What would you consider an acceptable Fuel economy for a small car these days?
What does your current car achieve??
Answers:
In this age of ludicrously high fuel prices I would expect a small car to return 45 MPG (petrol) overall and at least 55 MPG (diesel) overall.
I have access to two cars, a Series V Fiesta 1.25 that over a 5 year period has averaged 46.6 MPG on long trips, and an estimated 39/40 MPG around town. The second car is a Mercedes C Class 2.0, that over a similar period has averaged 35.4 MPG on long trips, using A roads/M'ways, but only 26.8 MPG around town.
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NB I keep a record of all fuel used (anorak approach!), and always fill up tanks and reset trip meters, hence the above figures are as accurate as I can get them. Both cars have aircon which does adversely affect the MPG slightly. I try to keep to all speed limits, too (I can't afford to get any points!), so the figures reflect a fairly relaxed, non 'boy racer', driving style.
Apropos that last comment - I do a regular cross country trip using mainly A roads and M'ways, and no matter how fast or slow I cruise, or at what time I set out, or which of the two cars I use, the journey time always lies between 3h15m and 3h 30m - which goes to show that a tyre burning, speed limit breaking, fuel wasting style of driving doesn't make much difference to journey times in the UK. The only answer for achieving shorter journey times is one's own light helicopter!
I like the idea ok Kia and Haundai with forty plus miles per gallon but I have a Suzuki Grand Vitara that does very well with 25-30!
Somewhere close to 30 mpg would be acceptable for a small car today.
my 12v corsa gets between 30 and 60 mpg depending on how heavy my foot is school and work runs it returns about 40 mpg thats with a lot of stop start diving and no single jurny is above 5 miles
30mpg
for a diesel, close to 60 mpg, for a petrol around 40
go for diesel more mpg and longer between servicing
It depends on your driving style and where you drive. Town driving uses loads more fuel than long runs on the motorway, as long as you don't push it.
On average I would think 50-60 miles per gallon for diesel, and about 30 miles per gallon for petrol would not be unreasonable. Smaller, modern cars would do better than bigger or older models.
20 mpg chrysler 3.5,check safety stats before you buy.
i have a 1993 ford fiesta 1.1lx. she does around 42 miles or sometimes more (depending if city driving or country driving) per gallon.
i feel for her age this is excellent. but she is very well looked after.
hope this helps.
about 40mpg is average for a small car. i have a jaguar xj which if i drive carefully will do about 28 which is crap but good for a jag.
I don't think fuel economy has improved much in the past 20 years. Any improvement in engine efficiency has been offset by weight gain and additional strain on the engine from things like; air con, electrics, satnav, airbags, impact absorption structures.
The one thing that has altered people's perception of fuel economy is the revolution in diesel engine technology. This means that people now have a new benchmark for consumption. So whereas a 1980s VW Polo 1.1 would do about 45- 50mpg today you can get a Polo which weighs twice as much, is physically much bigger, and comes with gadgets only available on luxury cars in the 80s but returns over 55mpg from a small, quiet diesel engine.
It is well documented that cars today are better value than their predecessors. However I think the next big thing among manufactures will be weight loss, as people are starting to realise that cars, and especially 4x4s, are getting ridiculously heavy.
30mpg
For a supermini like the Ford Fiesta (or equivalent) petrol I'd expect 40mpg, for a supermini diesel I'd expect 55mpg
My Audi a4 averages 35.6mpg .A renault clio thats in the family averages 39.5mpg.
Convert it to LPG and get miles and miles and miles..and miles.more miles.still going..
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