Big List of Fuel Economy: April 2010

Take out the hybrids and my 10 year old, auto tranny, v6 beats every one of them.

I don't know if that's a comment on the vehicles or IL's driving style.

How are you calculating the average fuel economy numbers? Some of them don't seem to add up. The Fusion's average given here is 31.2 but if you calculate the average using the best and worst numbers given the Fusion should average 27.5.

@gcsads1: The average is made up of all the collectiv fuel fill-ups, not just the highest and the lowest. If they get more tanks.

It's interesting... I drive a 2002 Civic LX with a 5 speed and I average 35-36 mpg running around town and only my last trip averaged over 40 mpg. I'm pretty sure it's roomier than the Insight and drives like a normal car. Probably quicker too. Makes the insight seem like a horrible waste of money if your goal is saving money. We take our civic pretty much on every errand run and leave the Legacy at home even though it's no gas hog.

Another intersting point, is that the Z06 is averaging slightly better mileage than the S5!

8.2 low for the traverse....WOW!

I figured there was more to it than what I calculated. I had the same type of mileage in my 02 civic. My civic was a lot of fun to drive. Just sold it for 4500 dollars with 139000 miles. A lot cheaper than an insight. (bought a 128i by the way)

Look at the variety at 21.x mpg!

It's partially style. I get 30mpg's easily on any highway driving of the a4. 28, with highway and some city mixed in. 25.5 on average, perhaps 21 worst and 33-34 best.

I do have a 6MT sedan that should be a bit lighter and more efficient than their Tiptronic avant, but I think traffic and speed of traffic has a lot to do with it.

I get 29-31 MPG average on my GTI.

I found that my commute is a HUGE factor in my efficiency. When I've moved or changed jobs, the average moves quite a bit. Also, I keep a log, and there is a strong inverse relationship between interval between fillups and observed efficiency. Less days between fillups, higher MPG. Because I'm driving greater distances with less startups and stop-and-go.

Therefore, you cannot make a comparision to IL numbers. Their collective numbers may be a good indicator of relative performance of these vehicles, but will not compare with your commute and driving patterns.

A near 20mpg average for the 4500 lb. Ford Flex is pretty damn good.

As for the Fusion Hybrid, I think it must be driving style and/or the fact that southern California driving may require the A/C running at much higher levels than normally expected. The EPA Web site is reporting an average of 37.9 from drivers, for example. (That's basically what I get myself.)

yeah your commute makes a huge difference. I live in a smaller town and we don't really have traffic here but I do make lots of short trips.

@gcsads1: yeah I just picked up my 02 LX a few months ago with only 63,000 miles on it for $5200. I've never owned a honda before and thought all my friends that have had civics in the past were embellishing a little bit when talking about their gas mileage or not calculating it right. I got 45 mpg on my last trip over the hill to california and back and couldn't believe it. You have to downshift on anything steeper than a handicap ramp so I wasn't kind to it on the hills. but I checked the numbers like 4 times. Pretty impressive I guess... The Civic is pretty light though... and feels a little twitchy. Congrats on the 328. I'm sure that's a step up!

The Traverse suffers from few long trips, something the Flex has done many times. I'll be curious to see how it improves. Lots of cars and CUVs out there with this drive train (~3.6l V6, ~280 hp, auto trans).

I haul a$$ in my '03 Z06 and still turn in 19-21 mpg on every tank. Do you guys let it idle all day in the parking garage, just because it sounds cool? With the addition of the Viper, you have quite the orchestra.

What I can't get over in all of these lists is that there are your expected gas sippers at the top of the list and then everything else at 19-22 mpg. I can't understand why there aren't more cars in that 24-26 mpg range. I wonder if Edmunds had more I-4 family sedans if they would climb up there. As I ponder a new car purchase for my family, 2 adults, 2 kids in car seats, I scratch my head if its worth it over a few mpg's to get a smaller sedan or something like a Flex.

AMTalker, You are probably right, if you look at the December 2009 roundup, which still included the Mazda 6 (which you may recall was a 4-cyl), it was averaging 23.9 overall.

AMTalker, speaking from personal experience, I'd say get the Flex. The conveniences granted by all that extra passenger and cargo space far outweigh the benefits of a couple extra MPG. Not having your kids kicking the back of your seats is worth the tradeoff alone. :D

Keep in mind, all the numbers are based on driving 65 mph, not the old 55 mph. I have an 02 Honda Accord where I've achieved 28-36 highway mpg based on 55 mph and cruise control.

Since many of these vehicles are using 5 or 6 speed trannies, if calculated using 55 mph, add 5 mpg to the high, low and avg.

My stock '09 135i has seen a highway best of 31 mpg, but consistently returns at least 28 to 29 mpg when driving at a steady 75 mph. City mileage is about 18 to 19 mpg. My average over the first 25,000 miles has been 24 mpg (equal mix of city, highway, and leadfoot).

Not too shabby for a 300+ hp car. :>)

@ed124c

Not sure a comparison between a crosstour and a terrain is a fair one. The crosstour lacks a third row seat and about a 1,000 lbs. Frankly, it should be getting better than an average 21.5.

I average 24.6 MPG in my '02 Z06, but I have a few mods which help that. Plus, I commute to work in it a few days per week, which is mostly highway. I beat on it when I can, but it's limited to short stints because I average passing 3-4 radar traps EACH WAY to/from work. On the track, I average 7 MPG :)