mpg-o-editor, Author at mpgomatic.com

2012 Nissan Juke SL Review

May 18, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

MPG-o-Matic 2012 Nissan Juke Review Summary: The Nissan Juke delivers solid performance but is saddled with an undeniably polarizing design. It’s one of those cars that must be driven to be understood. Nissan refers to the Juke as “The Bold Urban Sport Cross,” but it’s right at home on those country roads, spraying gravel. Folks will cross-shop the Juke against everything from the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota FJ to the Subaru WRX, Suzuki SX4, and MINI Countryman.

The 2012 Nissan Juke is powered by a turbocharged 1.6-liter 16-valve Sequential Direct Injection Gasoline (DIG) inline four-cylinder engine producing 188 horsepower (HP) and 177 foot pounds of torque. The Juke is available in front-wheel-drive (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD). A Continuously Variable automatic transmission (CVT) is fitted to both models, but a six-speed manual transmission is only available in FWD. The five-door hatchback is offered in three levels of trim: S, SV, and SL.

Hybrid vs Conventional: Are Hybrids Worth the Added Cost?

May 16, 2012May 16, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

There’s no shortage of folks that want you to believe that hybrid technology isn’t worth the added cost. They’ll throw an equation together that seems to prove their point, then hammer away at the issue without approaching the question without bias. There’s no question whether hybrids are more expensive. It’s whether or not you can expect to recoup the cost within the period of time that you own the vehicle.

In order to do so, you have to consider the specifics. You need to look at the characteristics of your driving cycles, then apply these to the equation. This can only happen when you take your annual miles driven into consideration, along with the percentage of city driving (as opposed to highway or rural driving), and your average local fuel prices.

Diesel vs. Gasoline: Is Diesel Worth the Added Cost?

May 16, 2012May 14, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

Folks are often distracted by the cost-differential between regular unleaded gasoline and diesel fuel. I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard variations of the same question, “how can you justify buying a diesel-powered car with the 30 cent difference between diesel and gasoline?”

Diesel engines can be as much as 30% more fuel efficient than the equivalent gasoline engine. The cost-differential between diesel fuel and regular unleaded varies depending on factors that include seasonal fluctuations, geographic location, and market demand.

So how do diesel cars save money over their gasoline engine counterparts, when diesel fuel is more expensive than regular unleaded gasoline?

What Does It Take to Make a Used Car Feel New Again?

May 11, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

It’s been said that for every new car sold each year in the United States, three used cars change hands. That’s a whopping number of cars – well into the tens of millions. As the vehicles move through the sales process, they’re refurbished to varying degrees. One of our goals here at MPGomatic is to create opportunities to make those used cars more fuel-efficient in the resale process. That’s why we’re so keen on our Honda Civic MPG project.

Updating a vehicle’s tires, wheels, and suspension can improve handling and increase MPGs, when the right components are chosen. A great set of low-rolling-resistance tires on lightweight alloys – along with new springs and shocks – bolt on quickly and can bring significant benefits. We’ve set out to answer the question … is it really possible to achieve tighter handling, an improved ride and better gas mileage with just one trip to the garage with strictly mechanical components?

2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Review

July 17, 2012May 10, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

Chevy Malibu Eco Bowtie MPG-o-Matic 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Eco Review Summary: The 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco dukes it out in the midsize sedan segment with the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, and Hyundai Sonata. General Motors chose to cast aside the flashy hybrid emblem of the Eco’s predecessor, in favor of a small green badge. The new Malibu Eco swaps in a 2.4-liter inline four and lithium-ion battery powered electric motor in place of the older Hybrid’s 3.6-liter V6 and NiMH battery pack. We found the new model to be quieter, faster, more fuel-efficient, and more refined.

The 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco is powered by a Direct Injected VVT 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine with eAssist that produces 182 horsepower (HP) and 171 foot pounds of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard.