Truck Gas Mileage

Pickup truck gas mileage is ripe for improvement. With today’s most fuel efficient small pickup trucks only reaching the mid-twenty mile per gallon (MPG) range on the highway, it’s clear that there’s much work to be done. At one point in time, not all that long ago, America had a domestically produced 45 MPG pickup truck. Decades later, the best truck gas mileage we can do is roughly half that amount. It’s sad but true.

One basic change could be made to improve our trucks gas mileage results: replace the gasoline engines with diesels. But as of this writing, not one manufacturer has committed to selling a small pickup truck with a diesel here in the United States. The problem, in many ways, is related to our country’s lack of a coherent energy policy that would put diesel fuel on the same footing as gasoline. Per gallon pricing is the barrier … and the opportunity.

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AWD Gas Mileage

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.

2010 Audi A3 2.0 TDI at NAIAS 2009 ... can an AWD Quattro be far behind?

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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Mitsubishi Lancer Gas Mileage

The Mitsubishi Lancer has a solid history of delivering good gas mileage figures, with the most fuel-efficient of the 2009 models hitting 30 miles per gallon (MPG) on the highway. The Lancer is available with either a 2.0- or 2.4-liter four cylinder engine. The best fuel economy is be found in the 2.0-liter Lancer, which delivers 22 city / 30 highway when mated with the five-speed manual transmission.

Mitsubishi Lancer

The 2.0 liter engine is available in three states of tune, with the most powerful (and thirsty) found in the Lancer Evolution (or Evo, for short). Premium fuel is required in the higher horsepower 2.0 liter engines, while regular will suffice for the 2.4- and base 2.0-liter.

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Suzuki Grand Vitara Gas Mileage

The 2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara is available with a 2.4-liter inline four cylinder or a 3.2-liter V6 engine, in both rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) trim.

While on the road, the Grand Vitara’s gas mileage is merely par for the class; off the beaten path, the little truck shines. This is not a poseur’s SUV. With the Grand Vitara, gas mileage is secondary to competence off road. Folks in the know buy this one to get it dirty.

2009 Suzuki Grand Vitara

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Jeep Liberty Gas Mileage

The 2009 Jeep Liberty is equipped with a 3.7-liter six-cylinder engine that produces gas mileage ratings of 16 city/22 highway (2WD) and 15/21 (4WD).

Although a manual transmission had been available starting with the 2002 Liberty, all 2009 Liberty models are fitted with a four-speed automatic transmission, exclusively. A more fuel efficient 2.4-liter four cylinder engine was available in the 2003 through 2005 Liberty.

2009 Jeep Liberty

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