I just got back from a road trip with the wife's SUV, a 2006 Chevy Equinox.
The trip was from S. Carolina to Niagara Falls N.Y. and back again, for a total of 1856 miles using 63.159 gallons of gas.
That works out to 29.386 mpg...!!!
Which is 54.6% above the EPA combined 19 mpg rating, or 48.4% above the combined users rating of 19.8 mpg which is more realistic in my opinion since it was averaged with 9 different users.
Not to bad for a 4000 lb., 3.4L V-6 SUV and crossing the Appalachian mountain range.
Modifications - raise the tire pressure to 44 psi, use a Ultra Gauge, kept the AC off and adjusted the nut behind the wheel.
Kept highway speeds in the 55-65 mph in order to keep from being run over. The average speed for the entire trip (including city driving) was 51.9 mph according to the Ultra Gauge.
As far as driving technique goes, I kept a light foot and one eye on the Ultra Gauge at all times. P&G in slow traffic and a little EOC (engine on coasting) here and there.
Anyway, just thought I would post that it is possible to get decent mpg out of a SUV.
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