Chevy brings out 36 mpg Cobalt XFE

[Eric]

Consumers looking to squeeze the most mileage from every gallon of gas will find much to appreciate with the new Chevy Cobalt XFE. It delivers a segment-best 36 mpg in highway driving, outdistancing competitors like the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla.

The Cobalt XFE - for Xtra Fuel Economy - is on sale now and includes LS and 1LT coupe and sedan models with the manual transmission. It uses revised engine calibration, low rolling-resistance tires, a new, 3.74:1 final drive ratio and other technologies to achieve an EPA-estimated mileage rating of 25 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. That's an improvement of more than 9 percent over the previous highway mileage.

"Cobalt has always been an efficient performer, but the changes with the new XFE elevate it to a leadership position that will appeal to customers who put fuel economy at the top of their new-car priority list," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "Better still, the efficiency enhancements don't come at the price of the safety and convenience features that serve as the foundation of Cobalt's value story."

The new, higher-efficiency Cobalts are identified at a glance with "XFE" badges on the trunk lid. Customers can also verify the model they're shopping is the higher-mileage model by checking for the "36 mpg" designation on the window sticker.

[Disco Man]

That's a nice bump up in gas mileage and it still makes good power with 148 horsepower on tap. I would be willing to bet if they dropped an early 1980s vintage FI iron duke 2.5 liter 4 banger with a 5-speed in a new Cobalt, it could easily get 40 mpg.

[Eric]

That's a nice bump up in gas mileage and it still makes good power with 148 horsepower on tap. I would be willing to bet if they dropped an early 1980s vintage FI iron duke 2.5 liter 4 banger with a 5-speed in a new Cobalt, it could easily get 40 mpg.

Heck, all they need to do to get 40 mpg out of the thing is lose the air bags and some other weight-adding saaaaafety gear (leave it optional for those who prefer risk-avoidance-uber-alles, of course).

If the Cobalt weighed 500 pounds less than it does right now, it could deliver identical acceleration/performance with 20-30 hp less and would easily get 40-something MPGs!

[swamprat]

Consumers looking to squeeze the most mileage from every gallon of gas will find much to appreciate with the new Chevy Cobalt XFE. It delivers a segment-best 36 mpg in highway driving, outdistancing competitors like the Honda Civic, Ford Focus and Toyota Corolla.

The Cobalt XFE - for Xtra Fuel Economy - is on sale now and includes LS and 1LT coupe and sedan models with the manual transmission. It uses revised engine calibration, low rolling-resistance tires, a new, 3.74:1 final drive ratio and other technologies to achieve an EPA-estimated mileage rating of 25 mpg in the city and 36 on the highway. That's an improvement of more than 9 percent over the previous highway mileage.

"Cobalt has always been an efficient performer, but the changes with the new XFE elevate it to a leadership position that will appeal to customers who put fuel economy at the top of their new-car priority list," said Ed Peper, Chevrolet general manager. "Better still, the efficiency enhancements don't come at the price of the safety and convenience features that serve as the foundation of Cobalt's value story."

The new, higher-efficiency Cobalts are identified at a glance with "XFE" badges on the trunk lid. Customers can also verify the model they're shopping is the higher-mileage model by checking for the "36 mpg" designation on the window sticker.

Here's what they don't tell you. The engine has been governed to 101 mph. Its a slug around town and will have trouble keeping up on the highway. That 25 mpg figure is pretty lousy, considering that the normal Cobalt is rated at around 23.

Of course, the modern GM are a bunch of sweethearts and I wish them the best of luck in the world.

[chiph]

The engine has been governed to 101 mph.

That may be because of the tires.

Chip H.

[Eric]

"Here's what they don't tell you. The engine has been governed to 101 mph. Its a slug around town and will have trouble keeping up on the highway. That 25 mpg figure is pretty lousy, considering that the normal Cobalt is rated at around 23."

For an economy-commuter type car, a top speed of 101 doesn't bother me much; where we used to live (DC area) it was next to impossible to get a Corvette into the triple digits for more than a few seconds. Mostly bump-and-grind traffic in the 25-45 mph range.

And let's face it - doing anything much over 80 these days risks serious repercussions ("reckless driving" ticket in many areas; hundreds if not thousands in fines, surcharges and lawyer bills).

My main grip is the pathetic mileage. 36 mpg is .... sad. There should be outrage that, thanks to the saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaafety lobby, which puts their valuation of risk-reduction at any cost over fuel efficiency, we are stuck with 2,500 lb. "economy" cars that aren't even close to as efficient as the best economy cars of 20 years ago.

[swamprat]

I will have to go out and test one for the readers section. That 36 mpg figure is actually pretty good.

Chevy has never made a Cavalier that got that kind of mileage, except for maybe the real early ones.

Don't forget also that the EPA recalculated the way it does gas mileage to more accurately reflect today's driving conditions. I love the fact that they have almost institutionalized higher speed driving.

http://fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings2008.shtml