Edmunds CarPool

"Given our tester's shocking cost of $48,180, we had to wonder why you'd ever buy one instead of the bigger and well-rounded Ford Flex, which turns in an EPA-estimated 24 mpg highway."

In the Highlanders defense (can't believe I'm say that but...) it did average 28.1 mpg in the city while you're long term Flex has a low of 13 mpg and an average of only 19.4 mpg. If you only do hwy then the Flex is an easy choice but around town where most people do most of their driving the Highlander uses way less gas.

firstwagon, you really think the Terrain was that bad? It did second best in this test, excluding the ringer. 29mpg isn't anything to scoff at. Especially because:

Edmunds seemed to have the Terrain in the front breaking through the air and allowing the other cars to draft behind it.

That's not fair to the GMC.

Normally I hate having to watch videos whenever I can just read an article... but this video was pretty fun. Where can I buy a shirt like James's?

So you guys were driving super slow on the highway. I expect then that you were doing the normal speed limit? That would be some useful information to know. Either way it looks like all the cars performed as expected or slightly better minus the Terrain. Where did the EPA come up with 32mpg?

"Trouble is I have never seen a test that could do it even when they really tried."

When do car magazines ever attempt to get maximum mileage in a road test? You keep making the same point but reality is most tests dont focus on acheiving EPA mileage. MT just did a muscle car comparo and the Mustang (EPA 17/26) averaged 11.3mpg. Think that had anything to do with how they were driving?

Nice video and test.

Although I would appreciate a short text synopsis as well. Sometimes I'm not big on videos.

firstwagon:

This is what an owner said in carspace:

"I bought a 2010 nox 3mon ago, LS base model. The first 2000 miles are mostly local, my estimate is 75local+25highway. The computer reading is 24.5. The last two weeks I had a 4000mile trip, mostly highway. and my average is now at 27.

Observations:

1. Local with light foot, 23-24 is a realistic number.
2. Highway, very depend on speed. I have very carefully tested the fuel economy on my 4000 mile trip.

a. on a very flat road, 55-65mph cruise can easily yield 32-35.
b. 70-75mph yields 27-31.
c. 75-80mph yields 23-27.
d. 80-85mph 20-24.
e. computer reading is pretty accurate as compare to my hand calculation."

Others noted they could exceed 30mpg at reasonable hwy speeds on FLAT roads. Others mentioned averaging 26-28mpg in mixed driving.

"Edmunds seemed to have the Terrain in the front breaking through the air and allowing the other cars to draft behind it."

You're right, that would be unfair to the GMC. But, we actually had four driver changes through the course of that portion, with the Terrain in front only once (Magrath was always in front with our VBox and the directions). We avoided drafting specifically for the reason you mentioned by giving each car a wide birth. HOWEVER, we tightened up for the few shots you see in the video -- we only would be driving that close for one- or two-minute stretches at a time.

The problem isn't the Terrain's mileage, for the large vehicle that it is the mileage is just fine.

The problem is GM's blatant tuning to game the EPA treadmill test. Peaky motor, soft low end throttle mapping, upshift happy transmission, of course it gets great sticker mileage.

Those compromises ruined the car's part throttle driveability. But the only part of the inflated paper mpgs they got in exchange that carries over to real roads is inflated buyer expectations.

"Fuel-sipper" applied to a group of mostly SUV's seems like an oxymoron... Like the Escalade hybrid is so "great on gas" or something ... (I know, not the same thing)