Chevy Crushes Ford in Real-World Economy, Says AAA
When you purchase a new truck, the fuel economy might not be the first thing you think about. You’re looking at the towing capacity, hauling specifications, or whether you need a big crew cab or just an extended cab. But at some point you’re going to look at the fuel economy you are getting, and you’re going to compare it to the fuel economy that the EPA says the truck is supposed to be getting.
Chevy, in their fuel efficient engine offering, still gives drivers the 5.3L V8. Across the town, the folks in Dearborn have gone the V6 turbocharged route. Which way is the better way for fuel economy? The V8.
According to AAA, they surveyed a bunch of different vehicle drivers to see what kind of economy they’re getting. It turns out that 1 out of 3 vehicle owners actually don’t believe the window sticker EPA rating has anything to do with the fuel economy they’ll actually get. So they decided to see what people are actually getting.
When it came to the difference between a turbocharged V6 in the Ford and a naturally-aspirated V8 in the Chevy, the evidence couldn’t be any clearer to them.
Drivers of pickups with turbocharged V-6 engines — the Ford F-150 is the only one of this kind — reported fuel economy 9 percent lower than the window sticker, while drivers of gasoline-powered pickups with V-8 engines reported 5 percent higher fuel economy than the window label.
At our sister site, we reviewed the 2015 F-150 with the 2.7L EcoBoost, and honestly we liked the truck. We managed to meet the window sticker on economy, but didn’t beat it, except when intentionally hypermiling.
So it turns out the a V8-powered Chevy may be the answer for ease of repair, power, and fuel economy. Who would’ve thought?
Chime in with your thoughts on the forum. >>
via [Automotive News]
