mpg-o-editor

2009 Pontiac G6 MPG Review

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Pontiac G6 MPG-o-Matic Pontiac G6 Review Summary: The 2009 Pontiac G6 sedan is worthy competitor in a hotly contested field. After a 500-mile review, we were won over by the base G6’s gas mileage, ride, interior comfort, and value.

The Pontiac G6 Sedan competes primarily with the Nissan Altima, Honda Accord, and Ford Fusion, along with others in the family sedan market. The G6 Sedan is available in base, GT and GXP trim. In all its forms, the G6 is more sporting then most of the competition.

Under the hood, the base G6 is fitted with 2.4 liter Ecotec four cylinder engine, producing 164 horsepower (HP) and 156 foot pounds of torque. The GT is fitted with a 3.5 liter V6 that produces 219 HP and 219 foot pounds of torque, while the GXP is equipped with a 3.6 liter V6 that delivers 251 HP and 252 foot pounds of torque.

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Mazda Diesels

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While the mighty little Mazda3 has become quite popular here in the States, there’s forbidden fruit on the other side of the pond. Once again, we miss out on the most fuel-efficient models. It’s no secret that Mazda fits a number of thrifty diesel engines throughout its range in Europe, but American Mazda enthusiasts can only look longingly across the ocean in the hopes that one day those torque-filled penny pinching diesel power plants will find their way stateside.

The Mazda3 made a great impression this past summer, when we took it out on an extended highway run, round tripping to Washington DC. While our Mazda3 MPG review reveals highway fuel economy that far exceeds the official estimates, it can’t hold a candle to the remarkable numbers turned in by the Mazda3 diesel abroad.

Ready to get your blood boiling? We’ve done a bit of research to dig up England’s official estimates for the diesel-powered Mazda3, along with its stable mates …

Mazda3 hatch

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Fuel Mileage – How High Can It Go?

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While Americans typically refer to gas mileage, rather than fuel mileage, there’s a change afoot.

Highly fuel-efficient clean diesel-equipped vehicles have finally begun to reach our shores, and little-by-little, they’re making an impact. Time to adjust the lexicon. It’s fuel mileage, not gas mileage, when you’re driving a diesel.

Last month, I had the good fortune to interview a globe-hopping fuel economy record-setting couple from Australia, John and Helen Taylor, who had just set a new Guinness World Record for fuel mileage in a trip through the 48 states. The Taylors achieved an amazing 58.82 miles per gallon (MPG) in over 9000 miles of driving in a brand new clean diesel 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. That’s a number that couldn’t be touched with the current crop of hybrids.

We can thank the German manufacturers for making heavy investments in the technology.

The VW Jettas are the first of the clean diesels to arrive. Next up are the Audi Q7 and BMW 335d, with the Audi A4 to follow at some point in 2009 or 2010. Just this month, Audi ran a cross-country dieselfest, inviting automotive journalists from around the globe to partake in a coast-to-coast voyage to bring light to the excellent fuel mileage results of their fleet of clean diesel-equipped A3s, A4s, and Q7s.

The best is yet to come.

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The Best SUV?

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SUV rendering

Looking for the best SUV for your family? While the economic climate has changed dramatically, America has not stopped buying SUVs. For big families, it’s either an SUV or a minivan, and for those in colder climates, it’s the SUV that gets the nod. While determining which SUV best suits your family’s requirements needn’t be a drawn out process; it does take a bit of time and an open mind. The best SUV for your needs might not be the one you have your heart set upon.

The good news is that the recent drop in gasoline prices and the glut of SUVs on dealer lots has created a buyers market. I chatted with an old friend of mine earlier this evening. His marital situation is changing and he’s ready to buy a new SUV, but he’s not sure exactly which model to choose.

Joe Cool: Hi Dan. I have a bit of a dilemma in the car department and am hoping you can help me out.

Dan Gray: Hey there, old friend, tell me about that dilemma.

Joe Cool: I’m coming out of a divorce and will end up with two cars, neither of which I want. The first is a Toyota Prius. It’s from the first year of the second generation of the car, and it’s good, but it’s too small and definitely doesn’t handle poor weather well.

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2009 Chevy Aveo5 MPG Review

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Chevy Aveo5 MPG-o-Matic Chevy Aveo5 Review Summary: The five-door 2009 Aveo5 and its four-door sedan sibling fill the entry-level slot in Chevy’s line up. With highway gas mileage in the mid-thirties, a comfortable interior, flexible cargo capacity, and low base model sticker price, the Aveo5 is worth a look.

The Chevrolet Aveo competes with the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris, and Nissan Versa among others in the subcompact market. Available as both a sedan and five-door hatch dubbed the Aveo5, the South Korean-built Aveo defines the entry-level in Chevy’s line up.

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