mpg-o-editor, Author at mpgomatic.com

Gas Mileage: First and Foremost

August 5, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

MPGomatic produces car review videos with a focus on fuel-efficiency, in-cabin technology, and drivability along with reports on motorsports and alternative fuels. Our goal is to help eliminate our Nation’s reliance on imported petroleum, while spurring the production of domestic renewable fuels.

Car-after-car, we demonstrate that not only is it possible to meet the official EPA fuel economy estimates, but that these numbers can be exceeded – often by a significant margin – simply by driving conscientiously.

2013 Scion FR-S MPG Review

July 28, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

MPG-o-Matic 2013 Scion FR-S Review Summary: With a starting MSRP of $24,930, the 2013 Scion FR-S has received a warm welcome from a market hungry for affordable rear-wheel-drive (RWD) sports coupes. The FR-S’ biggest surprise is its startling level of fuel efficiency, enabled by superior aerodynamics and – in the case of the automatic – optimized gearing. The FR-S and its cousin, the slightly more expensive (and more fully outfitted) Subaru BRZ, were co-developed by Toyota and Subaru. While much has been written about the RWD twins, often in glowing terms, we take a closer look at how the Boxer’s RPMs effect its MPGs.

The 2013 Scion FR-S is powered by a direct and sequential multi-port fuel injected DOHC 2.0-liter Boxer (horizontally opposed) four-cylinder engine – co-developed by Toyota and Subaru – that produces 200 horsepower (HP) and 151 foot pounds of torque. The RWD FR-S is available with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

2013 Window Stickers Deliver Less MPG Information

July 26, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

We’ve taken a big step backwards. The new 2013 window stickers deliver less information on fuel economy than their predecessors. I’d reckon that the EPA had good intent when they redesigned the stickers (aka: Monroneys), but the end result is that new vehicle shoppers will be short changed. The new design does deliver more graphical information, but it has lost two key pieces of crucial information.

The new slider graphics for Fuel Economy / Greenhouse Gas Rating and Smog Rating are welcome additions for buyers interested in the environmental impacts of the vehicle. At a glance, these sliders show how the vehicle stacks up against all other vehicles. The ratings for the manual transmission-equipped front-wheel-drive 2013 Mazda CX-5 (as shown below), clearly indicate how the little Crossover fares when compared to every vehicle on the market – not just those in its class. (Never mind that the top end of the scale represents vehicles that will not fit the needs of a Crossover buyer.)

2013 Mazda CX-5 window sticker MPG info

The Chevy Malibu Eco’s MPG Rating: Is it High Enough?

July 25, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

Chevrolet took a gamble by rolling out the fuel economy focused 2013 Malibu Eco before the other Malibu models. In the eyes of some in the media horde, it was bad bet. All it took was a biased piece by an old-school automotive journalist – a long-time employee of a bastion of conventional media – to set the lemming fish marching. With post quotas to fill, they quickly piled on, throwing numbers into the fray. As if that would turn a subjective editorial into fact.

To this I say, how many hours did you spend in both the 2013 Malibu Eco and its predecessor, the Malibu Hybrid? I spent plenty in both cars, along with the 2010 Malibu LT. And I spent plenty of my own hard-earned cash on the gasoline for our extensive road tests. No expense accounts here.

2012 SUVs and Crossovers with Manual Transmissions

July 23, 2012July 23, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

Do you love driving stick shifts? Is your car dealer giving you a runaround when you ask about SUVs or Crossovers that are available with manual transmissions? Look in the right place (here!) and you’ll find a slew of manual SUVs that are currently offered in two-wheel-drive (2WD), all-wheel-drive (AWD), and four-wheel-drive (4WD) … even though your dealer might not have what you’re looking for on their lot. Legend has it that our fellow Americans got lazy and stopped driving manual-equipped vehicles, so the dealers stopped ordering them. But the tide is changing. More-and-more folks are waking up and realizing how much more engaging the ride can be with three pedals.

We created this list of manual SUVs and Crossovers to make it easy for you to see what’s out there … and how they stack up with regard to horsepower (HP), torque, gas mileage, fuel capacity, and driving range.

2012 Nissan Juke FWD

1.6-liter, turbocharged
inline 4-cylinder engine
6-speed manual
188 HP / 177 ft. lbs. torque
Premium
11.8 gallon fuel tank
318.6 mile combined range
MPG: 25 City / 31 Highway /
27 Combined