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Who Wins The Gas Sipper Smackdown?
These days there are a lot of small cars pounding their chests and claiming they get the best gas mileage around. Well, we got tired of the talk and decided to settle the score. Right here, right now!

We picked three cars from our long-term fleet known for squeezing extra miles out of every gallon of gas: the spunky 2008 Smart Fortwo with a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine, the thrifty 2008 Ford Focus SES coupe with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, with its legendary 1.9-liter "TDI" diesel engine. Then we added a heavily favored gasoline-electric hybrid to the mix: a 2008 Toyota Prius.

While the EPA's fuel economy estimates are a good guide for determining a car's overall economy, we wanted to know how the cars performed in a variety of driving situations. Let's face it. Every car has a different personality, and if you drive it differently you'll get a different level of fuel economy. The only way to settle things was with a fuel economy cage match. Four cars enter; only one leaves.
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Who Wins The Gas Sipper Smackdown?



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AlexTxAlexTx - 5/22/2008 11:38:58 AM
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Jetta did quite well for an older TDi engine.
When the new one comes out, it will be even better and will have less green houses gas than the Prius and even better MPG than the Prius on the highway.

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_43LE_43LE - 5/22/2008 11:52:52 AM
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Until the next Prius that comes out in 2010? They are already field testing plug in versions and Lithium ion is also coming down the pipe.


TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 5/22/2008 12:50:45 PMView My AgentSpace
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This is what killed the Jetta's chances of winning this comparison:

"Not-so-fun fact: Las Vegas has the longest traffic lights in the world. So while the Ford, Smart and VW sucked gas for minutes at a time, the Prius, thanks to its hybrid powertrain, just shut down and chilled. The result was like a cold-cocking haymaker to the non-hybrids, particularly the Focus."


In Europe, the BMW 1-series diesels have an "Auto Start Stop" function that turns off the engine when you're stopped.


_43LE_43LE - 5/22/2008 1:08:50 PM
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Thanks for sharing that info Turbo aka Midengine aka Sport, but BMW was not in this comparison test. Are you trying to say something? Is BMW related to VW?


TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 5/22/2008 1:26:42 PMView My AgentSpace
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Hideki, I was trying to point out that all VW would have to do to greatly improve the mileage of their diesels in stop and start city traffic would be to do what BMW did - add an "Auto Start Stop" function.


_43LE_43LE - 5/22/2008 3:14:10 PM
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Turbosport, and all Toyota has to do is introduce a plug in version and lithium ion batteries and it will still be ahead.


abcdabcd - 5/22/2008 4:08:18 PM
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TurboSpyder , Volkswagen diesels are less effecient even compared to mazda diesel :

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/220890/mazda_6_estate_vs_vw_passat.html

vw - 37,5 imperial gallons
mazda - 40,2 imp gallons

not to mention honda diesel - 43,9 imp gallon:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/grouptests/222012/accord_vs_rivals.html


TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 5/22/2008 5:33:29 PMView My AgentSpace
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abcd, yes the Mazda won this first comparison against the diesel Passat but AutoExpress pointed out that the Passat had VW's old diesel motor which is about to be replaced.

[Quote]

Performance is closely matched. The 2.0-litre TDI is about to be replaced by a new common-rail diesel, yet even in this guise the VW engine is more refined at low speed. It delivers its power in a sudden gust and then tails off, but there’s less vibration through the pedals than in the Mazda – although how much of this is due to the superb cabin insulation is difficult to judge. What is certain is that the Passat has executive car levels of road, wind and engine noise suppression.

[/Quote]


In the second comparo AutoExpress chose the Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi as the winner over the Accord.


abcdabcd - 5/23/2008 2:18:45 AM
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"In the second comparo AutoExpress chose the Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi as the winner over the Accord."

ford mondeo - 39,5 imp gallon

after VW switch to common-rail I think it wouldn`t be more effecient becouse common-rail is rather installed to less vibration and noise(vw diesel is the noisiest diesel as i hear every day from streets) than to effeciency .


Matthew1Matthew1 - 5/24/2008 1:29:02 AM
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abcd, do you even know what you are talking about?

Do you think technology hasn't progressed enough, or that VW's engineers are that thick that they couldn't make a brand-new engine design more efficient than an old design?

And of course common-rail contributes to efficiency, as it relates to how fuel enters the cylinder.

My goodness.


Homer007Homer007 - 5/22/2008 11:53:32 AM
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Congrats to Prius!

Jetta did well also! btw, diesel is little more expensive than a good ole regular gas ain't it?

My vote would go for the Honda insight which easily gets 80+ miles per gallon, although discontinued in the U.S.

Next Gen. Hybrids from Prius cars will easily break these numbers...My prediction is around 70+ mpg.



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bagwellbagwell - 5/23/2008 6:29:22 PM
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here in Houston, diesel is near $1 more than regular gas.

of course if you brew your own B100, you can make the Jetta a bargain!


ShredmoShredmo - 5/22/2008 11:54:06 AM
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One thing to consider is availability and sales price. The Focus didn't look too great in the comparison, but you can purchase one very cheap and easy compared to all of it's competitors in this article. Though it lost all of the comparisons, it's overall value is great.

If it didn't have that faux fender vent, I'd really spout how good this car is for saving $ in a practical sense.

*I do not own any Ford products, so no, I am not a "fan boy".

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0to600to60 - 5/22/2008 12:28:43 PM
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Agreed.


0to600to60 - 5/22/2008 12:31:46 PM
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The Smart did poorly considering its size and what is has to offer. For such a small two seater it should have done much better. But then again, it was going up against a hybrid and a diesel so it was at a disadvantage.

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PlanBPlanB - 5/22/2008 1:11:27 PM
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Not to mention it also requires premium fuel.


0to600to60 - 5/22/2008 5:32:14 PM
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Really!?!


85bmw745i85bmw745i - 5/23/2008 2:56:29 AMView My AgentSpace
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Yeah the smart is a big dissapointment considering how small it is and having such a small, low powered engine. the Geo Metro aka suzuki swift with the 3 cylinder got way better mileage and it was a bigger car.


BoredBored - 5/22/2008 3:14:32 PM
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The simple fact that a 3 year old, non-urea (blutec, blumotion, etc.) Jetta TDI did so well against a 2008 Toyota Prius has proven what I've been saying for a while: The world needs a Hybrid-Electric Diesels! Yes, on the surface it would seem to most people that this would be too expensive and for the uninformed, not "green" enough, that it can't work. You factor in the initial cost of buying said vehicle, government tax breaks, cost per mile based of the price of fuel (it has been documented that despite the $.60 + difference between regular gas and diesel, diesel's cost per mile is still lower), owner's maintenance cost over the life of ownership, and resale value, it becomes a win-win-win situation (mfg., vehicle owner, environment).
Also, I'm glad that turbospyder pointed out that BMW's 1 series diesel (Euro spec) has an "auto off/on start" function that would be a welcome addition to any vehicle if mass licensed and produced.

PLEASE NOTE: I'm not an Economics guru nor a knowledgeable environmentalist (my main vehicle is a gas-guzzling V8 Grand Cherokee that I will get rid of ASAP) so if you have factual proof, as opposed to B.S. propaganda that the ignorant loves to bandwagon off of, please share with the rest of us.
Also, keep in mind that I suggest this only as a good next step in the right direction. I would like to see more mass produced vehicles before I die that run on Natural Gas, Electric, waste-based E85 (meaning not using 1/5 of the annual corn harvest, or other consumer goods, of the U.S. -- what a waste and I think it's inhumane!), and/or Hydrogen.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=db9_1196372649

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ghosthunterghosthunter - 5/22/2008 4:13:53 PM
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the most fuel consuming part is acceleration. not idling (unless you idling for more than few minute. having "start/stop" thing won't improve your mpg dramatically. (see GM mild hybrid).




t_bonet_bone - 5/22/2008 3:51:36 PM
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Great article! Well done with the scorecard, best article of its type I've read.

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ghosthunterghosthunter - 5/22/2008 4:05:07 PM
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I think this is a fare comparison.
I am always a non EPA number believer. Majority of the cars are optimized for EPA tests. those number a so unrealistic in real life. ie. a BMW 528 claims to get 28mpg. but frankly, how many of you guys can get that number?
One of the most important things to take away from Edmund's test is that Prius consistently gets 47 to 52 mpg. In fact, most people who drive prius get that number no matter how they drive it or where they drive it. Here at L.A. the traffic is always jammed; the I-10 freeway can have much more stop and go than the Las Vegas strip. I’d like to see the advertised 40 mpg city/50 mpg TDI does when it driven by real people, on real road.


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PorschinatorPorschinator - 5/22/2008 5:04:07 PM
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Idiotic that the Honda Hybrid was not part of the comparo...

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ShredmoShredmo - 5/22/2008 5:28:29 PM
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Yes and no.

The idea, the best hybrid, vs the best ultra compact vs the best diesel vs (the best value?) compact gas saver.

Not sure why the Focus was picked. It is a great car, but they could have used Corolla, Civic or ____.


bagwellbagwell - 5/23/2008 6:34:03 PM
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The Civic Hybrid would have fallen behind the Prius. MPG is not as good and the price is essentially the same, right?


TurboSpyderTurboSpyder - 5/22/2008 5:40:32 PMView My AgentSpace
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Here are the results of a similar comparison that Autoweek did a couple of years ago.


TOYOTA PRIUS
8.3 gallons of regular gas at $2.599
*42 mpg vs. EPA highway rating of 51 mpg


VOLKSWAGEN JETTA TDI
7.0 gallons of B20 biodiesel at $2.749
*49.9 mpg vs. EPA highway rating of 42 mpg


http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060424/FREE/60417021/1008

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BoredBored - 5/22/2008 9:02:55 PM
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Dammit, TurboSpyder, did you have to remind us of how "cheap" gas was back before April 2006!?

"When will the hurting stop!?"


HatersHaters - 5/23/2008 2:40:32 PM
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This is the answer: www.waterpoweredcar.com with great inventors such as Stan Meyer.


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RupertRupert - 5/23/2008 8:12:40 PMView My AgentSpace
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Bull.

That site is fraudulent, and lies frequently. The cars aren't water powered, they're powered by hydrogen made by the electrolysis of water, which is hugely energy consuming. The site claims scientists will tell you that it's impossible. They won't. It is possible, and always has been.


Matthew1Matthew1 - 5/24/2008 1:33:10 AM
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Ignore him, he's spamming.


BarrieBarrie - 5/24/2008 7:14:41 AM
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if all your driving is stop start in heavy traffic then forget the hybrids and get an electric car cheaper to buy more reliable and much cheaper to run with no petrol motor starting up all the time to recharge the battery, the only disadvantage is that the range is limited, but most people dont drive very far often so no problem and very practical getting to the shops or work

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BarrieBarrie - 5/24/2008 7:17:01 AM
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and if a lot of your driving is on the freeway or open road forget hybrids they only work when stationary or driving very slow, a good efficient diesel is way ahead, both on economy and emissions


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