Best: 29.1 mpg
Worst: 19.5 mpg
Overall Average: 23.6 mpg
EPA ratings: 21 city/30 hwy
That 29.1 mpg was achieved by our Engineering Editor Jay Kavanagh during a lazy, late night run from Phoenix to Los Angeles. Jay admits to setting the cruise control on 74 mph and not running the air conditioning. The cars next best tank has been just 26.9 mpg, and I drove the thing from San Francisco to L.A. last week at an aggressive clip and averaged just 23.6 mpg.
One thing's for sure, this Mazda has range. The car has a huge 18.5 gallon gas tank thanks to the V6 model, and it gives this small-engined version the ability to run for more than 400 miles on a tank. And that's good for road trippin'. Plus, it runs on regular.
Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief @ 6,772 miles
dougtheeng says:
05:39 AM, 03/ 5/09
Nice to see the car is able to reach some decent mileage numbers with easier/highway driving.
stephen987 says:
06:01 AM, 03/ 5/09
It seems that any mpg advantage a four has over a V6 in a car this size will be found in town, not on the freeway. I got about 29-30 mpg under "road trip" conditions in a rental four-cylinder Galant last December. Of the midsize cars I've driven extensively, the four-cylinder Milan was the only one I was able to keep over 30 mpg consistently under these conditions.
1487 says:
06:28 AM, 03/ 5/09
I dont think any competing four cylinder sedans require premium. The mileage for the 6 is OK but not great considering the Camry V6 gets 19/28. Any midsize I-4 sedan today should be able to crack 30mpg on the highway. I dont get why Mazda didnt incorporate more of Ford's engineering to get this car closer to the Fusion's mileage figures.
hondacura4 says:
06:48 AM, 03/ 5/09
"I dont get why Mazda didnt incorporate more of Ford's engineering to get this car closer to the Fusion's mileage figures."
1487, given the new Mazda 6 is a much larger car vs the Fusion Id say thats the reason for the lower milage. Isnt the Fusion based off the last (smaller) Mazda 6 platform?
jaeger1 says:
07:05 AM, 03/ 5/09
I guess some people are easily impressed with mileage figures than I am. Or maybe it's because my Altima V6 6MT returns 30mpg on relaxed highway runs, but gives me 270 ponies to call into full service when I need or want them.
So how do the best / worst / combined figures for this 4-banger Mazda compare with the best / worst / combine figures for your long term Camry, Altima and Accord - all with powerful V6 motors?
jaeger1 says:
07:19 AM, 03/ 5/09
Okay never mind - I looked it up.
Your average mileage results:
Mazda 4-pot buzz box: 23.6
Accord V6: 21.0
Altima V6: 21.0
Camry V6: 24.9
So this Mazda 4-banger is - thus far - a bit better than the V6 Accord and Altima, and NOT QUITE AS GOOD as the V6 Camry?
Not a real compelling argument for choosing the 4 cyl., in my opinion. Particularly since that choice was informed by the supposed greater "relevance" of that motor, given the [then] rapidly escalating fuel costs.
I will give up 2mpg for an extra HUNDRED horsepower EVERY SINGLE TIME.
cx7lover says:
08:41 AM, 03/ 5/09
Seeing as how all of the Mid-Size sedans we're V6's I would have much preferred to see the Mazda6 have one even if it did suck down gas and didn't sound pleasing to Sadlier's ears as the Camry's V6 does.
roar02ram says:
09:22 AM, 03/ 5/09
Remember that the Camry had a long trip to Detroit that had several tanks over 30mpg. That skewed its average fuel mileage.
chavis10 says:
09:42 AM, 03/ 5/09
Hondacura4: The Fusion is based on an enlarged previous gen 6. The wheelbase of the new 6 is now about the same as the Fusion and they weigh about the same. The Fusion, Malibu and Sonota all get 33-34 mpg on the highway with similar performance and weight. Mazda has never been good with fuel economy and it shows. The manual transmission 2.5L 3 gets 21/29 which is appauling. By comparison, a 4 cyl Toyota Venza gets the same mileage at 3600+ lbs
lenoroc says:
10:24 AM, 03/ 5/09
Why are we even throwing the Camry in the mix? I don't want to drive a bed mattress with a steering wheel that happens to be attached to it.
altimadude00 says:
11:05 AM, 03/ 5/09
"Why are we even throwing the Camry in the mix? I don't want to drive a bed mattress with a steering wheel that happens to be attached to it."
Just because YOU don't think it's relevant doesn't mean it isn't. A lot of people happen to buy and drive said mattresses with wheels, so that makes the LT test and mileage comparison valid for a lot more people than just you.
1487 says:
11:45 AM, 03/ 5/09
The camry's mileage definitely seems to be on the high end for a V6 so I will chalk it up to lots of highway trips. Most V6s are going to average 20-22mpg based on IL's typical results.
One reason the Fusion gets better mileage is that it has a 6 speed auto with base engine while the 6 has a 5 speed with the four cylinder engine. I dont know how efficient the Fusion V6 will be but the Taurus with the 3.5L gets 18/28 which is better than the 272hp Mazda.
The last 6 was smaller than the Fusion and somewhat lighter but the new one is Americanized and thus is about the same size as the Fusion. Its longer than the Fusion, but weights are similar.
billt9 says:
02:37 PM, 03/ 5/09
1487,
ya the Mazda6 is the same size as the 2010 Ford Taurus.
The Fusion and the Malibu are half size smaller cars.
If you want a smaller Mazda there's always the Mazda3. Or there's the Ford Taurus. Mmmmmmmm Taurus....
blueguydotcom says:
08:34 PM, 03/ 5/09
That's pretty horrendous for a 4 cylinder. Weird how Mazda cannot gear their cars properly.
jederino says:
06:27 PM, 03/ 6/09
The VQ30 engine in the '97 Maxima has returned 32 on strictly highway trips, but I average 22 mpg overall with my short commute. And I enjoy the 205 ft-lbs of torque. I'm not impressed with the economy of these bloated 4-bangers.
Monocrom says:
10:30 AM, 03/ 7/09
I remember the first few days I drove to work in my new V6 Mazda 6. Full tank of gas in the car when I picked her up from the dealership. Took the needle on the fuel gauge a few days to move. For a short while, I thought my fuel gauge was broken. After the first time I filled up the tank, I suspected that the 6's fuel tank was huge. Thanks for the confirmation.