2010 Chevrolet Equinox Expected to Get 32 MPG Highway

...using a 3 cyclinder diesel engine

Something tells me these numbers are optimistic.

Obviously they are optimistic. A domestic manufacturer could never develop a fuel efficient engine. Clearly they're lying. I mean, this is the company that owned Hummer, so there is no way it can get more than 8, 10 mpg tops right? And I'm sure it will break down all the time too. I owned a domestic car decades ago and it wasn't at all as reliable as my new import now. I haven't actually looked at a Detroit vehicle lately, but I know nothing at all has changed.

Hey look at that, I can be a mindless domestic basher too. Eventually I'll fit right in around here, with a little more practice.

Hey the rear has much more ground clearance than the front. That front spoiler needs to go.

stov,

Exactly, even though all companies use the same EPA methods we should only doubt figures if they are attached to an efficient Chevy.

bilt:

The front spoiler likely contributes to low drag. You better get used to that kind of stuff since new CAFE rules are looming.

I said it in the Green Car blog and I'll say it again here:

Let's put a stop to focusing on highway mpg, shall we? The automakers have become addicted to it because it gives them a 30-something number to boast about. But this singular focus is misleading.

Either advertise city and highway with equal billing, or, if you must use one number, use EPA combined. Selective advertising and promotion of this sort does the customer no favors.

So, in reality, the new Equinox will get 26 mpg combined. That's still good, but it's also real.

Sure, lets do that. GM can go first. GM can advertise getting 26 MPG combined, Toyota can advertise getting 30 MPG highway, and these boards will be filled with import fanboys crying for GM to be destroyed because they're inefficient. Well, since no matter what GM does the import fanboys will be out in force, they might as well.

"Let's put a stop to focusing on highway mpg, shall we?"
When I quit doing 75%+ of my driving on the highway, then I'll quit worrying about it. And I don't think I'm alone; a lot of people commute long distances to work, and take lots of long trips. Highway mileage is important. Besides, when I see something advertised, I'm interested in what it can do. That figure tells me that, if I try hard enough, I can get 32mpg (probably more like 35) when I drive. Should we start reducing horsepower figures too? I mean, who drives around at full throttle at peak rpm? Most people are probably only getting 80-90hp out of a 4-cyl, so maybe we should advertise that too? Interior volume figures should be divided in two, because really, who uses up every cube of space? I mean really. See? Sounds pretty ridiculous. When I read an advertisement, I want to see what it Can do, not what it's going to do for most people most of the time.