Dig this, hypermilers.
I recently ran a tank of premium through our 2008 Subaru STI. It was a 50/50 mix of highway and city driving and I averaged 16.5 mpg as you can see by the top photo.
A week later I drove through a tank in our long-term 2009 Nissan GT-R. It was also a 50/50 mix of city and highway. But check the number. It wasted the STI, averaging almost 20 mpg.
Now, this is not a scientific comparison. In fact, the EPA says the Subie should get the better mileage. It's rated at 17 city/23 hwy, while the GT-R is rated at 16 city and 21 hwy. But it doesn't change the fact that in the real world, the wicked quick GT-R gets better mileage than the STI. At least when I'm driving.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
jm1212 says:
02:19 PM, 11/25/08
first off, glad to see a Passat wagon up ahead of the GT-R :)
back on topic; when you really think about it, has the drivetrain-rebuild and the potential for $20k transmission rebuilds makes me want to take the STi over the GT-R...
subytrojan says:
02:35 PM, 11/25/08
What was the average speed for both tanks, chief? :o)
foxgtr says:
02:58 PM, 11/25/08
As subytrojan mentioned, the average speed will have a major impact on the fuel econmy of the vehicles. GT-R at 35mph, STi at ??. Would be good to see for a direct comparison.
waevox says:
03:16 PM, 11/25/08
You IL guys (and gals) keep the back of those gas petals well polished.
ekimfeenux says:
06:49 PM, 11/25/08
jm1212 that's not the GT-R the Passat is in front of. That IP could only belong in a Subie =)
greenpony says:
07:59 PM, 11/25/08
Subie's passenger airbag is on. Passengers add extra weight that decreases fuel economy. The GT-R's tank is on E. Empty tank = less weight = improved fuel economy. And about a million other variables that may or may not have a significant effect on economy.
ken428 says:
08:40 PM, 11/25/08
i believe the 35 that you are seeing is miles per hour not miles per gallon. You got 19.7 mpg which is only 3.2mpg better than the subaru.
ken428 says:
08:43 PM, 11/25/08
i just realized i read your comment incorrectly so disregard my previous statement.
sgude says:
04:28 AM, 11/26/08
The fact that you got better mileage on the GT-R means you're not driving it hard enough.
gossard267 says:
05:17 AM, 11/26/08
I just don't understand the following:
Evo MR:
AWD, twin-clutch transmission
291 HP
2L displacement
3500 Lbs.
EPA 17/22
GT-R:
AWD, twin-clutch transmission
480 hp
3.8L displacement
3900 Lbs.
EPA 16/21
Doesn't it seem like the Evo (and STI) get awful mileage compared with a car like the GT-R?
dougtheeng says:
06:07 AM, 11/26/08
That STI display is horrible.
sgude says:
06:10 AM, 11/26/08
Yeah, it looks like the display in my wife's GX470.
mrryte says:
06:17 AM, 11/26/08
Mr. Oldham,
Did you drive both cars on the EXACT SAME route?
langjie says:
07:52 AM, 11/26/08
he said it was non-scientific...
stingray454 says:
07:54 AM, 11/26/08
I've said it before, and I'll say it again (and this proves it further): the mileage for the STi (and the Evo), SUCK, and there's no excuse for it, especially considering what these cars really are. Poor engineering.
stingray454 says:
07:56 AM, 11/26/08
Also further proof that smaller engine displacements are often not the answer to better fuel economy, and in many cases offer worse fuel economy than bigger engines.
1487 says:
11:23 AM, 11/26/08
For their size and weight the mileage of the compact AWD cars is poor. Period. Up until now we have heard all the excuses about AWD but the 480hp GTR has AWD as well so that's not the answer. First of all, there is no way the mileage of the GTR should even be rated so close to the Sti if the Suburu were even remotely efficient. I don't need AWD so if I really wanted cheap speed I would get the Cobalt SS (22/30) and save thousands. Yeah the plastics are slightly harder than the Japanese cars but the savings would help me get over it.
chavis10 says:
12:49 PM, 11/26/08
What I find interesting is that none of the these cars feature direct injection for their turbo engines. As high tech as these cars are supposed to be, this is a glaring omission. Fitting DI would improve mileage, cut cold start emissions and make more power.
PS- why is the gear indicator in the GT-R blue when the other instruments feature lava orange illumination?