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Old 01-08-2018, 02:03 PM   #1 (permalink)
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U.S. new vehicle fuel economy stuck at 25 MPG, 4th year running

You can lead a horse to water... Or you can just let it drive there in its BRAND NEW SUV!



After years of increases...

Despite ever-increasing new vehicle efficiency, the sales-weighted fleet average for new vehicles in the U.S. has been stuck at 25 MPG for 4 years in a row now.

Common wisdom: low, low fuel prices plus a steadily improving economy have allowed people to buy the biggest, thirstiest vehicles they can't really afford.

The thirst for SUV's, pickups & crossovers is so great, automakers are cancelling midsize sedans and subcompacts, left & right! The market is speaking.

Crossovers for everyone! I like to sit up tall, so I can look at the back of the SUV in front of me.

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Old 01-08-2018, 02:14 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Not surprising given the reasons above (low fuel prices, strong economy).

Concerning ride height; I look through the rear window and front windshield of the car ahead for both safety and efficiency. I'll monitor what traffic is doing up ahead and anticipate coasting or braking as needed. This is all fine when I'm in a sedan and the person ahead is in a sedan, but when they are in an SUV or other tall vehicle, I'm not able to see through them any longer. All I see is their bumper. My preference would be for most cars to be a sedan, but since this isn't likely, I see the appeal of being in a taller vehicle myself.

That said, I'm not going to buy a tall vehicle just so I can see better.
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Old 01-08-2018, 02:35 PM   #3 (permalink)
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Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
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Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Can't argue with wanting to see well ahead. Forward vision can also be improved by not tailgaiting, but that's asking too much of many drivers.

But the downside of the desire to sit up high: It effectively turns into an arms race.

Also unfortunately, a lot of new SUV's/crossovers are coming with heavy tint on the rear glass, so you can't see through them anyway!

Where is my robot car?!
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
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Old 01-08-2018, 02:38 PM   #4 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,058
Thanked 6,957 Times in 3,602 Posts
Automakers are not innocent bystanders in this trend, either: many crossovers are built on the same platforms and use the same drivetrains as existing car models.

Yet the jacked-up CUV's also get jacked-up prices, by many thousands of dollars more than the cars on which they're based.
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Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata
Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater
Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage.
Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown



EcoModder
has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage
www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners
www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget
  Reply With Quote
Old 01-08-2018, 04:01 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Oregon
Posts: 12,394

Acura TSX - '06 Acura TSX
90 day: 24.19 mpg (US)

Lafawnda - '01 Honda CBR600 F4i
90 day: 47.32 mpg (US)

Big Yeller - '98 Dodge Ram 2500 base
90 day: 21.82 mpg (US)

Prius Plug-in - '12 Toyota Prius Plug-in
90 day: 57.64 mpg (US)

Mazda CX-5 - '17 Mazda CX-5 Touring
90 day: 26.68 mpg (US)

Chevy ZR-2 - '03 Chevrolet S10 ZR2
90 day: 17.14 mpg (US)
Thanks: 4,189
Thanked 4,379 Times in 3,354 Posts
I'm all about using the right tool for the job; vanity be damned.

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