Real Gas Mileage with automatic
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
My overall average has risen to 29.4 MPG. I think I will net between 30 & 31MPG in my first year of ownership that ends late September 2007. We will see. I should have gotten higher MPG if I'd bot one of the smaller econo cars w/manual trannie. But the Dodge Caliber w/CVT is so elegantly smooth as to be like a magic carpet, that it would not have been worth it.
This quote I made in April 2007. By the end of September 2007, my yearly overall average Caliber MPG did rise to 31.4MPG. I had made the assumption that the CVT was so smooth, that the extra MPG I could have gotten with a smaller manual economy car, would have NOT been worth NOT having the CVT. Indeed, I love the Caliber CVT.
But I have discovered that those economy cars, with strict feather footing, can get WAY WAY OVER the EPA highway rating! With my wife's 2008 Hyundai Accent(EPA 32MPG rating), I was able to get 45MPG. I've heard Toyota Yaris' & Honda Fits with careful feather footing can reach 45 & 48MPG! My own '88 Ford Festiva with new sparkplug wires & timing belt has obtained 51.8 MPG, WHILE traveling over a 5500 foot mountain pass! My Caliber has obtained 32+MPG over the same mountain pass.
In this present day of $4 per gallon gas, I'm driving my Festiva more than my Caliber.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Wow you guys have a lot of mileage information together. I am kinda new to the forum but i saw the thread and thought it was interesting. My 2007 Caliber SE with the 2.0 Auto gets me about 26-29. That is a lot of in town driving too. Probably 5 miles on a curvy hilly highway and then about 4 more in town on flat city streets.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10
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MILAGE COME AND GIT IT...lol
Hi, If milage is a BIG issue they have a hydrogen kit that was available for a Chevy Metro that would boost milage by at least 10mg on cars. The kit works and simple...why it never got off the ground is beyond me. It uses water and lye and creates a hydrogen vapor that boosts effeciency.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Hello, I've always been a Caravan person, but the wife and I are looking into a Caliber as our commuter. Can anyone tell me what kind of gas mileage they're getting with the 1.8l and the automatic transmission? The EPA estimates are all based on the manual as far as I can see. The other question I have is, is the "auto-stick" i see mentioned , the same as the automatic. The Dodge.com website does not talk about an auto-stick under the caliber area. Thanks
Milage the Dodge Caliber efficency varies ...However, you should get between 23-33mpg it is a pretty good car. If milage is the BIG thing get the stick AND cruise control between the two you will really maximize your milage potential.
Site Moderator
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,657
Likes: 24
From: Louisville, Ky
Brand new 09 2.0 w/CVT2 trans got 24mpg on the first tank mostly city driving. I'm sure it will get better with more miles on it. Only 340 miles right now.
Nice car for my wife. My 08 Hemi Ram gets about 14 around town.
Nice car for my wife. My 08 Hemi Ram gets about 14 around town.
Site Moderator
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,657
Likes: 24
From: Louisville, Ky
I was at the dealer today getting the U-Connect installed and was looking around. My 2009 2.0 CVT2 Caliber is rated at 23/27mpg, but a 09 Avenger is 23/30. Why does the larger car supposedly get better mileage? It was a 2.4L with a 4speed auto.
Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 518
Likes: 1
From: Burlington.Ontario.Can
management changes and re ratio'd the tranny to final drive.I think 33.6 mpg
hiway is where I am happy so it while it raise questions I am not concerned.
Don't forget areodynamically the Avenger is an arrow compared to the Caliber.