Motley Fool article claims 58 mpg on the highway - with a Chevy Cruze

The problem is that there has been size, horsepower and weight bloat over the years. See Minicars? I don't See No Stinking Minicars - Column - Auto Reviews - Car and Driver.

From looking at specs like 1996 Mazda Protege Engines and Fuel Economy - MSN Autos, the Protege you cite only had 92 hp vs. 138 hp of the Cruze Eco. Your car weighed 2385 lbs while the Cruze Eco weighs about 600 lbs. more, is longer and significantly wider. Per Side-by-Side Comparison, the Cruze Eco is rated as a midsize car whereas the Protege was a compact.

 

I see that Wayne achieved 136 mpg in a Gen2 Prius, and more than an dozen others were spread from 110 to 131 at the same event.

55 is not a highway speed? After having that as the national speed limit for over half my driving life, and still having it as the limit on a number of highways, I cannot agree.

 

And I fully agree with your disagreement. 55 mph is still the limit here in CA for trucks and autos pulling trailers (often me!)

 

While I believe it is possible to achieve these numbers with a cruz it definitely is not the norm. I find it humorous that GM or the writer GM paid tries to make a big deal about one person achieving those numbers when 99.5 percent of the cruz drivers can not achieve 40 mpg's.

 

from what i have seen on the forums, the cruze eco can achieve its 42mpg. sometimes more sometimes less. i can get 24mpg on the highway in my truck. but i am not gonna go 55 all day long.

i cant understand the bashing that goes over how it gets less than a prius............its NOT a prius. you guys bashed GM for not making a small efficient car, but when they make one and have the hottest compact in the states, you bash the fuel economy for not meeting prius standards.

 

I'm gonna wipe the average mpg on the fiesta this afternoon when I take my short hwy trip and see what it comes up with, I am kind of curious. I am going to guess mid 40s.

Comparison the Prius got 68.7 on the same trip.

 

delete