Id have to say a
scangauge or
mpguino would really be the best way to tell. It really depends on the car, and the driving conditions. On my car, unless I really punch it, I get the same or better mpg with brisk acceration as with just spinning fluid at really slow acceleration (which I used to do before the
mpguino). So getting up to speed faster is better since I get the same mpg for less distance.