Originally Posted By: dishdude
I was driving last night thinking about a couple threads where people mentioned how good fuel economy was in some 80's and 90's econoboxes. I don't disagree, but as I was playing around with the instrument cluster in my Jeep, it hit me that this large SUV with a V6 that puts out 290 hp gets the same mileage as one of my first cars did - a beat up old K-car with a 2.2 that brand new put out a tire scorching 93 hp. By time I got it with a gazillion miles on it I am sure it was a lot less! Considering the weight, size and performance of this vehicle, is there ever a better time to be a car guy? This large vehicle gets 24 MPG without me even trying.
I agree with you that newer vehicles and powertrains are generally very efficient, locale and climate can have as great of an effect on economy than many other factors. For example, I think you used to live in Pittsburgh, right, and now live in Phoenix? Those are probably close to the two extremes of potential economy -- Phoenix is probably one of the better places to live to achieve good economy, and Pittsburgh is perhaps one of the worst. Phoenix offers a generally hot climate and wide and flat roads -- all generally favorable for efficiency. Pittsburgh has a much colder climate and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots...of hills -- lousy for even attempting to get good efficiency.
I saw that first-hand when I moved to the flat NC coastal plain from the Blue Ridge Mountains of southern Virginia. My vehicle at the time, a '97 Cadillac SLS, would struggle to get 15 or 17 in town. "Town" was a hilly Blacksburg, VA, with 25 mph speed limits and stop signs everywhere. But down here, I saw an immediate improvement -- to around 20 mpg in town and 30 mpg on the road. Streets are wide and fast around here (45 mph speed limits). The climate is warmer. The terrain is flatter. All boons to efficiency.
Even all that said, you'll still get no argument from me that modern vehicles aren't more efficient. Look at a 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee AWD 3.6 and compare it to a 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee AWD 3.7, and to a 1995 Jeep Grand Cherokee AWD 4.0.
The 2015 is 17/19/24, the 2005 is 15/17/19, and the 1995 is 14/15/18. And the 2015'll run circles around either of the other two.
If I recall correctly, your Grand Cherokee is 2WD, right? That's the best case scenario: 17/20/25 ratings. You at 24 speaks to the relative ease of Phoenix driving. Keep it up -- I bet you could easily best the highway rating on your normal commute.