Originally Posted by
grsupercity
The 3.0 is actually new this year. Its pushing less horsepower this year, and has higher gearing to get it better mpg.
300Hp seems like quite a lot to me. I realize there is more too it with power bands and torque curves and such, but our old Ford farm truck had 210hp, I think (5.8L/351CI HO), and with the low range transaxle and other tow-package equipment, it would tow anything you hooked it to, and get a solid 12mpg. The nice thing about that truck was that pulling a horse trailer, with a camper on the back, going up a hill and against a wind would still net about 10mpg and not feel strained (3 speed auto, I think).
I understand the marketing appeal of MORE BIGGER STRONGER, but it seems a bit of a red herring. I think balance is the key - the right compromises that are a blend of powerful enough, cheap enough, efficient enough, comfortable enough, reliable enough and so on.
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View my fuel log 2014 Mirage SE 1.2 manual: 45.0 mpg (US) ... 19.1 km/L ... 5.2 L/100 km ... 54.1 mpg (Imp)