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But how does that mileage compare to a Taurus with Ecoboost (I don't even know what that is -- a fuel efficient engine or a hybrid drivetrain?) -- surely any te

But how does that mileage compare to a Taurus with Ecoboost (I don't even know what that is -- a fuel efficient engine or a hybrid drivetrain?) -- surely any technology that improves gas mileage in a 5000lb, 80" wide x 78" high truck would do even more to improve mileage in a 4000 lb 76" wide x 60" high sedan? Comparing an efficient truck to an inefficient car seems like an unfair comparison unless your goal is to justify buying the truck.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
opencl 9y ago
Ecoboost is Ford's name for using smaller displacement turbo engines to replace larger naturally aspirated ones. My experience with these types of cars is that with typical real drivers they do not deliver anywhere near the EPA fuel economy numbers, because they're essentially designed to make the turbo never spool up in the EPA tests. You can get the EPA numbers if you drive very slowly though.
- rjsw 9y ago
  I have a 1.6 EcoBoost Mondeo, it gets pretty close to the published economy numbers and I don't drive particularly slowly.
  - opencl 9y ago
    The Mondeo is apparently the UK version of what's known as the Fusion in the US, maybe the UK has more accurate fuel economy testing than the US. Or everyone I know who complains about not getting EPA numbers just has a lead foot.
    - mcguire 9y ago
      Everyone you know has a lead foot. Everyone has a lead foot. It's not hard to get EPA numbers on any car I've driven.
    - mmirate 9y ago
      > has a lead foot Also known as: isn't being paid-by-the-hour to make whatever trip he/she is making at the moment.
- userbinator 9y ago
  I recall the summary phrase from an article about Ecoboost a while ago: "You can have Eco, or Boost, but not both." It's possible to get better fuel economy with a larger engine than a smaller one, since the larger one won't need to be flogged a lot to get the needed power. The old American cars with big V8s could get surprisingly high (20+mpg) mileage this way. Of course, the trick with a big powerful engine is to resist the temptation to use all that power all the time. ;-)
  - mmirate 9y ago
    Wouldn't larger engines still draw more power at idle, though?
lowbloodsugar 9y ago
Its more like traditional buyers of a Taurus are buying an Explorer instead. The new Explorers drive much better than the old truck-based models, and get about the same MPG as the Taurus, but carry 7 people or 5 people and all the luggage and christmas presents for the week with grandparents. I've got a track focused mustang and the explorer is surprisingly fun to drive, both around corners, on the freeway and around big bear.
- mi100hael 9y ago
  If only police departments didn't love them so much. Seems like I end up with one in my rear view mirror every other day and half the time can't tell whether it's an undercover patrol car or not.
- Johnny555 9y ago
  But does the Explorer get the same MPG as a Taurus with the same fuel efficiency technology? That's the comparison that people should be making if they care about gas mileage. The Taurus is rated 18/27mpg, the similarly sized Honda Accord is rated 30/38. (though with less horsepower with a 4 cylinder than the Taurus's V6 -- but that's the problem with lax fuel economy standards, manufacturers will sell horsepower over mileage... until the next fuel crisis, then they'll whine that no one wants to buy their cars)
  - TylerE 9y ago
    It actually does, slightly better. The only Taurus trim with the 3.5 Ecoboost is the SHO. It's rated at 16/22. The Explorers are actually slightly BETTER at 17/24. The SHO is a performance oriented model that has grippy (draggy) stock tires though. But basically to your point - yes. Modern areodynamics have come a long way from the brick SUVs of the 70s.
  - lowbloodsugar 9y ago
    Car companies sell what people buy. We replaced a 35mpg Kia Rio with a V6 AWD Explorer. That was my choice. It wasn't because Ford don't make a hybrid focus or efficient fiesta. My mustang gets about 11mpg also, and race gas is $10/gallon. Something that is stupid though, is that I would prefer to use E85 in my mustang, but it would be illegal in california for me to modify the car to be able to do so. Bigger fuel injectors and a tune, costs about $500 to do, but nope, illegal.

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

opencl 9y ago

Ecoboost is Ford's name for using smaller displacement turbo engines to replace larger naturally aspirated ones. My experience with these types of cars is that with typical real drivers they do not deliver anywhere near the EPA fuel economy numbers, because they're essentially designed to make the turbo never spool up in the EPA tests. You can get the EPA numbers if you drive very slowly though.

rjsw 9y ago
I have a 1.6 EcoBoost Mondeo, it gets pretty close to the published economy numbers and I don't drive particularly slowly.
- opencl 9y ago
  The Mondeo is apparently the UK version of what's known as the Fusion in the US, maybe the UK has more accurate fuel economy testing than the US. Or everyone I know who complains about not getting EPA numbers just has a lead foot.
  - mcguire 9y ago
    Everyone you know has a lead foot. Everyone has a lead foot. It's not hard to get EPA numbers on any car I've driven.
  - mmirate 9y ago
    > has a lead foot Also known as: isn't being paid-by-the-hour to make whatever trip he/she is making at the moment.
userbinator 9y ago
I recall the summary phrase from an article about Ecoboost a while ago: "You can have Eco, or Boost, but not both." It's possible to get better fuel economy with a larger engine than a smaller one, since the larger one won't need to be flogged a lot to get the needed power. The old American cars with big V8s could get surprisingly high (20+mpg) mileage this way. Of course, the trick with a big powerful engine is to resist the temptation to use all that power all the time. ;-)
- mmirate 9y ago
  Wouldn't larger engines still draw more power at idle, though?

lowbloodsugar 9y ago

Its more like traditional buyers of a Taurus are buying an Explorer instead. The new Explorers drive much better than the old truck-based models, and get about the same MPG as the Taurus, but carry 7 people or 5 people and all the luggage and christmas presents for the week with grandparents. I've got a track focused mustang and the explorer is surprisingly fun to drive, both around corners, on the freeway and around big bear.

mi100hael 9y ago
If only police departments didn't love them so much. Seems like I end up with one in my rear view mirror every other day and half the time can't tell whether it's an undercover patrol car or not.
Johnny555 9y ago
But does the Explorer get the same MPG as a Taurus with the same fuel efficiency technology? That's the comparison that people should be making if they care about gas mileage. The Taurus is rated 18/27mpg, the similarly sized Honda Accord is rated 30/38. (though with less horsepower with a 4 cylinder than the Taurus's V6 -- but that's the problem with lax fuel economy standards, manufacturers will sell horsepower over mileage... until the next fuel crisis, then they'll whine that no one wants to buy their cars)
- TylerE 9y ago
  It actually does, slightly better. The only Taurus trim with the 3.5 Ecoboost is the SHO. It's rated at 16/22. The Explorers are actually slightly BETTER at 17/24. The SHO is a performance oriented model that has grippy (draggy) stock tires though. But basically to your point - yes. Modern areodynamics have come a long way from the brick SUVs of the 70s.
- lowbloodsugar 9y ago
  Car companies sell what people buy. We replaced a 35mpg Kia Rio with a V6 AWD Explorer. That was my choice. It wasn't because Ford don't make a hybrid focus or efficient fiesta. My mustang gets about 11mpg also, and race gas is $10/gallon. Something that is stupid though, is that I would prefer to use E85 in my mustang, but it would be illegal in california for me to modify the car to be able to do so. Bigger fuel injectors and a tune, costs about $500 to do, but nope, illegal.