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SUVs SUV gas mileage - Feel free to participate
1070 messages, Last post on Jun 04, 2009 at 10:34 AM
You are in the SUVs Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester
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Replying to: tidester (Sep 04, 2008 7:57 pm)  A friends Expedition with it's 5.4 liter V8 simply will not go some of the places that our much smaller 4WD CR-V will, with it's 2.4L 4 cylinder. Our CR-V won't do the same job as our son's Grand Cherokee, with it's very sophisticated 4WD system. To say the largest are true SUV and the smaller are simply toys is like saying only Great Danes and other dogs that size are "true dogs" while the smaller Pit Bull, Rottweiler, and German Shepherds are not.  True SUVs were designed to extend to family haulers the ability to carry more people and gear, more comfortably on and off road than units such as the Jeep Wrangler and a couple of others. Emphasis on Utility. Although Jeep introduced some earlier "SUV" models, before the phrase "Sport Utility Vehicle" became popular, the Cherokee was by far the most popular. It's drive train was pretty much identical to that of the Wrangler sized Jeeps. Many came with 4 cylinder engines. A big roaring V8 doesn't make a vehicle more of an SUV. Smaller size doesn't make one a "Toy". It is simply more efficient at certain jobs. Maybe we need to toss out anything that is not a 4WD, instead of discriminating because of size.  Kip |
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Replying to: arrie (Sep 04, 2008 6:12 pm) I suspect you drive a large body-on-frame SUV. I'm a bit surprised you compared a Ford product to a Dodge product. 
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Replying to: tidester (Sep 04, 2008 7:57 pm) Nevertheless, we are open to comments from others regarding a split. " Well, here is my comment. When the manufacturers stop calling them SUVs, then people should stop posting here. The auto companies now use the term CUV when it is in fact a Crossover, but they still call my Escape (and the CR-V, and the RAV4, as examples) SUVs. I suppose you could make three discussions: small, medium, and large SUV gas mileage. That would be fine with me, and might narrow the comparisons for people interested in mileage. I almost asked that person who complained if he/she drove a huge SUV by him/herself, and was getting the usual 10 MPG city / 16 highway. But I chose not to pose that question... 
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Replying to: stevedebi (Sep 05, 2008 9:10 am) Yes, I drive a full size Tahoe. In my opinion it is waste of time and topic space to compare 4 cylinder "toy trucks" to full size trucks under the same topic. We all know, I hope, what for example Ford Escape use a lot less fuel than a Tahoe. Why talk about them under the same topic. I always thought that this forum site is meant to be helping the users. It would help much better if there was only full size SUVs under one topic, middle size under another and small ones under their own so people interested of hearing others of what they have done to help fuel mileage could benefit from it. Now it is just a big mess under one topic and all I see the small toy truck drivers bragging about their 30+ MPG performance on those 4 cylinder engines. Go pull a 20 ft trailer with it and see how it does... Tools and toys are separate issues. Myself I would be interested hearing from other full size SUV drivers what they have done for gas mileage improvement or what they think about it but current "Feel free to participate" topic does not serve for this. It would be very good if there was Full, Mid and Small size SUV topics, i.e. for 8, 6 and 4 cylinder engines. Arrie
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Replying to: arrie (Sep 05, 2008 12:15 pm) Sorry but that's the plain truth. |
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Replying to: arrie (Sep 05, 2008 12:15 pm) For the sake of comparison. >"It would help much better if there was only full size SUVs under one topic, middle size under another and small ones under their own so people interested of hearing others of what they have done to help fuel mileage could benefit from it." For those like yourself, there is a Tahoe Real World MPG forum. If that isn't good enough, you can start your own thread within this forum or even start a new forum. You could entitle it Real world MPG for Large Gas Guzzling SUVs Only. You could go even farther and in the first post list the Vehicles and equipment that are allow to participate. Go for it. Kip
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Replying to: kipk (Sep 06, 2008 2:50 am)  Then they'd be too embarassed to post at all. Having said that MotorWeek just tested the Durango hybrid. They got 19mpg. Their Tahoe hybrid managed 20 mpg. $45 grand for the Durango hybrid, and $50 grand for the Tahoe hybrod. Ouch. |
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Just came across this thread and see arguments about full size and toys. Well, for me I am indeed interested in all the different models. I drive a FULL size SUV but watch regularly what the smaller ones are doing. I need to tow 3500# (not all that much, just my tractor or jet skis), I need 4wd (live on a hill in snow "at times" country) and I wanted size to haul the family (8 on vacation). The Expedition does that for me. However, I would give my Expedition to my kids who don't commute far, if I find a suitable smaller SUV that has good FE. So far only the hybrids and diesels look desirable and with the price of diesel, the Escape looks like it's on my short list. For 90% of my driving (like many people) I don't need a SUV. I want to have at least one large one in the family but it needs to be where it is needed the least. The Chevy 20mpg offerings is a good step, but I'm looking for a giant leap.
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Replying to: wvgasguy (Sep 17, 2008 6:08 pm) DRIVE ONE ! It is rated to tow 4500# and seat 8 people. The 4WD models are primarily FWD but the rear wheels kick in if the front slips. This is done with electric clutches. If real slippery the two rear wheels can be locked together with a button, for super traction at low speeds. Our 03 (with 4WD) is great on gas, considering it's size. It doesn't have the variable displacement feature like the newer ones. It runs on 6 cylinders all the time. I'm a conservative driver. Locally the Pilot delivers 17-19 mpg. On the road the mileage varies with speed. A trip of nearly 400 miles with 4 people and luggage at 80+ mph yielded 18 mpg. Return trip the next day with the same load but at 60-65 mph yielded 26+ mpg. A round trip of nearly 1100 miles at 60+ MPH with me and the wife yielded 27+ mpg. I was really trying hard for mileage on this one. Most trips at 70 MPH with the two of us and AC generally averages 23-24 mpg. Yeah, I realize that is considerably more than the EPA ratings. But we get it. Odometer is correct within 1%. Just drive one.  Kip |
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Replying to: kipk (Sep 18, 2008 3:58 am) I'd skip the Pilot and look at the compact class. If you want a dramatic improvement in fuel economy, look at the Escape hybrid, the Vue Greenline, or non-hybrids like the Subaru Forester, Honda's own CR-V, Nissan's Rogue, and a Toyota RAV4. Let's take a peek at some EPA numbers, just for reference. I know real-world mileage is different, but at least we have a level ground to compare. Annual fuel costs: 2006 Expy 4WD, $4113 versus brand new AWD/automatic models... Pilot, $3203 CR-V, $2621 Forester, $2621 Rogue, $2506 (CVT) RAV4, $2402 versus the hybrids... Vue, $2056 Escape, $2056 EPA makes lots of assumptions, but the numbers serve for comparison purposes. A Pilot could save you a pretty decent $910 per year. But a RAV4 would save you nearly double, $1711. Hybrids would literally save you a little over half your fuel bill, or $2057. If you want a dramatic improvement, go with a smaller crossover or even a hybrid. They cost a bit more but both offer tax rebates to offset a big part of that cost. |
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