Nissan Titan Gas Mileage

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The rugged full-sized Nissan Titan was introduced in 2004 to compete with the Ford F-150, Chevrolet Silverado, and Dodge Ram pickup trucks. Nissan boasts about having the most powerful standard V-8 in its class, but the Titan’s gas mileage ratings lag behind the competition, with the E85-capable versions offering the dubious distinction of single-digit city ratings.

The 2008 Nissan Titan is available in crew cab and king cab configurations, and is equipped with a brawny 5.6 liter DOHC 32-valve V-8 engine that produces 317 horsepower. Flex Fuel capability is available as an option. All versions of the 2008 Titan (4×2 and 4×4) are rated at 12 miles per gallon in the city and 17 miles per gallon on the highway. The Titan is slated for a redesign for the 2009 model year. It is likely that a diesel engine option will be added at that time.

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Mazda B Series Pickup Truck Gas Mileage

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The Mazda B Series pickup doesn’t just deliver some of the best gas mileage ratings of all small pickup trucks sold in America, it’s also one of the longest running small pickup model lines sold here in the States. Their are two engine choices in the current B Series range. The regular cab 2WD 2.3 liter four-cylinder manual-transmission B2300 produces 143 horsepower and delivers a very respectable 26 miles per gallon on the highway. The B4000 is fitted with a 4.0 liter six cylinder engine rated at 207 horsepower.

Even though the Mazda B Series tops the charts of 2008 pickup truck gas mileage, it’s overshadowed by the B Series trucks produced in the early 1980s, when the B Series delivered highway mileage was as much as 60% higher than the current ratings. It was not unusual for Mazda B2000 pickups to achieve as much as 40 miles per gallon, back in the day.

The fuel efficient 2.5 liter turbo diesel engine, currently available in the B-Series overseas, could help Americans in search of a pickup truck that achieves better than 30 miles per gallon.

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Chevrolet Tahoe Gas Mileage

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Introduced in 1995, the full-size Chevrolet Tahoe is a true American SUV. Granted, the Tahoe’s gas mileage ratings, have never been something to write home about … until now. 2008 might just mark the dawn of a new era, with the Tahoe Hybrid offering a remarkable 50% improvement in city gas mileage ratings over the standard models. It isn’t just a case of bolting in an electric motor and a bank of batteries. Chevy dropped the Tahoe hybrid’s suspension, made aerodynamic tweaks to the hood and front end, and put some components on a diet to ease the load on the two-mode hybrid system. (Both the hood and tailgate are lightweight aluminum.)

The estimated gas mileage for the Tahoe Hybrid (shown above) is 21 city / 22 highway in 2WD trim, and 20 city / 20 highway for the 4WD model. The Tahoe Hybrid is slated to ship in early 2008.

The 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe is available with four engine choices, dependent on model. The two-wheel-drive LS comes standard with the 4.8 liter Vortec V-8, while the LT1, LT2, LT3 and LTZ are equipped with one of two versions of Chevy’s 5.3 liter Vortec V-8. The Chevy Tahoe Hybrid is fitted with a hefty 6.0 liter Vortec V-8 along with the two-mode hybrid electric propulsion system. (And you were expecting a wimpy little engine?)

Twenty miles per gallon in the city is be a good start for the Tahoe Hybrid but there’s plenty of ground to make up. An equivalent boost in highway mileage would be more than welcome. Continuing the effort to lighten the big SUV and dropping the 6.0 liter gasoline-burning V-8 in favor of a more economical turbo-diesel would be likely next steps.

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Chrysler PT Cruiser Gas Mileage

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The retro-styled Chrysler PT Cruiser, first introduced in 2001, is an American icon. PT Cruiser gas mileage ratings typically range from the mid to high twenties on the highway, depending on the engine configuration. City gas mileage ratings fall below 20 miles per gallon (MPG) in some models. Although the PT Cruiser it is not available with AWD, it’s classified as a compact SUV. The PT Cruiser went through a minor cosmetic redesign in the 2006 model year.

The limited edition 2008 Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Sunset Boulevard Edition (shown above) features “Sunset Crystal” paint, extra brightwork, 16-inch chrome nine-spoke wheels, and special interior trim. The domestic 2008 PT Cruiser is available with two engine choices based on a sixteen-valve DOHC 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine. The turbocharged version is rated at 180 horsepower (HP) on premium fuel, while the naturally aspirated version is rated at 150 HP on regular. An economical 2.2 liter common rail diesel (CRD) engine is available in the PT Cruiser overseas. It is highly unlikely that the CRD will ever be available in a domestic PT Cruiser, however, as the model is nearing the end of its run.

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Subaru Outback Gas Mileage

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The all-wheel-drive (AWD) Subaru Outback is based on the Subaru Legacy platform. While the Legacy is classified as a mid-sized car, the Outback is classified as a compact crossover SUV. The Subaru Outback’s gas mileage figures are respectable for a compact AWD SUV, with highway ratings in the mid- to high-twenty mile per gallon (MPG) range. The Outback was last redesigned for the 2005 model year.

The domestic 2008 Outback and Outback 2.5i are fitted with Subaru’s naturally-aspirated 2.5 liter SOHC 16-valve four-cylinder Boxer engine, rated at 170 horsepower (HP) and 170 foot pounds of torque. The Outback 2.5 XT Limited is equipped with a turbocharged variant of the 2.5 liter four banger Boxer, producing 243 HP and 241 foot pounds of torque. The top of the line Outback R L.L.Bean Edition is fitted with a naturally-aspirated six cylinder Boxer engine, producing 245 HP and 215 foot pounds of torque.

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