tigerhonaker
07-24-2006, 02:30 PM
Business
G. Chambers Williams III: Small sacrifices, big gains
Web Posted: 07/23/2006 12:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
Mushrooming gasoline prices are driving up purchases of fuel-efficient vehicles, which should come as no surprise.
That includes small cars, of course, whose sales are booming. But the spike in fuel costs also has helped boost sales of fuel-efficient midsize and larger models, as well as those powered by diesel engines.
Many consumers are buying smaller vehicles to use in their daily commutes, while holding on to their larger SUVs, vans and pickups for weekend use and family outings.
Switching to small cars can be something of a culture shock after years of driving large vehicles, but the automakers are doing their best to accommodate consumers.
Some of the new small cars are quite stylish — such as the popular Mini Cooper, which has the smallest profile of the newest little cars, but styling that turns heads wherever it goes. It's also quite roomy inside, despite its outward appearance.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/thumbs/D_IMAGE_10c861fbfcb_93_88_fa_d0_Suzuki_2006.jpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1046/cat/500/ppuser/5)
Courtesy Suzuki
Suzuki Forenza
G. Chambers Williams III/Express-News
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/thumbs/D_IMAGE_10c861fbfcb_93_88_fa_d0_2nd_pic_2006.jpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1042/cat/500/ppuser/5)
Courtesy Suzuki
G. Chambers Williams III/Express-News
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/thumbs/D_IMAGE_10c861fbfcb_93_88_fa_d0_Jetta_TDI_2006.jpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1044/cat/500/ppuser/5)
Volkswagen Jetta TDI
G. Chambers Williams III/Express-News
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/thumbs/D_IMAGE_10c861fbfcb_93_88_fa_d0_Dodge_Caliber_2006.jpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1043/cat/500/ppuser/5)
Dodge Caliber
G. Chambers Williams III/Express-News
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/thumbs/D_IMAGE_10c861fbfcb_93_88_fa_d0_Nisan_Versa_2006.jpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1045/cat/500/ppuser/5)
Nissan Versa Hatchback
G. Chambers Williams III/Express-News
Its fuel economy ratings of up to 28 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway aren't as high as some of the other small cars on the market, and its starting price of $17,500 not as low as some of the entry-level cars that begin around $11,000. But the Mini offers a practical alternative to gas-guzzlers for those who can live with less space.
You don't have to limit yourself to small cars to get good fuel economy, though.
There are some small SUV/wagon models that can help cushion the blow of giving up a larger vehicle.
They include the Scion xA and xB, Suzuki Forenza, Subaru Forester, and the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe, all of which offer fuel economy of 30 mpg or more on the highway.
Dodge has introduced the 2007 Caliber, a small yet stylish wagon with fuel economy up to 27 mpg city/32 highway. Dealers are selling them faster than DaimlerChrysler can build them. They hold up to five people, are quite roomy, and have decent cargo space.
Even if you need to haul six or seven people, there are fuel-efficient vehicles such as the six-passenger Mazda 5 microvan, with up to 27 mpg, and the redesigned Toyota RAV4, which has room for seven and gets up to 30 mpg.
Diesels offer another alternative, but the pickings are slim. Though diesel engines are quite popular in Europe, where about half of the cars are equipped with them, they have been slow to catch on with Americans. Only 3 percent of new vehicles sold in the United States last year had diesel engines.
Big trucks and buses with black smoke flowing from their exhaust pipes are the image many Americans associate with diesels.
But diesel engines in today's cars are much cleaner. And even better versions are coming as the United States shifts to new sulfur-free diesel fuel this fall and the automakers begin rolling out diesels with the latest low-emissions technology.
These engines are expected to be as clean and quiet as gasoline engines, but with up to 40 percent better fuel economy. With fuel prices around $3 a gallon, diesels are looking better and better.
Volkswagen has been the leader in diesels in the U.S. market. The German automaker has offered several models for 2006, including the Golf TDI ("turbodiesel injection") hatchback, with fuel economy of 42 mpg city/49 highway, the Jetta TDI sedan, 36/41, and the New Beetle TDI, 37/44.
For 2007, though, the Golf has been redesigned and renamed the Rabbit, and no diesel version is offered. And neither the 2007 Jetta nor the New Beetle will be offered with a diesel engine, Volkswagen of America spokesman Clark Campbell said. The engine used in the '06 models does not meet new U.S. emissions standards that apply to 2007 models.
The 2006 Jetta diesel, however, will continue in production for most of calendar year 2007, Campbell said.
"We are trying to meet the new U.S. standards, and plan to reintroduce a diesel on the Jetta in 2008," he said.
The current VW diesels' EPA ratings rival some of the gasoline-electric hybrids on the market, such as the Honda Civic (49 city/51 highway), Toyota Camry (40/38) and Toyota Prius (60/50). And the ratings are much better than those of the Honda Accord hybrid (30/37).
The Jetta sedan is one of the best choices for families, as it can hold up to five adults and has as much space as most of the gasoline-powered midsize sedans.
During a recent test of the car, I found it hard to make a dent in the fuel gauge in the first couple of days of routine driving.
My only complaint was a faint smell of kerosene (diesel fuel) in the passenger compartment. That's not normal — I suspect that whoever filled the tank before I got the car tracked some fuel inside on his feet.
The diesel engines we see in the United States are almost always turbocharged, which helps make up for their lower horsepower.
The Jetta comes with a four-cylinder 1.9-liter TDI engine rated at 100 horsepower, compared with 150 HP for the gasoline-powered 2.5-liter five-cylinder in the base Jetta.
Torque, though, is generally higher with diesel engines, which is why diesels are used extensively in heavy trucks. In the Jetta, the TDI's torque is 177 foot-pounds, compared with 170 for the gasoline engine.
Volkswagen says the Jetta TDI can go from zero to 60 mpg in 11.5 seconds vs. 9.1 seconds for the gasoline-powered model. Top speed of the diesel is 115 mph, compared with 129 mph for the gas model.
Volkswagen also will again offer a diesel engine in its Touareg sport utility vehicle beginning Sept. 1, with fuel economy of up to 23 mpg on the highway. But this diesel model is more about power than fuel economy; the engine is a V-10 with 310 HP and 553 foot-pounds of torque.
The vehicle, which weighs more than 5,800 pounds, can go from zero to 60 in 7.5 seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph (governed).
And the price? Its $67,750, Campbell said.
Other diesels on the U.S. market are few, other than in heavy-duty pickups.
Jeep did offer a diesel engine in its compact Liberty sport utility for 2005 and part of the '06 model year, but has now dropped that model. The automaker does plan to introduce a diesel in the Grand Cherokee for 2007, however.
Jeep parent DaimlerChrysler said the Liberty's 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine does not meet the 2007 standards, and that it would be too expensive to update the engine.
More than 11,000 of the Liberty diesels have been sold, and a few remain on dealer lots. Some used ones should begin showing up soon, as well.
Mercedes-Benz offers a diesel version of its midsize E-class sedan, which the company says gives the power of a V-6 with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder: 27 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway.
The 2006 model sells for about $52,000; a completely redesigned '07 model is coming to market with a less-polluting engine using Mercedes' new "Bluetec" diesel technology.
The '07 E320 model will have a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6 with 208 horsepower and 388 foot-pounds of torque. It replaces the inline six-cylinder diesel in the '06 E320 CDI sedan.
This new engine "depends on the use of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel (less than 15 parts per million) that becomes available throughout the U.S. this fall," Mercedes said in an announcement of the new model, which also will start in the low $50,000s.
The prices of the Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and New Beetle diesels, as well as the gasoline-electric hybrids on the market this year, are considerably lower, though, beginning at just over $20,000.
That's still too high for many first-time or limited-income buyers, who are looking to save both at the dealership and at the pump.
But there are several small vehicles that are both affordable to purchase and to drive, including three new subcompact lines — the Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa and Honda Fit.
They join several other popular gas-sipping subcompacts on the market, including the Chevrolet Aveo and Kia Rio, both of which come from South Korea, and the Suzuki Aerio, which recently won first place in its class in J.D. Power's 2006 survey of the most appealing vehicles.
What all these vehicles have in common is average fuel economy well into the mid-30s miles-per-gallon range, and highway mileage approaching 40 mpg.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G. Chambers Williams III, (210) 250-3236; chambers@express-news.net.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA072306.01F.SundayDrive.11a1a75.html
G. Chambers Williams III: Small sacrifices, big gains
Web Posted: 07/23/2006 12:00 AM CDT
San Antonio Express-News
Mushrooming gasoline prices are driving up purchases of fuel-efficient vehicles, which should come as no surprise.
That includes small cars, of course, whose sales are booming. But the spike in fuel costs also has helped boost sales of fuel-efficient midsize and larger models, as well as those powered by diesel engines.
Many consumers are buying smaller vehicles to use in their daily commutes, while holding on to their larger SUVs, vans and pickups for weekend use and family outings.
Switching to small cars can be something of a culture shock after years of driving large vehicles, but the automakers are doing their best to accommodate consumers.
Some of the new small cars are quite stylish — such as the popular Mini Cooper, which has the smallest profile of the newest little cars, but styling that turns heads wherever it goes. It's also quite roomy inside, despite its outward appearance.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/thumbs/D_IMAGE_10c861fbfcb_93_88_fa_d0_Suzuki_2006.jpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1046/cat/500/ppuser/5)
Courtesy Suzuki
Suzuki Forenza
G. Chambers Williams III/Express-News
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/thumbs/D_IMAGE_10c861fbfcb_93_88_fa_d0_2nd_pic_2006.jpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1042/cat/500/ppuser/5)
Courtesy Suzuki
G. Chambers Williams III/Express-News
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/thumbs/D_IMAGE_10c861fbfcb_93_88_fa_d0_Jetta_TDI_2006.jpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1044/cat/500/ppuser/5)
Volkswagen Jetta TDI
G. Chambers Williams III/Express-News
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/thumbs/D_IMAGE_10c861fbfcb_93_88_fa_d0_Dodge_Caliber_2006.jpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1043/cat/500/ppuser/5)
Dodge Caliber
G. Chambers Williams III/Express-News
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/500/thumbs/D_IMAGE_10c861fbfcb_93_88_fa_d0_Nisan_Versa_2006.jpg (http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/1045/cat/500/ppuser/5)
Nissan Versa Hatchback
G. Chambers Williams III/Express-News
Its fuel economy ratings of up to 28 miles per gallon in the city and 36 mpg on the highway aren't as high as some of the other small cars on the market, and its starting price of $17,500 not as low as some of the entry-level cars that begin around $11,000. But the Mini offers a practical alternative to gas-guzzlers for those who can live with less space.
You don't have to limit yourself to small cars to get good fuel economy, though.
There are some small SUV/wagon models that can help cushion the blow of giving up a larger vehicle.
They include the Scion xA and xB, Suzuki Forenza, Subaru Forester, and the Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe, all of which offer fuel economy of 30 mpg or more on the highway.
Dodge has introduced the 2007 Caliber, a small yet stylish wagon with fuel economy up to 27 mpg city/32 highway. Dealers are selling them faster than DaimlerChrysler can build them. They hold up to five people, are quite roomy, and have decent cargo space.
Even if you need to haul six or seven people, there are fuel-efficient vehicles such as the six-passenger Mazda 5 microvan, with up to 27 mpg, and the redesigned Toyota RAV4, which has room for seven and gets up to 30 mpg.
Diesels offer another alternative, but the pickings are slim. Though diesel engines are quite popular in Europe, where about half of the cars are equipped with them, they have been slow to catch on with Americans. Only 3 percent of new vehicles sold in the United States last year had diesel engines.
Big trucks and buses with black smoke flowing from their exhaust pipes are the image many Americans associate with diesels.
But diesel engines in today's cars are much cleaner. And even better versions are coming as the United States shifts to new sulfur-free diesel fuel this fall and the automakers begin rolling out diesels with the latest low-emissions technology.
These engines are expected to be as clean and quiet as gasoline engines, but with up to 40 percent better fuel economy. With fuel prices around $3 a gallon, diesels are looking better and better.
Volkswagen has been the leader in diesels in the U.S. market. The German automaker has offered several models for 2006, including the Golf TDI ("turbodiesel injection") hatchback, with fuel economy of 42 mpg city/49 highway, the Jetta TDI sedan, 36/41, and the New Beetle TDI, 37/44.
For 2007, though, the Golf has been redesigned and renamed the Rabbit, and no diesel version is offered. And neither the 2007 Jetta nor the New Beetle will be offered with a diesel engine, Volkswagen of America spokesman Clark Campbell said. The engine used in the '06 models does not meet new U.S. emissions standards that apply to 2007 models.
The 2006 Jetta diesel, however, will continue in production for most of calendar year 2007, Campbell said.
"We are trying to meet the new U.S. standards, and plan to reintroduce a diesel on the Jetta in 2008," he said.
The current VW diesels' EPA ratings rival some of the gasoline-electric hybrids on the market, such as the Honda Civic (49 city/51 highway), Toyota Camry (40/38) and Toyota Prius (60/50). And the ratings are much better than those of the Honda Accord hybrid (30/37).
The Jetta sedan is one of the best choices for families, as it can hold up to five adults and has as much space as most of the gasoline-powered midsize sedans.
During a recent test of the car, I found it hard to make a dent in the fuel gauge in the first couple of days of routine driving.
My only complaint was a faint smell of kerosene (diesel fuel) in the passenger compartment. That's not normal — I suspect that whoever filled the tank before I got the car tracked some fuel inside on his feet.
The diesel engines we see in the United States are almost always turbocharged, which helps make up for their lower horsepower.
The Jetta comes with a four-cylinder 1.9-liter TDI engine rated at 100 horsepower, compared with 150 HP for the gasoline-powered 2.5-liter five-cylinder in the base Jetta.
Torque, though, is generally higher with diesel engines, which is why diesels are used extensively in heavy trucks. In the Jetta, the TDI's torque is 177 foot-pounds, compared with 170 for the gasoline engine.
Volkswagen says the Jetta TDI can go from zero to 60 mpg in 11.5 seconds vs. 9.1 seconds for the gasoline-powered model. Top speed of the diesel is 115 mph, compared with 129 mph for the gas model.
Volkswagen also will again offer a diesel engine in its Touareg sport utility vehicle beginning Sept. 1, with fuel economy of up to 23 mpg on the highway. But this diesel model is more about power than fuel economy; the engine is a V-10 with 310 HP and 553 foot-pounds of torque.
The vehicle, which weighs more than 5,800 pounds, can go from zero to 60 in 7.5 seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph (governed).
And the price? Its $67,750, Campbell said.
Other diesels on the U.S. market are few, other than in heavy-duty pickups.
Jeep did offer a diesel engine in its compact Liberty sport utility for 2005 and part of the '06 model year, but has now dropped that model. The automaker does plan to introduce a diesel in the Grand Cherokee for 2007, however.
Jeep parent DaimlerChrysler said the Liberty's 2.8-liter turbo-diesel engine does not meet the 2007 standards, and that it would be too expensive to update the engine.
More than 11,000 of the Liberty diesels have been sold, and a few remain on dealer lots. Some used ones should begin showing up soon, as well.
Mercedes-Benz offers a diesel version of its midsize E-class sedan, which the company says gives the power of a V-6 with the fuel economy of a four-cylinder: 27 mpg in the city and 37 on the highway.
The 2006 model sells for about $52,000; a completely redesigned '07 model is coming to market with a less-polluting engine using Mercedes' new "Bluetec" diesel technology.
The '07 E320 model will have a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel V-6 with 208 horsepower and 388 foot-pounds of torque. It replaces the inline six-cylinder diesel in the '06 E320 CDI sedan.
This new engine "depends on the use of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel (less than 15 parts per million) that becomes available throughout the U.S. this fall," Mercedes said in an announcement of the new model, which also will start in the low $50,000s.
The prices of the Volkswagen Jetta, Golf and New Beetle diesels, as well as the gasoline-electric hybrids on the market this year, are considerably lower, though, beginning at just over $20,000.
That's still too high for many first-time or limited-income buyers, who are looking to save both at the dealership and at the pump.
But there are several small vehicles that are both affordable to purchase and to drive, including three new subcompact lines — the Toyota Yaris, Nissan Versa and Honda Fit.
They join several other popular gas-sipping subcompacts on the market, including the Chevrolet Aveo and Kia Rio, both of which come from South Korea, and the Suzuki Aerio, which recently won first place in its class in J.D. Power's 2006 survey of the most appealing vehicles.
What all these vehicles have in common is average fuel economy well into the mid-30s miles-per-gallon range, and highway mileage approaching 40 mpg.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
G. Chambers Williams III, (210) 250-3236; chambers@express-news.net.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/business/stories/MYSA072306.01F.SundayDrive.11a1a75.html