mpg-o-editor

2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas (CNG) Review

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2012 Honda Civic CNG MPG-o-Matic 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas Review Summary: The Honda Civic Natural Gas might not burn rubber, but it doesn’t burn a single drop of petroleum, imported or otherwise. On a car-per-car basis, it does more to reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil than any hybrid, whether plug-in or not. Its tailpipe is the cleanest of any vehicle sold with a tailpipe today. With 100% compressed natural gas (CNG) selling for just a fraction of the cost of unleaded gasoline, it’s win-win-win. But be sure to check for sufficient CNG stations in your area before you sign on the bottom line.

The 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas is equipped with an inline four-cylinder engine displacing 1.8-liters and a five-speed automatic transmission with Grade Logic control. The SOHC i-VTEC four produces 110 horsepower (HP) and 106 foot pounds of torque. These numbers are substantially lower than the conventionally fueled 1.8-liter Civic engine, which produces 140 HP and 128 foot pounds of torque.

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2012 Buick Verano Review

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2012 Buick Verano 1SL - side view MPG-o-Matic 2012 Buick Verano Review Summary: Buick aims high with the Verano sedan, targeting imported luxury marquees from Lexus and Acura to Audi and Volvo, with a price that undercuts the competition. With a smooth and exceptionally quiet ride, the Verano challenges what has come to be convention. The Verano’s FlexFuel engine and its ability to utilize E85 provides a clear advantage in geographic areas where ethanol is plentiful and significantly less expensive than unleaded gasoline. As gasoline prices continue to rise, this capability will become increasingly important.

The 2012 Buick Verano is equipped with a direct-injected 2.4-liter inline four cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. The DOHC FlexFuel four produces 180 horsepower and 171 foot pounds of torque. The Verano’s capability to run E85 ethanol offers a significant advantage in certain geographic locations, in these uncertain times.

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2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Sedan Review

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Observed MPG / 0-60 MPH - 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Sedan
2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Sedan
MPG-o-Matic 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Sedan Review Summary: The 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec Sedan seeks to stand out in a thinning crowd. In the days when gas was cheap, American streets were dominated by big V8 powered sedans, and Hyundai unknown on these shores. Flash forward thirty or forty years, and the American car manufacturers have slashed their rear-wheel-drive offerings in a market that’s been overtaken by high-end Japanese and European designs. The sporting R-Spec throws down the gauntlet at a cost considerably lower than the competition.

There are three engine choices in 2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan, with 4.6- and 5.0-liter V8s, as well as a 3.8-liter V6. We tested the top-of-the-line Genesis 5.0 R-Spec equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission with shift interlock and Shiftronic, which allows the eight-speed transmission to be manually controlled via leather-wrapped slapstick. Unlike its competition, the Genesis Sedan is only offered in rear-wheel-drive (RWD). All-wheel-drive is not available.

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How to Pay Less Per Gallon of Gas

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If you’re keen on slashing the amount of money you spend on gasoline every week, a three-pronged approach will deliver optimum results. You’ll want to 1) maximize your efficiency behind the wheel, 2) minimize the number of miles you travel, and 3) pay the least amount (net) per gallon.

The bulk of our time here at MPGomatic is spent focusing on driving efficiency. For the sake of testing consistency, we try to stick with the same gas station, whenever possible. As such, shopping for price isn’t part of our standard modus operandi. So to get the word on getting the best prices, we called in a pro, Andrew Schrage, the co-owner of Money Crashers Personal Finance to learn the tactics he uses to get the best prices.

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2012 Ford Interceptor Burns More Rubber, Less Gasoline

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Over its twenty year run, Ford’s Crown Victoria-based Interceptor became the most popular law enforcement vehicle on American streets. The rear-wheel-drive, body-on-frame sedan is the benchmark to which every other police cruiser is compared.

The 2012 Ford Interceptor represents a dramatic departure from what was the norm. Common sense says that big American police cars have big V8 engines, with less than stellar mileage, as a result. But not anymore. The 2012 Interceptor has changed the game.

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