John and Helen Taylor pose with their two Jeep vehicles. On their London to Berlin jaunt, the Jeep Compass achieved a fuel economy rating of 66.76 miles per gallon. The Patriot did even better coming in at 67.46 mpg.
Fueling Around
From London To Berling—With Fuel To Spare
SUV. Fuel Economy. Think the two are mutually exclusive? Don’t tell that to fuel economy enthusiasts John and Helen Taylor.
The husband and wife team recently drove a Jeep® Patriot and Jeep Compass—both production vehicles with 2.0L turbo diesel engines—from London to Berlin on less than a single tank of fuel, an unmatched achievement among SUVs.
The couple first drove the Patriot and Compass—each with a driver, passenger and luggage—658 miles from London to Berlin. Upon arrival in Berlin, there was enough fuel left in each vehicle to continue the journey, crossing the border into Poland. In all, the pair traveled a total distance of 698.4 miles. When you run the numbers that comes out to a fuel economy rating of 66.76 miles per gallon in the Compass and 67.46 mpg for the Patriot.
“We drove on normal roads at realistic speeds with two people and their luggage on board,” said John Taylor. “And the traffic and weather conditions weren’t favorable at all—cold with many traffic jams. We used simple fuel economy driving techniques that any driver could replicate.”
An independent observer accompanied the Taylors on their journey, assuring that the fuel tanks remained sealed and verifying all odometer readings.
“This achievement helps establish the Jeep Compass and Patriot as industry leaders and proves that it is possible to offer global customers fuel efficiency and capability in the same package,” said Jim Press, Chrysler Vice Chairman and President.
Get the Most Out of the Liquid Gold in Your Tank
Here are eight simple steps you can take to maximize your fuel economy:
- Maintain and Repair Your Vehicle—Regularly change lubricants and filters and replace worn components, such as spark plugs. Basic maintenance can significantly improve fuel economy.
- Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil and Fuel—You can maximize fuel economy by using the motor oil and fuel recommended in your owner’s manual.
- Keep Tires Properly Inflated—Check tire pressure monthly and before any long trips. Proper tire inflation can increase fuel economy by up to six percent.
- Slow Down—Fuel economy decreases about one percent for each mile per hour over 55. Driving 65 mph rather than 75 mph, for instance, increases fuel economy about 10 percent.
- Use Overdrive Gears and Cruise Control—Overdrive gears slow engine speed, saving fuel and reducing wear. Cruise control helps maintain a consistent engine speed, thus reducing fuel consumption.
- Avoid Quick Starts and Aggressive Driving—Accelerate slowly and anticipate traffic signal cycles in city driving.
- Clean Out Your Vehicle—Remove everything from your vehicle that you don’t need. Unnecessary weight reduces fuel economy.
- Avoid Rush Hour and Combine Trips—Stop-and-go driving burns more fuel, as does starting up a cold engine.
Gasoline: What a Bargain. No, Really.
Think $4.00 or more for a gallon of gasoline is outrageous? Mad as hell and not going to take it anymore? Consider the per gallon prices of these other consumer products that you buy every day:
- Lipton Iced Tea: 16 oz. @ $1.19 = $9.52 per gallon
- Diet Snapple: 16 oz. @ $1.29 = $10.32 per gallon
- evian® Water: 9 oz. @ $1.49 = $21.19 per gallon
- Wite-Out®: 7 oz. @ $1.39 = $25.42 per gallon
- Brake Fluid: 12 oz. @ $3.15 = $33.60 per gallon
- Scope®: 1.5 oz. @ $0.99 = $84.48 per gallon
- Pepto-Bismol: 4 oz. @ $3.85 = $123.20 per gallon
- Vicks® NyQuil®: 6 oz. @ $8.35 = $178.13 per gallon
Here’s the kicker:
- HP Black Ink Cartridge: 16 ml @ $18 online = $4,294.58 per gallon
So the next time you’re at the gas station watching the dollars ring up wildly out of control, be glad your car or truck doesn’t run on Pepto-Bismol, or—heaven forbid—printer ink.
