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We all understand that the European market was the first
to really get nailed with high gas prices. They were paying over $5 per
gallon while the U.S. market still was just cresting the $2 per gallon
mark. This forced the European market to start accepting smaller and
less desirable vehicles in hopes of getting better economy, while folks
in the States continued to drive Hummers and other large SUVs.
Now that gas is hitting $4 per gallon, the U.S. buyers are starting to become more receptive to smaller cars
with upwards of 40 mpg capabilities and hybrids cresting the 50 mpg
mark. However, we are still left out in one market, the ultra economic
clean diesels. The latest one is the 2012 Chevrolet Aveo, which is known as the Sonic in the U.S.
In
the U.S., the highest mpg available on the Sonic is 40 mpg and that is
the optional 1.4-liter turbocharged engine, which we have our doubts if
any normal driver can actually hit 40 mpg in this car. In the U.K., the
Aveo has several four-cylinder engine options, including a 1.2-liter
gasoline, 1.3-liter diesel, 1.3-liter Eco Diesel, and a 1.4-liter. The
highway fuel economy on these engines is 68.9 mpg, 83.1 mpg, 85.6 mpg,
and 62.7 mpg, respectively.
None of these engines
would make the Sonic a speed demon, like the relatively quick Sonic LTZ
and its 1.4-liter turbo engine, but will Chevy ever bring these engine
options to the U.S. market? We understand that diesel fuel is not as
readily available as regular gasoline, but they certainly give the U.S.
buyer an option other than hybrid or electric, which have technologies
that could end up requiring rather pricy repairs in the future.
We’re not singling out Chevy here, as Ford has its ECOnetic system getting 65+ mpg in a Ford Fiesta.
Our best Fiesta gets an arguable 40 mpg on the highway. Seemingly every
car company has a super-Eco diesel engine in its European lineup, but
we have yet to see one in the U.S. We think the time has come for one
to show up.
topspeed.com
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