diesel

Best Gas Mileage Four Wheel Drive

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Need a four wheel drive with the best gas mileage? Get ready to downsize. None of the best gas mileage four wheel drives (4WDs) are jumbo-sized sport utility vehicles (SUVs).

Simply put, the aerodynamics and vehicle weight of the bulkiest SUVs cause gas mileage to suffer, leading to many a painful transaction at the pump. The trick is to get small(er), lighter, and more slippery. Credit Subaru for getting the ball rolling with popularizing economical 4WD drive passenger cars in the early days. Since 1997, every vehicle Subaru’s offered in America has been all wheel drive.

These days, it’s not just Subaru. There are plenty of four wheel drive choices that are neither truck nor SUV. And forget the notion of pint-sized economy cars. You’ll find a generous helping of 4WD luxury from manufacturers including Audi, Volvo, Cadillac, and Lexus … in fact, you’ll find many of their offerings in the 2008 list of best gas mileage four wheel drives.

Purists will gladly share that there’s a difference between four wheel drive and all wheel drive (AWD). And surely there is … but for a great many folks, it comes down to two simple questions: will it go in the snow and will I go broke feeding it?

At the other end of the spectrum, the little Suzuki SX4 delivers plenty of bang for the buck, by combining the best four wheel drive gas mileage with a low sticker price (for those who don’t just think miles per gallon … but miles per dollar.)

Along with its corporate cousins, the Ford Escape Hybrid proves the exception to the rule as the highest all around mile per gallon (MPG) four wheel drive vehicle. If you can’t get a great deal on an Escape Hybrid at your local Ford dealer, take a look at the Mercury Mariner Hybrid. And if you happen to live in Southern California, the Mazda Tribute Hybrid HEV might be an option … as long as you’re able to snag one of the 350 Tribute HEVs built for this test market.)

2008 Best Gas Mileage Four Wheel Drives

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Kia Sedona Gas Mileage

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The Kia Sedona went into production in 1999 and was redesigned for the 2006 model year. While the Sedona’s gas mileage ratings are in step with the competition, at 16 city and 23 highway miles per gallon (MPG), fuel-efficiency is not the seven-seat Sedona’s biggest draw. Rather, it is the Sedona’s safety record and affordability that inspire a great many buyers. Kia proudly states that “the Sedona is the first and only minivan ever to earn both a 5-star crash safety rating” from the U.S. National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and “be named “Top Safety Pick” by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.” (The Hyundai Entourage is based on the Sedona.)/p>

The 2008 Kia Sedona is equipped with a 3.8 liter V-6 that produces 250 horsepower (HP) and 253 foot pounds of torque. While a turbo-diesel is not currently available in US versions of the Sedona, an economical DOHC 2.9 liter CRDi turbo-diesel, producing a generous 343 foot pounds of torque is available abroad. To provide reassurance of the Sedona’s reliability and longevity, Kia provides a 10 year, 100,000 mile limited power train warranty and other significant warranties.

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VW Jetta SportWagen TDI Delayed

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Can’t wait to get behind the wheel of a brand new high-MPG Volkswagen Jetta SportWagen TDI? Get ready to wait a bit longer. A post on the TDI Club forum leaks a letter from VW to its dealer network, spreading the news of a significant delay in the SportWagen TDI’s arrival.

According to the letter, the Jetta SportWagen TDI will not appear after the first of the year, nor in early spring … “late summer 2008” is now the expected time frame.

SEMA 2008 Jetta SportWagen TDI side view - photo courtesy of Volkswagen

Enough of the bad news. Lets get to the good.

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GMC Sierra Gas Mileage

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Like the full-size Chevrolet Silverado pickup, but want something a little different? Take a look at the Sierra, GMC’s stable mate for the Silverado. The half-ton GMC Sierra 1500 offers respectable gas mileage for a full size pickup when fitted with the base 4.6 liter six cylinder engine. When coupled with a five-speed manual transmission in a 2WD Sierra, the 4.6 liter six provides 15 city and 20 highway miles per gallon.

GMC Canyon Engine Options
GMC offers a wide range of engine options in the half-ton Sierra 1500 range. Although GMC offers diesel engine options for the heavy-duty Sierra 2500HD and 3500HD, the Sierra 1500 choices are gas-only.

  • Vortec 4.3 liter V6
  • Vortec 4.8 liter V8
  • Vortec 5.3 liter V8 (iron-block, Active Fuel Management, with or without FlexFuel)
  • Vortec 5.3 liter V8 (aluminum-block, Active Fuel Management, with or without FlexFuel)
  • Vortec MAX 6.0 liter V8 (Active Fuel Management)

The 2500HD and 3500HD come standard with the Vortec 6.0 liter V8, with the Duramax Diesel 6.6 liter turbo V8 available as an option. GMC does not publish mileage ratings for the Duramax diesels, which are produced by a joint venture between GM and Isuzu.

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Dodge Dakota Gas Mileage

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The popular Dodge Dakota pickup was introduced in 1987 and redesigned in 1997 and 2005. The Dakota produces average gas mileage figures for a mid-sized pickup, with highway mileage ratings reaching 20 miles per gallon (MPG) with the standard V-6 engine. Gas mileage ratings for the V-8 Dakota running E85 are underwhelming. The distinctively styled Dakota fills a niche by being larger than the Ford Ranger, but smaller than the F-150.

A 3.7 liter V-6 producing 210 horsepower (HP) is the standard engine in all 2008 Dakota models, with the exception of the top of the line Laramie. The 2008 Dakota Laramie is equipped with a 4.7 liter V-8 engine that produces 302 HP. The 4.7 liter V-8 is available as an option in the SLT, TRX, and Sport models. While a diesel engine is not currently available in the 2008 Dakota, rumor has it that the new 4.2 liter V6 Cummins turbo-diesel will soon be found under the Dakota’s hood.

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