CHRYSLER cars Better MPG's Then Smart?

[p1nball]

Check out this LINK:Chrysler Cars From Helsinki to the Arctic: Gas Mileage Test by Auto Bild Suomi

Engines

All engines displaced 2 liters. The diesel engines in the Avenger, Journey, and Sebring were Volkswagen-based with 1968 cc inline four-cylinder engines, with a 140 hp (103 kW) rated peak output at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 229 lb-ft at 1,750 rpm. The gas engine in the Patriot was the 1998 cc “World Engine” with a peak 156 hp (115 kW) at 6,300 rpm and peak torque of 140 lb-ft (190 Nm) at 5,100 rpm.
Dodge AvengerDodge Journey Chrysler SebringJeep Patriot Tires215/60R17215/60R17215/60R17215/60R17Trunk452 liters155/783/1486 liters452 liters320/1357 litersLength/width/height4850/1843/14974888/1878/16914850/1843/14974408/1785/1658Curb weight1670 kg1975 kg1555 kg1685 kg0-100 km/h (0-62 mph)10.5 seconds10.9 seconds10.7 seconds11.0 secondsTop speed203 km/h
(126 mph)188 km/h
(117 mph)190 km/h
(118 mph)189 km/h
(118 mph)EU liters/100km6.76.37.86.7Seats4 seats7 seats4 seats5 seatsModel notesSXT; dual-clutch autoSXT; manualTouring; manualLimitedEngineDieselDieselGasolineDieselTotal consumption4.07 l/100km5.30 l/100km5.53 l/100km4.54 l/100kmTotal consumption, mpg57.8 mpg44.4 mpg42.5 mpg51.8 mpgEU highway rating5.5 l/100km6.1 l/100km5.4 l/100km5.1 l/100kmEU highway rating, mpg43 mpg39 mpg44 mpg46 mpg
Total driving time 12:03:19 h, average speed 70.11 km/h
For the duration of the test, we raised the pressure in the Nokian R studless winter tyres to 3.0 bar. The marking, ultra low rolling resistance, on the sides of the tyres indicates they are just the thing for economical driving
p1nball

[jediknight36]

I dunno about that...

[Neonspinnazz]

All engines displaced 2 liters. The diesel engines in the Avenger, Journey, and Sebring were Volkswagen-based with 1968 cc inline four-cylinder engines, with a 140 hp (103 kW) rated peak output at 4,000 rpm and maximum torque of 229 lb-ft at 1,750 rpm. The gas engine in the Patriot was the 1998 cc “World Engine” with a peak 156 hp (115 kW) at 6,300 rpm and peak torque of 140 lb-ft (190 Nm) at 5,100 rpm.

was using manual sixth gear to dodge the consumption-boosting ruts in the road. The speed was an economical 75-80 km/h (47-50 mph).

1. VW Diesel engines in 3 of 4 vehicles.
2. they drove at a constant rate of 47-50mph in sixth gear.
3. they also kept the load down on each vehicle

This only proves that one driving in 6th gear in a diesel 2.0 liter vehicle with proper tire pressure can achieve good mpgs. Even in the petrol powered vehicle, they drove 50 in 6th gear and it kept in close with the diesels.

BUT... the average petrol powered smart can achieve this at about ANY speed with about ANY load and not even with the best tire pressure!

My verdict, smart still takes the victory, they had use hypermiling cheats to get there.
or in other words...

[Jared]

EU tests are usually inflated compared to EPA.

European Union (EU) testing rates the 999 cc Smart at 4.7 L/100 km (60 mpg-imp; 50 mpg-US) for the gasoline model and 3.4 L/100 km (83 mpg-imp; 69 mpg-US) for the diesel. -- Wikipedia

[SuperGeek]

For a fair test... take a Smart fortwo, one passenger, on a flat road 47-50mph under the same conditions. You'll get 50MPG. For that matter, get it down to 40-45MPH and you may get 60MPG. Oh, and the fact that we're comparing gas vs. diesel. American, higher-price-cleaner-burning modern standards diesel or another formula? My guess is that in Helsinki the diesel's probably not 50% more than gas and the cars may not be loaded down with a lot of emission control equipment. Hard to say if this is a fair comparison, really, but congrats to them for getting such high mileage out of Chryslers.

[p1nball]

Glad to see that the US automakers will be try to improve their auto's New Fiat 500:
Fiat 500 gets new Start&Stop system

February 6th, 2009 by DaveAdmin
The Fiat 500 will get a new option for higher gas mileage called Start&Stop, a system that stops the engine when the car is stopped completely and instantly restarts it when the driver wants to accelerate again. Similar systems are being pursued or used by other manufacturers; Chrysler has announced it for future plans.

The Fiat 500 Start&Stop has the highest mileage of any gas-engined 500, and starts at US$14,000 (£9,500). Gas mileage rises in the urban cycle from 6.4 liters/100 km to 5.7 (from 37 to 41 US mpg, or from 44 to 50 UK mpg). Highway mileage is unchanged.
Start&Stop is based on a battery and starter able to perform a fast engine restart and to deal with a far higher number of starts than a standard system. Sensors and control strategies manage operations, to guarantee safety, driveability and energy balance with a minimum impact on heating and other services. Engine stop is only allowed once a speed of 6 mph has been achieved after pulling away; to restart the engine the clutch pedal must be depressed. The Start&Stop system can be manually activated or deactivated using a button switch.
Start&Stop will not activate in certain cases, including engine still cold, battery in low charge state, heated rear window active, front wiper at maximum speed, or reverse gear engaged.
If the engine has been stopped and the clutch pedal has not been depressed for more than three minutes, the engine can only be restarted using the ignition key. Similarly, if the engine has been stopped and the driver’s seat belt has been unfastened, or a door has been opened, engine restart will only be achieved with the key.
Fiat’s hands-free telecommunications and entertainment system is standard on 500 Start&Stop, which means the car also benefits from ecorive, the system that allows customers to monitor and improve on their CO2 emissions and fuel consumption figures. The cheapest fiat 500 is $11,936 in the U.K. and comes with a 1.2 liter petrol engine.

[Jared]

To be fair, the VW 2L TDI engine is quite decent. The version tested has similar power figures as the Bluetec engines on the 2009 US Jettas.

My VW Golf TDI using the older technology has averaged about 44 mpg lifetime (actual, measured) with a mix of 80% city, 20% highway. Best mpg (without resorting to hypermiling) was an indicated 58 mpg over 200 miles. Best hypermiling was 73 mpg indicated over 80 miles. I'd say the trip computer was conservatively 10% optimistic, and both trips had an average speed of 60 mph.

[Carl242]

Jared is right. I had a TDI golf before my Smart, and it got around 44mpg too, and I am no hypermiler. I once drove from San Francisco to Boise, ID without filling up, on a 15 gallon tank.

If the Dodges in Europe have the new TDI engines, they could definitely beat the smart in MPG. If they were sold with those engines here, I might even have a Dodge instead of a Smart, as I'm such a fan of that engine. When will the US learn that diesels are now cleaner and more efficient than petrol engines, and have plenty of power to boot?

[MrVvrroomm]

....yeah, but they still had to drive Chryslers...

[2micro4u]

Im not a fan of Chrysler built cars ...the only one I am interested in is that GEM car all electric made by Chrysler.