The Solutor wrote on Today, 05:25:Currently nothing, usually a turbo diesel, 800cc, Smart fortwo 100KM with 3L (77.62 mpg in stone age units) […]
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Currently nothing, usually a turbo diesel, 800cc, Smart fortwo 100KM with 3L (77.62 mpg in stone age units)
I wish you good luck in your hunt, if that means you are looking for your next one. I wanted to like them, but they got seriously nobbled (detuned) on this continent. In the European market they can save you money on more than just fuel, with the road tax rates being on a sliding scale many places, and congestion charges in large cities going according to size.
Over here though, apart from a handful of very tight downtowns where the "city car" qualities shine in parking and getting around, they are more like you bought half a car, but still have to pay about the same in fuel, insurance, tax/permit fees, as a "full" small car like an economy hatchback or civic for the gas, or passat/golf/jetta diesel for the diesel version. Maybe it was only the Canadian market got the diesel, don't see the US figures. Anyway, works out something like 35mpg in the gas while requiring the most expensive premium fuel, and ~50mpg on the diesel. Which all makes the "smart" name seem false. I guess the diesel is just about "smarter" than the gas version here still though, price delta on recent premium vs diesel prices I've seen says it's like getting a 40mpg gas version. I think a major part of the market for them here is actually "dinghy" aka "toad" for large RVs, wherein the big rig is parked up for a spell at the campsite and the smart is used as a grocery runner and day tripper.
Every time I see one cheap though, I start daydreaming about putting the diesel motor in one of the small Suzuki 4x4s, or an MG Midget, MGB or Triumph spitfire shell.
But we've got our 3l/100km ride in the 2025 Escape (Kuga) PHEV, it was getting 2.8l/100 on a tank plus just under $1 of electric per day for doing the daily commute for my wife. But then we have been on an 80% charge restriction, while Ford figured out how to unfuck/detect Samsung's manufacturing failures in the battery cells. Actual defects seem to be in the 1 per thousand range or lower in this year. However, they just got the updated battery management rolled out and we should be back to full charge soon. Meanwhile we were getting more like mid 3s with 20% less battery help. It does about 5/100 on long trips when the battery is used up, but often you can bring that down to low 4s if you go to EV later mode as soon as you get to highway speed, then turn it back on again when you get off the highway each end.
My '25 Maverick hybrid AWD was only just getting run in by summer, so tank averages have been in the 6/100 range, it is coming down though, got a nice 150 mile run in a month or so back where I held it to 4.8/100. (~50mpg US, 59mpg IMP)
On either of those though, we notice a "tipping point" with around 31C outside temperatures, where the electric can't run the AC by itself, and has to run the IC more, such that the gas mileage takes a 5mpg hit. A similar thing happens in winter for the heat in freezing temps. Evens out a bit more on longer runs, due to catching up with the heatsoak or cold soak, and you can adjust temperature a bit higher in summer, lower in winter to edge of comfortable to help. Or if you're in serious fuel saver mode, drive in the cooler part of the day in summer, warmer part in winter. Talking of fuel saver modes, ECO mode on these, isn't, well compared to our driving attuned to getting reasonable mileage out of 4cyl econoboxes over the years, maybe it does better than the unpracticed average Joe. So yeah, if you've got a Ford, try slippery mode rather than Eco, does better on both of ours.
Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.
