What car has the best HPMPG?

[Chiropteran]

My Jetta is payed off, and while I don't "need" a new car I have started thinking about it. I'm actually really tempted to "downgrade", because with the price of gas going up I can just see the long term value of my car dropping faster and faster, while it still has a decent resale value today. Being a GLI VR6 model, it doesn't exactly sip gas and it takes premium.

But... while I am considering a car with less overall power, I don't really want a turd either.

I'm not sold on the hybrid deal. I think I'd rather get a Yaris over a Prius, for example, either one would be a lot more efficient than my Jetta but if I am going to "suffer" by driving an efficient car I don't want to pay a premium for it. I'd really like to get a car with similiar performance to my Jetta, plus better fuel economy... do such cars exist?

Whats the most efficient car with 160+ HP? Is there anything 200 HP+ that gets 30 mpg or better? My Jetta gets about 26mpg now, which doesn't seem all that terrible, but like I said I'm just thinking about my options.

On the other hand, there are cars out there that interest me with a lot more power than my GLI, such as the 135i. It wouldn't be any more efficient than my Jetta, but it would be an upgrade otherwise, at a small cost of fuel efficiency :/


cliffs: what are the most efficient cars that have some kick?

edit: fixed title

 

[andylawcc]

Toyota 180hp 1.8L 2ZZ-GE that was found in the Celica GTS, Corolla XRS, and 1Matrix XRS. it returns 30mpg.

Honda's 160hp K20, also returns >30ish mpg.

Corvette's naturally aspirated LS7, 500hp, 20mpg

(all HWY mpg)

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
Toyota 180hp 1.8L 2ZZ-GE that was found in the Celica GTS, Corolla XRS, and 1Matrix XRS. it returns 30mpg.

I'm not seeing it, is this engine retired or something? The new corolla only has a 1.8l economy engine, no upgrade option. The matrix has an upgraded 2.4l engine, but it's rated 21/28mpg... that is worse than what I am getting now with my 200HP VR6, I'm a little confused why it's so bad for such a weak engine.


The new Civic Si is 21/29mpg, for 190~HP, which is slightly better than what I have, but hardly justifies buying a new car.

Corvette's naturally aspirated LS7, 500hp, 20mpg

The "base" engine seems to be pretty efficient too. Maybe Corvette is the winner? I don't think it'd be suitable as a daily driver though :/

 

[Kirby]

I'd get a R32 over a 135i.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: andylawcc
Toyota 180hp 1.8L 2ZZ-GE that was found in the Celica GTS, Corolla XRS, and 1Matrix XRS. it returns 30mpg.

I'm not seeing it, is this engine retired or something? The new corolla only has a 1.8l economy engine, no upgrade option. The matrix has an upgraded 2.4l engine, but it's rated 21/28mpg... that is worse than what I am getting now with my 200HP VR6, I'm a little confused why it's so bad for such a weak engine.


The new Civic Si is 21/29mpg, for 190~HP, which is slightly better than what I have, but hardly justifies buying a new car.

Corvette's naturally aspirated LS7, 500hp, 20mpg

The "base" engine seems to be pretty efficient too. Maybe Corvette is the winner? I don't think it'd be suitable as a daily driver though :/

C6 Z06 with 505hp will get 26mpg hwy. Regular C6 with 436hp will get 28mpg hwy. ZR1 with 638hp will likely get around 24mpg. C6 is perfectly suitable as a daily driver. Car is very comfortable, has plenty of room, and pretty reliable. It's lot like a GT car.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: nkgreen
I'd get a R32 over a 135i.

I didn't even consider the R32, because I don't like hatchbacks.

But I took a look after seeing your post. Slightly worse mileage, 50 less HP. Still, the car is about $4000 cheaper. Then I saw the real deal breaker... R32 is automatic only?! WTF is VW thinking? I won't even consider buying a an automatic car.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: Naustica
C6 Z06 with 505hp will get 26mpg hwy. Regular C6 with 436hp will get 28mpg hwy. ZR1 with 638hp will likely get around 24mpg. C6 is perfectly suitable as a daily driver. Car is very comfortable, has plenty of room, and pretty reliable. It's lot like a GT car.

I didn't mean unsuitable as a daily driver due to comfort, I should have been more clear. I think it's unsuitable as a daily driver *in my particular case* due to price being a bit out there combined with the likely insurance premium increases.

It would be a damn nice car though. Maybe I'll call my insurance company and figure out what the damage would be.

 

[thomsbrain]

If I am careful with how I drive, I can get 30 MPG combined from my 240 HP Honda Accord V6. Even when I'm not careful, I get 27-28 MPG. That's regular fuel, too.

OP, remember that fuel economy ratings were changed in the last year or two, and every car has significantly lower ratings than before. You can find your car's updated rating at fueleconomy.gov (IIRC). I can beat my car's updated highway rating even in combined driving.

 

[ponyo]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: Naustica
C6 Z06 with 505hp will get 26mpg hwy. Regular C6 with 436hp will get 28mpg hwy. ZR1 with 638hp will likely get around 24mpg. C6 is perfectly suitable as a daily driver. Car is very comfortable, has plenty of room, and pretty reliable. It's lot like a GT car.

I didn't mean unsuitable as a daily driver due to comfort, I should have been more clear. I think it's unsuitable as a daily driver *in my particular case* due to price being a bit out there combined with the likely insurance premium increases.

It would be a damn nice car though. Maybe I'll call my insurance company and figure out what the damage would be.

Insurance on a C6 is super cheap. Mainly due to all the old drivers and low accident rate. I bet the rate will be cheaper than your current ride.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain
If I am careful with how I drive, I can get 30 MPG combined from my 240 HP Honda Accord V6. Even when I'm not careful, I get 27-28 MPG. That's regular fuel, too.

OP, remember that fuel economy ratings were changed in the last year or two, and every car has significantly lower ratings than before. You can find your car's updated rating at fueleconomy.gov (IIRC). I can beat my car's updated highway rating even in combined driving.

Good point. I knew the ratings were more strict and supposedly more accurate for 2008, I didn't realize I could get the data for my car.

'04 Jetta VR6 Manual 19city 27highway 22combined

As I said above, I get 26mpg with my normal driving, which is 80% highway 20% city, with premium gas. I do *not* drive to conserve gas in the least, my average highway speed is about 75mph and I'll drive 80 if the traffic allows it.

So based on that, it looks like the new EPA values are a bit under-estimated.

 

[Erock]

If you get the 1.8 L. in a manual you may find that its pretty quick. And you can get 35 mpg on 87 octane.

I own a 2003 Corolla LE 4 speed auto and I think it was rated at 36 mpg but I've managed 42 a couple of times.

 

[ShockwaveVT]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: nkgreen
I'd get a R32 over a 135i.

I didn't even consider the R32, because I don't like hatchbacks.

But I took a look after seeing your post. Slightly worse mileage, 50 less HP. Still, the car is about $4000 cheaper. Then I saw the real deal breaker... R32 is automatic only?! WTF is VW thinking? I won't even consider buying a an automatic car.

DSG nothing like a regular torque converter automatic transmission.

Think of it as a manual transmission with a computer controlled clutch. Actually two computer controlled clutches, allowing for shifts in less than 1/10 of a second.

Since its computer controlled it does have an "automatic" mode convenient for stop & go traffic, but its also got a "manual" mode where every shift is controlled by the driver.

There are still pros and cons when comparing it to a traditional manual transmission, but its no mere auto slushbox.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Direct-Shift_Gearbox

 

[Mide]

I used to have a 06 Civic EX 140HP 26/37 (My own averages).

 

[DonaldC]

I think the Corvette uses premium fuel - if that's important to you.

 

[evident]

07 accord k24 engine (i4) gets 31mpg rated

 

[KentState]

Originally posted by: DonaldC
I think the Corvette uses premium fuel - if that's important to you.

The regular C6 recommends premium for max performance, but will run on regular. My old 6spd GTO, which is heavier, averaged 20 mpg in mix driving. On the freeway, it was easy to average 24 or so. If you do a lot of city driving though, the C6 would eat gas.

 

[scorp00]

Another vote for a corvette. I'm probably getting one in the next year or two. I have an LS1 trans am now and I am in love with that engine. If you look you can find some garage queen vette's with very low miles.

 

[ViviTheMage]

the new 09 Jetta TDI's are said to get upper 50MPG and 140+HP and oodles of torque.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

If you just multiply HP*MPG, it's really really hard to beat the Corvette while remaining in the automotive world.

 

[BassBomb]

It should be divisional ie a ratio, not multiplicative.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: andylawcc
Toyota 180hp 1.8L 2ZZ-GE that was found in the Celica GTS, Corolla XRS, and 1Matrix XRS. it returns 30mpg.

Honda's 160hp K20, also returns >30ish mpg.

Corvette's naturally aspirated LS7, 500hp, 20mpg

(all HWY mpg)

That engine is also found in the Lotus Elise and it gets very good mileage for the performance you get out of that car. I found myself getting close to 30mpg with it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: Naustica

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: andylawcc
Toyota 180hp 1.8L 2ZZ-GE that was found in the Celica GTS, Corolla XRS, and 1Matrix XRS. it returns 30mpg.

I'm not seeing it, is this engine retired or something? The new corolla only has a 1.8l economy engine, no upgrade option. The matrix has an upgraded 2.4l engine, but it's rated 21/28mpg... that is worse than what I am getting now with my 200HP VR6, I'm a little confused why it's so bad for such a weak engine.


The new Civic Si is 21/29mpg, for 190~HP, which is slightly better than what I have, but hardly justifies buying a new car.

Corvette's naturally aspirated LS7, 500hp, 20mpg

The "base" engine seems to be pretty efficient too. Maybe Corvette is the winner? I don't think it'd be suitable as a daily driver though :/

C6 Z06 with 505hp will get 26mpg hwy. Regular C6 with 436hp will get 28mpg hwy. ZR1 with 638hp will likely get around 24mpg. C6 is perfectly suitable as a daily driver. Car is very comfortable, has plenty of room, and pretty reliable. It's lot like a GT car.

That depends entirely on how you drive it. Here in CA I'd be suprised to see you get over 20mpg out of a Corvette in day to day driving. I'll ask my neighbor though, he had one for a couple years but got rid of it about a year ago.

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
the new 09 Jetta TDI's are said to get upper 50MPG and 140+HP and oodles of torque.

Diesel costs about 25% more than premium gas around here, so the efficiency wouldn't save as much money as the mpg numbers indicate.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage
the new 09 Jetta TDI's are said to get upper 50MPG and 140+HP and oodles of torque.

Diesel costs about 25% more than premium gas around here, so the efficiency wouldn't save as much money as the mpg numbers indicate.

Depends on how much you drive...

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Originally posted by: BassBomb
It should be divisional ie a ratio, not multiplicative.

Why? In both cases the higher the number the better.

200HP/20MPG=10HP/MPG
400HP/20MPG=20HP/MPG=better
200HP/40MPG=5HP/MPG=better

...so that route doesn't work.

20MPG/200HP=0.1MPG/HP
20MPG/400HP=0.05MPG/HP=better
40MPG/200HP=0.2MPG/HP=better

...so that doesn't work either

20MPG*200HP=4000
20MPG*400HP=8000=better
40MPG*200HP=8000=better

Only multiplication works well in this case. Otherwise you end up in a case where reducing HP or reducing MPG while keeping the other number the same gets a "better" number. You use division where the numbers are best to go in opposite directions (ie: HP/LB) and multiplication when you want them to go in the same (ie: LB-ft)