GasBuddy Blog

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: Fuel Economy > Topics	Add to favorite topics Post New Topic

Author	Topic: Cars that surprised you with their fuel efficiency.	Post a Reply Back to Topics

Alexi7 All-Star Author Ohio Posts:533 Points:13,890 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2011 11:15:58 AM Ignore Alexi7 Report Abuse My in-laws 1987 Lincoln Town Car(302 FI V-8) continues to amaze me. I've seen 25-26 mpg on trips with five people aboard and A/C running and crusing in the 65 mph range. The car has 133K miles too and doesn't use a bit of oil. We rented a 2011 Camaro LT1(3.6L V-6, six-speed auto) and got an easy 28-29 mpg while zipping across the Arizona desert in the 80-90 mph range. Another rental: 2007 Infiniti G35X hit 26-27 mpg despite AWD and shorter gearing than regular G35s. And that car could scoot when needed. Then there's my old '99 Acura TL that will get 29-30 mpg on the highway/24-25 mpg in everyday driving. Not bad for showing 175K miles.

Alexi7

All-Star Author
Ohio

Posts:533
Points:13,890
Joined:Jul 2011

Message Posted: Jul 7, 2011 11:15:58 AM

Ignore Alexi7 Report Abuse

My in-laws 1987 Lincoln Town Car(302 FI V-8) continues to amaze me. I've seen 25-26 mpg on trips with five people aboard and A/C running and crusing in the 65 mph range. The car has 133K miles too and doesn't use a bit of oil.

We rented a 2011 Camaro LT1(3.6L V-6, six-speed auto) and got an easy 28-29 mpg while zipping across the Arizona desert in the 80-90 mph range.

Another rental: 2007 Infiniti G35X hit 26-27 mpg despite AWD and shorter gearing than regular G35s. And that car could scoot when needed.

Then there's my old '99 Acura TL that will get 29-30 mpg on the highway/24-25 mpg in everyday driving. Not bad for showing 175K miles.

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

Toady Sophomore Author Ontario Posts:194 Points:66,320 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2011 12:37:50 PM Ignore Toady Report Abuse 2011 VW Golf TDI. 46 mpg. Only put 2 tanks of diesel in her so far. 42 liters each fill. This thing goes like stink. Love the intercooled turbo.
Vin63 Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:1,840 Points:455,245 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2011 10:36:28 AM Ignore Vin63 Report Abuse My '07 GMC Duramax (LBZ) crew cab 4x4 dually gets just over 21 mpg unloaded on the freeway at 65 mph. Not bad for a nearly 8000 lbs vehicle.
ray1218 Veteran Author Virginia Posts:447 Points:166,135 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2011 5:45:19 AM Ignore ray1218 Report Abuse I get 20.1 ampg on my 2001 Ford WindStar
the1roadhog Champion Author Atlanta Posts:9,908 Points:2,055,805 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Aug 3, 2011 3:58:03 AM Ignore the1roadhog Report Abuse V6 '96 Camry. Got in the high 20s on the road.
CivicMindedCA All-Star Author Sacramento Posts:535 Points:126,380 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Aug 2, 2011 8:45:06 PM Ignore CivicMindedCA Report Abuse 2009 Chevy Malibu. We averaged about 32 mpg with fairly efficient, mostly highway driving on vacation.
oilpan4 Champion Author Virginia Posts:12,053 Points:306,800 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Aug 2, 2011 7:07:32 PM Ignore oilpan4 Report Abuse "and 28 mpg highway" They finely caught up to me, at least till I get my turbo on.
gvan Champion Author Chicago Posts:21,533 Points:2,836,290 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Aug 2, 2011 12:23:27 PM Ignore gvan Report Abuse The new Ford Explorer, which in my opinion is the most attractive SUV, with the four cylinder engine and EcoBoost gets 20 mpg city and 28 mpg highway.
kbnce Champion Author Toronto Posts:3,758 Points:638,195 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2011 11:56:40 PM Ignore kbnce Report Abuse i see
Alexi7 All-Star Author Ohio Posts:533 Points:13,890 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2011 6:15:50 PM Ignore Alexi7 Report Abuse Jimmy544: We used to have an Olds 88(3.8L V-6) and yeah, easily hit 29-31 mpg with A/C on and at 70-75 mph. I think the Olds 88 was only rated at 26-27 highway mpg.
jimmy544 Champion Author Boston Posts:4,112 Points:653,855 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2011 9:23:04 AM Ignore jimmy544 Report Abuse My 94 Buick Le Sabre delivered 30.1 mpg over 4400 miles last year on a trans US road trip Washington/Oregon to Boston. Most of the trip was on cruise control at a steady 70 mph with the windows up and the AC on. Very pleasant comfortable ride. I was really impressed. Car has very adequate acceleration. Not so good handling but a good ride nonetheless for a big road trip.
LanguageMan1 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,723 Points:1,661,790 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Aug 1, 2011 1:14:20 AM Ignore LanguageMan1 Report Abuse I know people getting 27 and 28 mpg out of the Town Cars. More with modifications. I know people getting 33 to 37 out of Camaros, more with modifications. Don't know many with the other two. For me, a 1982 Chrysler Imperial, was able to get 26 and 27 mpg before doing any mods. 29 after slight mods. Drove it fast, too! I DON'T and DIDN'T like 55! 1978 Dodge Magnum. 25 to 27 initially. 26 to 28 after slight mods. Drove that one fast, too! 1987 Buick Regal Turbo! 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds from the factory, yet still managed 25 to 28 on the highway. Obviously drove it fast! Just can't drive 55! Anyhow, after mods, 29 to 33 mpg on the highway. Wish I still had those rides along with a Dodge Omni, Ford Escort, Dodge Durango and others. Wish I had a Camaro to work on getting past 45 mpg!
Alexi7 All-Star Author Ohio Posts:533 Points:13,890 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2011 12:18:02 AM Ignore Alexi7 Report Abuse Leadfoot84: On-board computers are just a "guesstimate" made by the computer that monitors your engine's many functions. On a trip with few hills, weather in the 70sF and a steady speed of 60 mph, I'd guess you would see 29-30 mpg.
Alexi7 All-Star Author Ohio Posts:533 Points:13,890 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jul 13, 2011 12:11:48 AM Ignore Alexi7 Report Abuse Ciderbarrel: The V-6 Camaro is rated at 27 mpg/hwy, so an increase to 28-29 mpg(on a practically brand-new cars) was amazing to me.
Sal30 Rookie Author Philadelphia Posts:39 Points:680 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Jul 11, 2011 5:02:23 AM Ignore Sal30 Report Abuse A car that surprised me is the 2004 Chevy Impala with the 3.4 liter V6. It gets 29 mph highway according to the current EPA standards. My 2002 VW Passat 1.8T by comparison gets 28 mpg highway. Even though the Passat has a hybrid like 0.27 coefficient of drag, 5 speed transmission vs the Impala's 4 speed, and and an engine almost half the size, it still gets worse fuel economy than the Impala.
Nismo2000 Rookie Author Miami Posts:1 Points:4,870 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jul 10, 2011 11:18:12 AM Ignore Nismo2000 Report Abuse 2000 Nissan Maxima SE (5 speed manual) 25.5 av. city / 28 mpg best hwy 87 octane /130,000 miles.
ekelly7 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:18,291 Points:3,528,700 Joined:Oct 2001	Message Posted: Jul 10, 2011 7:48:43 AM Ignore ekelly7 Report Abuse waiting for a positive surprise
LeadFoot84 Veteran Author Columbus Posts:436 Points:141,255 Joined:Jun 2006	Message Posted: Jul 10, 2011 2:54:24 AM Ignore LeadFoot84 Report Abuse My 1999 Grand Marquis. Of course going uphill or speeding, the MPGs will drop between 16-20. But on a steady surface around 65mph Ive seen it shoot up to 34-36 MPG according to the on-board computer. Best fuel mileage Ive ever seen out of it was 38-40 MPG at 45mph. Then again, this could be because I had the exhaust converted from the factory single to dual exhaust and city/highway fuel economy overall was increased from about 20 to 23mpg.
train55 Sophomore Author Ontario Posts:148 Points:64,155 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Jul 9, 2011 7:59:21 PM Ignore train55 Report Abuse My '05 Jeep Diesel avg. 25 mpg city/ 35 mpg highway in any weather no difference compare to '94 Dodge Diesel avg. 14 mpg city/ avg. 18-20 mpg highway was best driven long-haul whether towing or not.
Bodiney Champion Author Detroit Posts:1,006 Points:196,050 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jul 9, 2011 4:02:13 PM Ignore Bodiney Report Abuse 95 Chevy Impala SS I got 35MPG on the high-way and a 96 Dodge neon it got 45MPG. [Edited by: Bodiney at 7/9/2011 5:05:53 PM EST]
bluebird1 Champion Author Toronto Posts:15,735 Points:3,108,125 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Jul 8, 2011 3:15:27 PM Ignore bluebird1 Report Abuse Although interesting, it's not surprising to get good hwy mpg from some of the old cars or even large cars (continuous motion negates weight a bit) all they needed was tall gearing. What is amazing is getting good all round mpg & that's coming about. Good example: my Jeep has gotten high 30's Cdn mpg on numerous trips normally when traffic conditions meant keeping close to speed limit (Jeeps not very aerodynamic) & one trip bested 40. Now 40 mpg Cdn I believe is 34.8 mpg US. Granted in normal use it only gets 25-28 mpg Cdn, but that's great for a Jeep light -2007 Compass - with lots of room for 4+ & decent cargo space & going on 5 yrs old. Winter brings it down a bit as well, being a 4 banger. It also doesn't surprise me a 2010 Malibu beats an old Aveo on hwy mpg, since the Aveo was worst in class for fuel, didn't have good hwy gearing & engines have come a long way in last 5+ yrs. My Jeep almost matches my 2004 Kia Rio that has the Hyundai drivetrain for hwy. However the new one gets over 50 mpg hwy now.
gvan Champion Author Chicago Posts:21,533 Points:2,836,290 Joined:Dec 2004	Message Posted: Jul 8, 2011 2:06:10 PM Ignore gvan Report Abuse I had a Cadillac that usually got 27 mpg on the highway but one trip at 60 mph I got 31 mpg. That was a surprise.
roadrunnin Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,749 Points:564,160 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2011 10:26:42 PM Ignore roadrunnin Report Abuse One ton diesel pickup that gets 25 - 30 mpg vs a dodge durango that consistently gets 12 - 17 mpg
jes Champion Author Pennsylvania Posts:16,165 Points:3,352,475 Joined:Jun 2003	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2011 5:10:24 PM Ignore jes Report Abuse My wife's 2010 Malibu consistently gets better highway mileage than my 2005 Chevy Aveo. City driving is another story.
WEPSMAN Champion Author South Dakota Posts:10,513 Points:2,023,925 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2011 12:32:20 PM Ignore WEPSMAN Report Abuse The Corvette gets surpisingly decent mileage if driving "normal". They will get in the mid to upper 20's.
Ciderbarrel Sophomore Author Maryland Posts:246 Points:53,725 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jul 7, 2011 12:18:02 PM Ignore Ciderbarrel Report Abuse "We rented a 2011 Camaro LT1(3.6L V-6, six-speed auto) and got an easy 28-29 mpg while zipping across the Arizona desert in the 80-90 mph range." It's a V6, that's pretty standard. The 2011 V6 Mustang is rated at 30 MPG highway.