Fuel Economy Update for December - 2015 Chevrolet Colorado Long-Term Road Test

Comments

• g35buf Member Posts: 89

  January 2015

  Not trying to pile on or be a jerk, but this is 'as suspected'...I catch crap about my 2010 Ridgeline (same class of vehicle) being rated at 15 city/20 hwy but I average 17.5 in mixed/mostly city driving. The reality is - and has been - GM inflates MPG rating much like Hyundai was...The Germans are conservative and not surprised the Passat got its stated mpg. My wife's 19/25 rated VW Tiguan gets a true 22.5 mpg in mixed driving. These new GM mid-sizers are just sitting on the lots here in Western NY. People buy full sized trucks with a little less equipment for the same cost and only get 1-2 mpg less...

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• dan_acosta Member Posts: 24

  January 2015

  This mileage seems a bit low, but time will tell. My 14 Sierra 5.3 4x4 with small lift and 34 inch tires has averaged 20 overall after 37K miles, actually better than its 16/22 (18 combined) EPA rating. We are on the upper end with our Odyssey, too. To the guy with the Ridgeline: trucks, in general, lose more mileage at high speed than sedans/vans, so no surprise that the same drivetrain in the Odyssey/Pilot/Ridgeline gets progressively worse mileage. Does my Sierra have a 33% more efficient drivetrain than my Tundra? Yes, but they're both still trucks that will suck fuel above 70. People who want a smaller truck will buy a midsize, but as you said, a full size for comparable $$ and only slightly lower (or in my case better) mileage is a better value, which is why I have a Sierra and not a Ridgeline.

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• g35buf Member Posts: 89

  January 2015

  dan_acosta - Agree there is no bending of the physics of aerodynamics. The Ridgeline and most pickups have the air flow characteristics of a brick. I have gotten a true 22 mpg+ on highway jaunts with the Ridgeline but as you probably see - the same basic powertrain in an Ody produces better numbers due to shape alone. I use truck capabilities - tow a 4,800 lb boat and other stuff and load the bed with 1,000 lbs, so I wouldn't mind a full size...Just don't want to park a full size crew cab as a daily driver. Also, the full size I'd buy - a RAM1500 Ecodiesel - is VERY expensive when speced out like my Ridgeline RTL with nav.

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