This is interesting:
Consumer Reports looked at about a million responses to their vehicle owner survey and discovered a strong correlation between a vehicle's real world fuel economy performance and the owner's satisfaction with the vehicle.
Quote:
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In fact, fuel economy was second only to reliability in its influence on owner satisfaction.
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Fuel economy was more influential than:
- acceleration
- horsepower
- price
For example, looking at 2014-15 Ford Fusion owners:
- 45% of owners who reported getting 15 mpg were satisfied with their vehicle
- but 70% were satisfied who were getting 30 mpg
(FYI, the combined
EPA rating for non-hybrid 2015 Fusions ranges from 25 to 29 mpg)
And they say the correlation held across all vehicle types -- it's not just about hybrids or thrifty econoboxes.
Source:
Better Fuel Economy a Priority for U.S. Drivers - Consumer Reports
A lesson for automakers? Better to under-promise and over-deliver?