2008 CanadianDriver 50-litre Challenge

[wing]

How far can we go? The rising cost of fuel continues to make headlines, so here at CanadianDriver we thought it would make sense to run our "50-litre ChallengeTM" once more. How time flies! Our first "50-litre ChallengeTM" took place three years ago, when gasoline was nudging one-dollar a litre, and consumers shook their collective heads in disbelief at that. Now, you don't even want to think about where prices will go.  Read More...

Contest here: http://www.canadiandriver.com/autocontest/canadiandriver/50-litre/entryform.htm
 

[wing]

Here's the list of cars from the article:

    * Dodge Caliber
    * Ford Focus
    * Honda Civic
    * Hyundai Elantra
    * Kia Spectra
    * Mazda3
    * Mitsubishi Lancer
    * Nissan Sentra
    * Pontiac Vibe
    * Suzuki SX4
    * Toyota Corolla
    * Volkswagen City Golf

Which car do you think will go the furthest?  Any guesses on how many KM?

[rrocket]

Any reason why Toyota's 2 most fuel efficient vehicles are omitted? (Yaris, Prius) and also Honda's Civic Hybrid?  How you can have a compelling challenge without the most miserly cars available is beyond me.


Civic and Corolla should both be good for 1000 kms...

[2hondas]

Consumer Reports pointed out that the 09' Corolla was the most fuel efficient vehicle they tested, with a AT (without being a Hybrid or Diesel).

[rrocket]

With an AT?  Hardly the way to get the best gas mileage as well...

[Wolfe]

Any reason why Toyota's 2 most fuel efficient vehicles are omitted? (Yaris, Prius) and also Honda's Civic Hybrid?  How you can have a compelling challenge without the most miserly cars available is beyond me.

The Yaris is a subcompact. There's no Fit, Accent, Aveo, Smart, etc on the list either, just compacts. And the Prius and Civic Hybrids cost more than $20k.

Considering its size the Versa might be appropriate to test with this group too.

[rrocket]

Elantra, Caliber, Sentra are all listed by EPA as Mid-size.

Vibe is listed as a Small Station Wagon.

So since they aren't sticking to any one class...again...where are the fuel economy leaders?

This is a poor test at best....and poorly thought out....

[Winklovic]

Maybe these are the only press vehicles they could get their hands on?

[rrocket]

^^^^Maybe.  Then call it a different test.  I don't really care about cars that get so-so gas mileage in a 50 litre challenge...Get the best of the best and let's see what happens. 

[Mitlov]

Elantra, Caliber, Sentra are all listed by EPA as Mid-size.

Vibe is listed as a Small Station Wagon.

This is the same EPA that considers the Gallardo a subcompact and the Magnum an SUV, right?  The EPA's genres are on crack.  The fact is, the industry and the consumer masses recognize certain classes.  The Fit, Yaris, and Versa are almost universally considered subcompacts.  The Focus, Sentra, Mazda3, Civic, Corolla, Cobalt, etc are compacts.  The Altima, Camry, Accord, Fusion, Mazda6, Malibu, etc are midsize.  Car magazines, buyers, manufacturers all recognize these categories.  You don't see Car & Driver pitting the Elantra and Sentra against the Accord and Camry, do you?  You see them pitted against the Civic and Corolla.

Sensible shoes: Corolla vs. Civic vs. Elantra vs. Mazda3 vs. Rabbit vs. Sentra

As for the Vibe/Matrix.  It's a Corolla hatch.  Compact sedans, compact coupes, compact wagons, and compact hatchbacks are all "compacts" in my book.

This is a poor test at best....and poorly thought out....

  Because they chose one genre of vehicle and a maximum price, and decided to see who would go the farthest?  Sounds fair to me.  Just because it's not the test you wanted to read (best fuel economy regardless of price and size) doesn't mean it's a poor test.

[airbalancer]

^^^^Maybe.  Then call it a different test.  I don't really care about cars that get so-so gas mileage in a 50 litre challenge...Get the best of the best and let's see what happens. 

Only   get a life man.  They get a some cars and putting 50 litres into the cars, if you do not like do not follow the tread

[rrocket]

Might as well throw some trucks in there too....

It's just when I see the title "50 litre Challenge" you'd bring the best challengers.....Guess not though...

[stickshift]

^^^^Maybe.  Then call it a different test.  I don't really care about cars that get so-so gas mileage in a 50 litre challenge...Get the best of the best and let's see what happens. 

Many of the subcompacts' fuel tanks are smaller than 50 litres. Maybe next year, we'll do a 45-litre Challenge.  Then, the year after that, when gas is at $3.00/litre, we'll do a 5-litre challenge with scooters. 

The Prius and Civic Hy. cost a lot more than $20,000. Only cars that are available for less than that are allowed in the 50L Challenge.

Besides, the route we use for this event is mostly highway, and hybrids are designed to shine in city driving.

[rrocket]

So are you saying all the cars on your list have at least a 50 litre capacity and that's why they were chosen??  I read the title as being how far a car could go on 50 litres...not cars that have a capacity of 50 litres...

And while it's true the hybrids shine in the city, they still do very, very well on the higway

[wing]

Yes those cars have 50L tanks, the Yaris is a 45L tank and the Fit as well.

[rrocket]

So the cars that have only a 50 litre tank...you intend to run them bone dry?

[wing]

Yes, until they sputter out and die.

And no this is not an exact science.  Just like any other test.

[rrocket]

And no this is not an exact science.  Just like any other test.

Ah ok..so you could have made it work with 45 litre tanks...just wondering...

[airbalancer]

And no this is not an exact science.  Just like any other test.

Ah ok..so you could have made it work with 45 litre tanks...just wondering...

Dam PEngs always try to get the last word in

[UmroAyyar]

Its a contest between the Civic and Corolla. Civic's engine has grown to 2.0L while Corolla is still marching on with the 1.8L. That might make a difference.

As Mitlov rightly pointed out, these vehicles are considered the 'compact' class.

So, do we have the results yet?