Big List of Fuel Economy: June 2011

The Traverse is still around, wow.

Fusion - they're just lead foots, I've averaged 38+ mpg over 5,000 miles.

I'm surprised the Juke is only getting 10% better average economy than the Sienna. You guys must be having fun with it.

Disappointed to see the Cruze is about equal with the Regal, TSX, and GTI. Hmmm...$26K optioned-up Cruze or $26K basic GTI? If fuel economy's a wash, I think I know which I would drive.

Yeah, where is the Traverse and Fusion? Also, are you guys not keeping track of FE for the 911?

That M56 is impressive

How does the Regal have a higher "best" and "worst" but lower "average" than the Cruze?

yellowperil:

The Traverse numbers haven't changed in months. They haven't done a blog on it in months. The last update is February 2011. There is no way the mileage numbers are that consistent month to month, the low, the high and the average.

IL won't answer where the Traverse is or where the Fusion is. Happy 4th of July weekend to everyone. Have fun, be safe. I know, which is it:)

@ibthesnd: The Cruze probably has more tanks closer to its best than the Regal does.

And to you Aura!

My last tank:

397.1 miles, 15.505 gallons used. 25.6 mpg. The DIC said 25

I think it was preemptively adjusting to the crazy driving I was doing yesterday. My friend from FL came back from school and he wanted to see how it drove. Hence my 1 mpg drop from my last tank.

I'm pretty happy with the FE so far, I'm spending about 60-70 a week as apposed to 150-180 in the Tahoe (ugh). Luckily I am mostly on the highway and that's where the Regal really beats it's EPA numbers.

Anyone else have any cars on the list?

How's the Porsche doing?

what's with the Volvo a 2.5l that gets the same gas mileage as the Infiniti 5.6l V8?

IL -

Answer the dang questions about the vehicles that haven't changed since the beginning of the year or stop putting them in the charts.

"Hey look, here's our 15th post about the Regal TODAY! Traverse? It's not the Regal or the 911 so we don't drive it."

Is it really that difficult?!?!?

Aaaaaaand, scene.

The GTI is averaging 24.6. Notice how you have to go all the way down to the Kia Optima at 21.4 average to find anything else in the LT fleet with the same level of engine performance? And all the way down to the Infiniti at 19.1 to find anything definitely faster?

My last 3 tanks of 75% highway driving have been 29, 30.2 and 28.8 mpg. And that's APR stage 1 tuning - around 300 lb/ft of torque.

VW has been doing the DI/turbo 4 thing for a long time now, and it shows.

Ford is the only other maker that springs to mind getting the same combo of real-world performance and fuel economy from its DI/turbo engines. Or maybe the BMW turbo I6.

"VW has been doing the DI/turbo 4 thing for a long time now, and it shows.

Ford is the only other maker that springs to mind getting the same combo of real-world performance and fuel economy from its DI/turbo engines. Or maybe the BMW turbo I6."

I'm still driving my 2007 Mazdaspeed3 with quite a bit of restraint and since April it has averaged 27.6 mpg. The lowest tank averaged 24.5 mpg and the highest averaged 30.7 mpg. Not too shabby for a motor making 287 bhp.

@ dracy69,

Our Sienna AWD gets between 20-21 mpg, mixed driving, about 1 mpg worse in the winter. Our best tank averaged about 25 mpg, doing 75-80 mph. We never got worse than 19 because I don't enjoy cleaning up baby puke... or wife-puke for that matter. Drifting in snow with traction off was fun ... I digress

roadburner says:
08:08 AM, 07/ 2/11

"I'm still driving my 2007 Mazdaspeed3 with quite a bit of restraint and since April it has averaged 27.6 mpg. The lowest tank averaged 24.5 mpg and the highest averaged 30.7 mpg. Not too shabby for a motor making 287 bhp."

I think the best I've ever gotten in my 2008 Mazdaspeed3 is 27mpg.

I average 16-17mpg, probably the best I can expect with my short Chicago (not suburban) commute, and that was before the turboback, intake, and reflash.

@benior,

My MS3 has the MSCAI but it is otherwise stock. I'm going to install an AP and a RMM but that's going to be it for powertrain mods.

Looks like you guys are incapable of driving gently. I can get 31 mpg on the G37x on the highway, but that requires extreme restraint never to go above 65mph.

I know this isn't totally relevant but

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5192/5895655818_da82c6f819_b.jpg

my cable just showed up in the mail today, I'll have it in some time this week.

I like how the Mazda 2 continues to lead the octane pack. I too am befuddled by the Cruze.. I thought it would do better. Perhaps a Long term test of the Eco version?

@dracy69:

I have a 2004 Mazdaspeed Miata. It's kind of like IL's supercharged 97 (the NA and NB Miatas are much the same under that body work, with the turbo motor using the 99 head and handling upgrades meant to emulate the 99 Sport). Mine is all stock, right down to the parts that most MSM owners replace within a week of buying the car - so it should be around the factory rating of 178 hp, 165 ft-lb, 2500 lb, no AC and a six speed.

Best: 32 mpg Worst: 23 mpg Average: 27 mpg

This is over just under 4000 miles since I bought it two years ago. I don't drive it with fuel economy in mind. The tanks over 30 mpg fall on long highway runs during road trips (65-70 mph mostly).

Oh..and the MSM is rated 28 highway, 20 city under the revised scheme

DLu, driving at 65 mph on open California freeways (or AZ or NV if you're travelling to other states from here) is kinda sketchy. You'll be passed by 95% of the vehicles on the road, including 18 wheelers. While some people can do that, most people feel safer travelling closer to the prevailing speed of traffic, which tends to be in the 75 mph range traffic permitting.

I just did a round trip from LA to Las Vegas and averaged 26.9 mpg for the entire trip in my G37 6MT. That was with the cruise control set at 75 mph and 110F temps. On the interstate I passed an average of 1 car every 10-20 miles (not including 18 wheelers) while being passed by 10x that many. I normally cruise at 79-80 which is close to prevailing speed on that stretch, but chose to run slower this time. Probably won't do it that slow again.

church123:

Just wanted to confirm what you are saying. On my many trips from San Diego to Las Vegas, I agree that once you get north of Riverside, average cruising speed is closer to 80 if not more, than near 70.

Same thing for San Diego to Phoenix/Tucson, at least before those stupid speed cameras.
Especially in those parts of Arizona where the speed limit is 75.

Roadburner - the MZR powerplant is another one, although Mazda has to figure out how to broaden the powerband a bit more at both ends, and the top-mount intercooler is kind of a headscratcher.

Your cold-air intake does help those engines out, though - that's a good mod. I considered a MS3 but thought VW did that kind of powerplant maybe a little better, plus for some reason Mazda doesn't want to sell MS3 buyers the same option choices they already have in place on the regular 3 lineup. Why can't I have heated seats, a sunroof and HIDs if I'm willing to spend the money?

So I chose the GTI.

@fordson1,

The 2007 GTI was at the top of my list but the Louisville VW dealers acted like special ordering a car was virtually impossible. As for my 2007 MS3, in Grand Touring trim it came with HIDs and cloth seat inserts(so heated seats weren't a critical option). As for a sunroof, I'd pay extra to delete it. With regards to the TMI, it's more of a handicap at low speeds; at HPDEs it's not a serious issue. As for broadening the power band, a COBB AP addresses that issue.