does Gas Mileage Get Worse in the Winter?
It’s no secret that the fuel economy of any given vehicle will be worse in the winter. It’s not just about the extended warm up time, as some might think. While it’s easy to blame it all on Old Man Winter, there’s a range of specific reasons why we experience lower MPGs at this time of year.
As luck would have it, I’m driving a 2013 Ford C-Max Hybrid this week. When the news hit the wire today about Consumer Reports failing to hit the official gas mileage estimates, I took it all with a grain of salt. They had similarly poor results with the Prius C earlier this year. Part of the reason why they fared even more poorly with the C-Max may have to do with the time of year. (I’ll address the Consumer Reports issue in a subsequent post.)
The Ford C-Max Hybrid: An Ideal Taxi?
While I’ve seen plenty of Prius taxis in New York City, they always seem to be greatly outnumbered by the traditional Ford Crown Victoria. Landing on the other coast last month proved to be an eye opener. I was taken aback by the sheer number of Toyota Prius taxis gliding about the streets of San Francisco. They were everywhere. Now I’ve never thought of the Prius to be well suited to taxi work from a passengers standpoint, but it’s easy to see the appeal from the fleet owner’s perspective. It comes down to dollars and cents. The drastic improvement in fuel economy between a gigantic sedan with a V8 engine and a (relatively) smaller and lighter vehicle with a hybrid drive train is undeniable.
2013 Ford Mustang V6 Premium Review
MPG-o-Matic 2013 Ford Mustang V6 Review Summary: With a starting price of $22,200, the base 2013 Mustang V6 delivers a whopping amount of punch for the dollar and great gas mileage, given the muscle that rumbles under the original pony car’s hood.
With a remarkably deep option list, you can easily increase the sticker price by a good fifty percent or so, as our test unit’s MSRP of $35,100 clearly shows. We found that some options may lead to a loss of fuel economy as a trade-off to increased performance that is not reflected by the window sticker.
Top 20 Best MPG Turbocharged Cars – 2012
Turbocharging is one of the best ways to make horsepower and torque without a negative impact on fuel economy. Our list of the most fuel-efficient turbocharged vehicles of 2012 is dominated by European manufacturers. With little surprise, the top spots go to the Volkswagen and Audi TDI turbo-diesels. The roomy Volkswagen Passat TDI leads the list at 31 city / 43 highway / 35 combined miles per gallon (MPG). You’ll find just one entry each for the American and Japanese manufacturers, with the Chevrolet Cruze ECO and Nissan Juke landing in the top ten. The spunky Fiat 500 Abarth earns a spot in the top ten, as well. On the other side of the coin, the Bugatti Veyron earns the Thirstiest Turbo of 2012 award with ratings of 8 city / 15 highway / 10 combined (not that it matters to the typical Veyron owner).
