gas mileage

Dodge Caravan Gas Mileage

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Dating all the way back to 1984, the Dodge Caravan is America’s longest running and best-selling mini van. Together with its corporate cousins, the Plymouth Voyager and the Chrysler Town and Country, the Caravan ruled the market for many a year.

Although current Dodge Caravans might not be notable for exceptional gas mileage, the introductory year boasted remarkable mile per gallon figures. While under-powered, the spartan 2.2 liter four-cylinder 1984 manual transmission models were rated at 36 and 37 miles per gallon on the highway. (Fuel efficiency was very much on the nation’s mind in the early eighties.)

Gas mileage took a back seat to comfort early in the Caravan’s run. Today’s considerably more plush 2008 Dodge Caravan offers MPG ratings in low to mid twenties on the highway, and can be equipped with 3.3, 3.8, or 4.0 liter six-cylinder power plants. What about the cup holders, you ask? We’ll have to get back to you on that.

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Ford Escape Hybrid: Most Fuel-Efficient SUV on Earth?

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Ford is running an advertising campaign, billing the 2008 Ford Escape Hybrid as “the Most Fuel-Efficient SUV on Earth.” There’s no questioning that the Escape Hybrid delivers great gas mileage figures … for a SUV. But the claim that the Escape Hybrid is the world’s best demands closer inspection.

It’s time for a fact check.

While the Escape Hybrid is indeed the most fuel-efficient SUV currently for sale in the United States of America, it might not be the most fuel-efficient SUV in the entire world.

Equipped with a 2.2 liter i-CTDi common rail turbo diesel engine, the all-wheel-drive 2007 Honda CR-V currently on sale in Great Britain is rated at 34.9 Urban / 49.6 Extra Urban / 43.5 Combined in miles per British gallon. Since the British gallon is larger than the US gallon, we need to convert the numbers to US specs.

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Cheap High MPG Cars: 1995

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There were just creeping changes to the 1995 Top Ten High MPG list, as the Honda Civic Del Sol snuck into the ranks, along with the Nissan Sentra – 200SX.

All-in-all, Honda continued to hold half the list, while GM/Suzuki’s grip slipped a bit.

A bevy of Saturn models knocked on the door with 40 mile per gallon highway ratings. The Dodge and Plymouth Neon began their run, replacing the Mitsubushi-sourced Colts.

Top Ten High MPG Cars – 1995 Model Year:

  • Honda Civic HB VX 4-cyl., 1.5 liter – MPG: 47 city / 56 highway
  • Honda Civic HB VX 4-cyl., 1.5 liter – MPG: 44 city / 51 highway
  • Geo Metro 3-cyl., 1.0 liter – MPG: 44 city / 49 highway
  • Suzuki Swift 3-cyl., 1.0 liter – MPG: 44 city / 49 highway
  • Honda Civic 4-cyl., 1.5 liter – MPG: 42 city / 46 highway
  • Honda Civic 4-cyl., 1.5 liter – MPG: 40 city / 45 highway
  • Geo Metro 4-cyl., 1.3 liter – MPG: 39 city / 43 highway
  • Ford Aspire 4-cyl., 1.3 liter – MPG: 36 city / 42 highway
  • Honda Civic Del Sol 4-cyl., 1.5 liter – MPG: 35 city / 41 highway
  • Nissan Sentra/200SX 4-cyl., 1.6 liter – MPG: 30 city / 40 highway

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Cheap High MPG Cars: 1994

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The names remained the same among the ranks of high MPG cars in 1994, with a notable exception.

The Ford Aspire was the only car to break Suzuki/GM and Honda’s firm grip on the Top Ten High-MPG list for the 1994 model year. The Aspire, a result of a collaboration between Kia and Mazda, replaced the Festiva in Ford subcompact lineup and remained a fixture through the 1997 model year.

Top Ten High MPG Cars – 1994 Model Year:

  • Geo Metro – XFi 3-cyl., 1.0 liter – MPG: 53 city / 58 highway
  • Honda Civic – HB VX 4-cyl., 1.5 liter – MPG: 47 city / 56 highway
  • Honda Civic – HB VX 4-cyl., 1.5 liter – MPG: 44 city / 51 highway
  • Pontiac Firefly – 3-cyl., 1.0 liter – MPG: 46 city / 50 highway
  • Chevrolet Sprint – 3-cyl., 1.0 liter – MPG: 46 city / 50 highway
  • Geo Metro – 3-cyl., 1.0 liter – MPG: 46 city / 49 highway
  • Honda Civic – 4-cyl., 1.5 liter – MPG: 42 city / 46 highway
  • Honda Civic – 4-cyl., 1.5 liter – MPG: 40 city / 45 highway
  • Suzuki Swift – 4-cyl., 1.3 liter – MPG: 37 city / 44 highway
  • Ford Aspire – 4-cyl., 1.3 liter – MPG: 36 city / 43 highway

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