mpg-o-editor, Author at mpgomatic.com

2012 Buick Verano Review

April 4, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

2012 Buick Verano 1SL - side view MPG-o-Matic 2012 Buick Verano Review Summary: Buick aims high with the Verano sedan, targeting imported luxury marquees from Lexus and Acura to Audi and Volvo, with a price that undercuts the competition. With a smooth and exceptionally quiet ride, the Verano challenges what has come to be convention. The Verano’s FlexFuel engine and its ability to utilize E85 provides a clear advantage in geographic areas where ethanol is plentiful and significantly less expensive than unleaded gasoline. As gasoline prices continue to rise, this capability will become increasingly important.

The 2012 Buick Verano is equipped with a direct-injected 2.4-liter inline four cylinder engine and six-speed automatic transmission. The DOHC FlexFuel four produces 180 horsepower and 171 foot pounds of torque. The Verano’s capability to run E85 ethanol offers a significant advantage in certain geographic locations, in these uncertain times.

2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Sedan Review

May 11, 2012March 28, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

Observed MPG / 0-60 MPH - 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Sedan

MPG-o-Matic 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Sedan Review Summary: The 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec Sedan seeks to stand out in a thinning crowd. In the days when gas was cheap, American streets were dominated by big V8 powered sedans, and Hyundai unknown on these shores. Flash forward thirty or forty years, and the American car manufacturers have slashed their rear-wheel-drive offerings in a market that’s been overtaken by high-end Japanese and European designs. The sporting R-Spec throws down the gauntlet at a cost considerably lower than the competition.

There are three engine choices in 2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan, with 4.6- and 5.0-liter V8s, as well as a 3.8-liter V6. We tested the top-of-the-line Genesis 5.0 R-Spec equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission with shift interlock and Shiftronic, which allows the eight-speed transmission to be manually controlled via leather-wrapped slapstick. Unlike its competition, the Genesis Sedan is only offered in rear-wheel-drive (RWD). All-wheel-drive is not available.

How to Pay Less Per Gallon of Gas

March 22, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

If you’re keen on slashing the amount of money you spend on gasoline every week, a three-pronged approach will deliver optimum results. You’ll want to 1) maximize your efficiency behind the wheel, 2) minimize the number of miles you travel, and 3) pay the least amount (net) per gallon.

The bulk of our time here at MPGomatic is spent focusing on driving efficiency. For the sake of testing consistency, we try to stick with the same gas station, whenever possible. As such, shopping for price isn’t part of our standard modus operandi. So to get the word on getting the best prices, we called in a pro, Andrew Schrage, the co-owner of Money Crashers Personal Finance to learn the tactics he uses to get the best prices.

2012 Ford Interceptor Burns More Rubber, Less Gasoline

March 21, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

Over its twenty year run, Ford’s Crown Victoria-based Interceptor became the most popular law enforcement vehicle on American streets. The rear-wheel-drive, body-on-frame sedan is the benchmark to which every other police cruiser is compared.

The 2012 Ford Interceptor represents a dramatic departure from what was the norm. Common sense says that big American police cars have big V8 engines, with less than stellar mileage, as a result. But not anymore. The 2012 Interceptor has changed the game.

2012 Mitsubishi Outlander GT Review

March 10, 2012 by mpg-o-editor

MPG-o-Matic 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander GT Review Summary: The 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander GT cuts a sporting line through the pack of three-row SUVs. You might be keen on the Outlander GT if you value handling over ground clearance and cargo versatility over a comfortable third row. The Outlander sits between the smaller (two-row) Outlander Sport and larger (three-row) Endeavor in Mitsubishi’s SUV line up.

The 2012 Mitsubishi Outlander is offered in three trims: ES, SE, and GT. We tested a top-of-the-line “Super All Wheel Control” (S-AWC) Outlander GT equipped with Mitsubishi’s 3.0-liter MIVEC V6 engine and six-speed Sportronic automatic transmission with Idle Neutral Logic. Idle Neutral Logic automatically switches the transmission into neutral while stopped to conserve fuel.