Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown: Nissan Micra 1.6L

[chefdave]

Hi hope this is allowed. I have just bought a new to me peugeot 406 estate with 2.0 auto. Need it as my left leg has serious cartilidge damage and problems in my left shoulder after breaking collar bone years ago and not knowing. My gearing 28mph in top which seems high for a 1 1/2-3/4 ton car. Gov mpg at 56 is 35 imperial mpg. I can match that now with only putting tyre pressures up to 40psi and no other mods. Looking for 40mpg as other posters have said rear bumper/parachute is worst offended. Car is other wise clean aero wise. Most of my driving is around the 2000/2200 rpm no matter what the speed limit is. 40mph is 2000 rpm in 3rd 60mph is 2100rpm in 4th. Not bad for an auto to have gearing to match speed limits. Also have as std a snow button and power button. Only likely to us snow button in winter as it locks out 1st gear for pulling away on slippery surfaces. This is a almost identical set up to the wifes subaru outback 3.0. Gearing is 30mph per 1000 revs. Get about 29-30mpg on same run as peugeot. So either peugeot is over geared of subaru is under geared. Proves all autos are not thirsty but require a different style of driving. I usually just very lightly rest foot on throttle and let the box do rest. All changes occur below 2500 rpm some as low as 2000 rpm depending on road.

[bikeprof]

Try to get to high gear faster to use the "lock-up" earlier. Even if it feels against common sense, that does work, getting to lower RPM's earlier...

[wolfpuppy]

Own 2016 Rogue, we drive combination mileage, over time it usually sits just over 30 regardless of who drives or where. It replaced a Dodge minivan that averaged low 20's so we like it a lot.

[MetroMPG]

over time it usually sits just over 30

Maybe because the gauge hasn't been reset, so you're looking at an average based on many, many miles?

I bet there's a big difference from driver to driver. It's just not registering against that super long-term average.

[wolfpuppy]

Yep, makes a difference...I have driven into Disneyland at 50 mpg--lots of downhill and coasting over 100 miles or so total--the 30 is with three different drivers and my son is "learning" to hypermile but I still get the best mileage regardless of what car I drive. Kia Niro is my commuter car and I average about 80 going 67 miles to work but about 50 going home, so 65 overall in that car.

[hydrive]

That's quite a spread between manual and automatic. It seems the manual is still an underrated transmission, but unfortunately it is hard to drive one in miserable Toronto traffic. The stop and go insanity here is difficult to manage in an auto, let alone manual.

[Xringer]

I was getting about 24 MPG average with the RAV4 (like the old Ford Escape),
but I just did some vacation highway driving up to NH and back, using about 1/2 a tank.
I was somewhat surprised to see just over 30 MPG (ave) as we started the trip..
The trip computer display showed a lot of 30 to 40 MPG at highway speeds.
On flat-ish highway, we saw sustained 40 MPG over a range of speeds. 30 to 65 MPH.

When we got back home yesterday, the average MPG for the 1/2 tank is just above 30 MPG.
With mixed city & highway driving, this AWD RAV4 beats the FWD Escape's 24 MPG..
I guess it's more aerodynamic.?.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by hydrive

it is hard to drive one in miserable Toronto traffic.

Not for me. I would choose the manual, even in Toronto. I grew up & returned to live there (before leaving again), and only ever had manual cars.

Also, it's worth saying that not all manuals are created equal. Clutch effort & engagement characteristics have a lot to do with whether the car is a chore to drive in stop & go conditions or not. EG: the Mirage has the lightest, easiest to use clutch I've ever driven, period.

[hydrive]

Well, I am one of the minority who knows how to drive a manual, and rather enjoys its control. So I technically would have liked a manual, but the problem is some of these cars have so few options when a manual is installed. I understand economy, but virtually all the manuals I test drive are stripped down to the point they don't have electric windows. I do like to roll the back or passenger front windows down in hot weather.

On a side note, Toronto as a city has decided not only to stop improving roads, but to constrain and limit traffic flow. Don't even get me started on that topic, or we'll be here for hours. LOL I think its time I found a job elsewhere.

[MetroMPG]

I hear you: the manual option is being dropped on a lot of cars, especially the top trims. EG: you can no longer get the top spec Micra with a manual.

Even if the combination is technically offered, good luck finding a fully-equipped car with manual on dealer lots.

(Aside, re: windows -- the Mirage is a strange hybrid case: the base car has electric front windows standard, but the rear windows are cranks!)