2006 Aveo dissappointing MPG

[wylee]

I don't find the highway numbers to unreasonable for a sedan without AC in a warm area without many hills. The city numbers are high, but "city" means something different to everyone.

I don't care what the EPA allows Chevrolet to put on the window sticker, a sedan will always get better highway fuel economy than a hatchback with the same powertrain.

What the heck, I did not know you needed a "machine" to change the plugs

This post made me lol...

"Replying to: randydriver (Apr 16, 2006 6:26 am)
I drive a 2009 Chevy Aveo LS, 4 door, sedan, 4 cylinder 1.6 liter Ecotec engine. It has a manual transmission, 5 speed.

I get 42-46 driving 65-70 mph on interstate or highway all the time since buying it, checked it numerous times on long trips. I have never got below 33 mpg on a tank of gas. Driving in city usually ranges 33-35 mpg, city and highway usaully average 38-40 mpg on tank of gas. That would be like 60-70% highway and 30-40% city driving. Live in St Louis, MO area".

I would gamble a large sum of money that this person is trolling.

And be careful about talking about shift points/transmissions, things tend to get a little crazy (or what type of oil you should use as well).

[thehunterooo]

I just do not see 42-46 ever happening, unless the car was being towed.....

[YnotVW]

a sedan will always get better highway fuel economy than a hatchback with the same powertrain.

How so? I'd like to see some hard numbers on this.

[wylee]

I just do not see 42-46 ever happening, unless the car was being towed.....

I've done it with my hatch. Not a fluke, a 3 tank average over 42mpg. It is painful for me to to drive that slow. A sedan could do a little better because of the body shape.

[wylee]

How so? I'd like to see some hard numbers on this.

The drag coefficent is lower on a sedan body shape so if all other things are equal, the sedan will do better.

[YnotVW]

I'd like to see some hard numbers on this.

Did you miss the second part of this? I'm pretty good with physics and still cannot come up with how this is true. Just looking for a study that proves that a sedan is more efficient.

[wylee]

I've got no study handy nor have I found one that specifically addresses this. What I do know is that, based on Craig Vetter's research, having an abrupt end to a vehicles back end (as is the case for the typical hatchback shape) significantly adds to drag as opposed to a longer more tapered rear end.

The more I think about, my original statement was probably too broad, but I stand by the principle of it as it applies to the Aveo. A Toyota Prius is a hatchback with a very low drag coefficient but it is not shaped like what I consider a typical hatchback car; the rear slopes down nearly to the point where a trunk would be on a typical sedan.