review

2008 Ford Focus MPG Review

by

Ford Focus The Ford Focus competes with the Honda Civic, Chevy Cobalt, Toyota Corolla, and Mazda3 among many others in the red hot small car market, and is available as both a four-door sedan and two-door coupe.

Under the hood, the 2008 Focus is fitted with an efficient 2.0 liter inline four cylinder engine rated at 140 horsepower and 136 foot pounds of torque.

The EPA gas mileage estimates for the 2008 Ford Focus come in at 24 city / 33 miles per gallon (MPG) highway, when equipped with the automatic transmission.

Read more

MINI Cooper D – 65 MPG Diesel Dream

by

The diesel-powered MINI Cooper D is a mileage-minded enthusiast’s dream car. With slot car handling and truly remarkable fuel mileage figures, it’s hard not to drool over the little gem. While MINI Cooper gas mileage is good, the MINI D’s numbers are insanely great.

After months of anticipation, I had the chance that few have had here in America. I spent the better part of a day with a sweet six-speed Nightfire Red MINI D.

Looking at the specs, it’s clear to see why this is the high-MPG king of the hot hatches. In UK measures, the six-speed manual transmission-equipped MINI Cooper D is rated at 60.1 urban / 80.7 extra-urban miles per gallon (MPG). That equates to roughly 50 city / 67 highway here in the States.

Read more

2008 Chevy Malibu Hybrid MPG Review

by

Chevy Malibu MPG-o-Matic Review Summary: The Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid delivers style and fuel economy, as it competes with the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Ford Fusion among others in the Family Sedan category.

The Malibu Hybrid’s Ecotec 2.4 liter four cylinder engine and 36-volt NiMH battery powered electric motor assist produce 164 horsepower (HP) and 159 foot pounds of torque.

While this obviously isn’t the Malibu you’d bring to the drag strip (the 3.6 liter V-6 boasts 252 HP), it’s more than adequate on the road for a great many folks and feels more sprightly than the Saturn VUE Green Line, which uses the identical drive train.

Read more

2008 Saturn VUE Green Line Hybrid SUV MPG Review

by

Saturn Vue Greenline Hybrid SUV MPG-o-Matic Saturn VUE Green Line Review Summary: The distinctively styled Saturn VUE Green Line hybrid competes with the Ford Escape Hybrid, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Jeep Patriot, and Compass among others in the crowded compact SUV category.

The Green Line is powered by a Hybrid drive train with a 2.4 liter Ecotec inline four cylinder engine that produces 169 horsepower (HP) and 161 foot pounds of torque, mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission.

Read more

SUV MPG Reviews

by

It might seem odd that a website devoted to the topic of gas mileage would spend so much time on SUV reviews, but we’re simply listening to our audience. While it’s clear that the tide has changed, America’s tempestuous love affair with the SUV is far from over.

SUV reviews will be part of our editorial mix for as long as we keep buying the beasts. Rest assured that most, if not all, of our SUV reviews will focus on the more fuel efficient choices in each of the categories, from the cute Utes and Crossovers (CUV) to roomy seven and eight seaters. (But we won’t be driving a Hummer unless GM gets around to shipping a fuel-sipping hybrid or clean diesel.)

As of November, we’ve reviewed eleven SUVs and CUVs, including four hybrids and the only domestic diesel currently available in the USA:

Read more