The 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt XFE yields higher gas mileage than other Cobalts due to its engine, transmission, and tire combination.
The domestic automakers are in a heap of trouble right now. Truth is, almost every car maker--domestic or import brand--is having a lousy year.
Mainstream media covering the financial woes of the auto industry seem fond of noting that domestic makers produce “gas guzzlers”. It’s generally understood that the hapless American car builders couldn’t build an efficient car if their lives depended on it, which they seemingly do.
It’s certainly true that domestic makers produce more vehicles in categories not known for fuel efficiency, but are these vehicles really guzzlers?
A common example of Detroit’s supposedly cavalier attitude toward fuel economy is its proclivity for building SUVs. It’s no secret that Ford practically invented the SUV with its 1991 rollout of the Explorer. Typically ignored is how quickly Japanese makers followed suit.
Today, V8-powered versions of the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota 4Runner consume fuel at a pace no less disturbing than that of American SUVs.
Likewise, import makers have jumped on the full-size truck bandwagon, building pickups and SUVs replete with V8 engines.
Why then are domestic makers getting a bad rap?
It’s true that for a long time Asian makers did a better job building refined 4-cylinder midsize sedans, and the huge popularity of the excellent Honda Accord and Toyota Camry is testament to that triumph. But even that truism no longer holds, as a quick drive in the recently redesigned Chevrolet Malibu illustrates.
Perception is reality however, and the public and press seem to cling tightly to the belief that domestic makers produce nothing but gas hogs. Anyone interested in learning otherwise is invited to continue reading.
Note: Though Consumer Guide Automotive conducts its own fuel-economy testing, for consistency’s sake the numbers presented here are supplied by the EPA. For more information about the EPA and its fuel-economy testing procedures, check out fueleconomy.gov. All EPA figures are for 2009 models.
Compact Car (base, manual transmission) City Highway Chevrolet Cobalt XFE 25 37 Dodge Caliber 24 30 Ford Focus 24 35 Honda Civic 26 34 Nissan Sentra 24 31 Toyota Corolla 27 35
While a domestic-brand vehicle, Dodge Caliber, is the thirstiest in this bunch, another domestic, the Chevy Cobalt, rises to the top.
Midsize car (4-cylinder, automatic transmission) Chevrolet Malibu LTZ 22 33 Dodge Avenger 21 30 Ford Fusion 20 28 Honda Accord LX 21 31 Nissan Altima 23 31 Toyota Camry 21 31
Only two cars here crack 22 mpg in the city, one domestic, Malibu, and one import, Altima. Malibu takes the title for highway mileage.
Small/midsize SUVs (4-cylinder, automatic transmission, two-wheel drive) Dodge Journey 19 25 Ford Escape 20 28 Honda CR-V 20 27 Nissan Rogue 21 26 Saturn Vue 19 26 Toyota RAV4 22 28
The import-brand RAV4 takes all in this class, though the Ford Escape matches it for highway frugality. Note also that the Dodge Journey is appreciably larger and heavier than the other vehicles listed here.
Midsize/large SUVs (V6, automatic transmission, two-wheel drive) Chevrolet Traverse 17 24 Ford Edge 16 24 Honda Pilot 17 23 Nissan Murano 18 23 Toyota Highlander 18 24
Three vehicles claim the best highway mileage in this comparison: two domestic nameplates (Traverse and Edge) and one import (Highlander). Import brands claimed the city mileage crown with two models--Murano and Highlander tied.
Midsize SUVs (V8, automatic, four-wheel drive) Ford Explorer 14 19 Nissan Pathfinder 13 18 Toyota 4Runner 14 17
For folks who need to tow, these V8-equipped SUVs make a lot of sense. What may surprise people is that the Ford Explorer, the most traditional of SUVs, is the thriftiest vehicle in this class. Note that the traditional V8 midsize SUVs from Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, and GMC have been dropped for 2009.
Off-road Vehicle (Base engine, manual transmission, four-wheel drive) Hummer H3 14 18 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited 15 19 Toyota FJ Cruiser 15 18
Hummer has become the poster child for automotive excess and general environmental indifference. The domestic-brand H3 tied the import-brand FJ in highway fuel economy, while both were bested by the domestic-brand Wrangler. In truth, all three of these vehicles are really too thirsty for daily driving.
Large SUVs (Base engine, four-wheel drive) Chevrolet Tahoe 14 20 Ford Expedition NA NA Nissan Armada 12 18 Toyota Sequoia 13 16
Sure, domestic makers still produce big trucks, but so do import makers Nissan and Toyota. And in this class, it’s the Japanese brands that do some serious guzzling. Domestic makers don’t get a lot of credit for efficiency, but in the case of the Tahoe, high-tech features like engine cylinder deactivation and a 6-speed automatic transmission boost its highway mileage 2-4 mpg higher than the competition. 2009 EPA figures for the Ford Expedition were not available at this writing.
Large Pickups (half-ton, crew-cab, automatic transmission, two-wheel drive) Chevrolet Silverado (5.3-liter V8) 14 20 Dodge Ram (5.7-liter V8) 14 20 Ford F-150 (5.4-liter V8) 14 20 Nissan Titan (5.6-liter V8) 13 17 Toyota Tundra (4.7-liter V8) 14 18
Only the domestic-brand Chevy, Dodge, and Ford crack the 20-mpg barrier on the highway, while city mileage across the board is really too close to call.
