Quote:
Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian
Some cars are relatively underrated by the EPA test and can do more, some not so much. Take one of those underrated cars, an experienced hypermiler, ideal routes and conditions, and ...
3.5x epa best commute (3.2x round trip)
2.9x epa best tank
2.4x epa year-round average
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Yup this is really the biggest thing. One obvious example that comes to mind is the 2ZZ Lotus Exige. The Celica GTS has a longer 6th gear and slightly less drag but smaller tires/wheels for 3 more highway mpg, giving it a 23 overall rating. The Exige is at 20/22/26. However, these cars have an 8500rpm redline so the EPA test pretty much wastes a crapton of gas chugging along at unnecessarily high engine speeds. With a 2000lb curb weight or so and a relatively modest 1.8L displacement (it's not low for economy car standards but it's pretty low) and 6 speed gearbox, I think most of its leadfoot owners get 30mpg not paying attention to fuel economy at all, shifting at high rpms, driving 80mph down the freeway (reportedly this gets 30 mpg and having an MR2 spyder with similar rpms and displacement, I think it's actually about right).
Careful driving around the city should be able to pull high 30s to 40s, depending on what you call "city", and going slower on the highway should get 40mpg with no pulse and glide. Pulse and glide with a relatively low average speed will give absolutely scary fuel economy numbers.
This rule pretty much applies quite well to any high rev low displacement engine equipped car. The AP1 Honda S2000 is rated at 20mpg average. Again most owners are leadfoots that have no idea about fuel economy driving, and they get 25-30mpg average.