Ford has made many improvements in bettering its fleet average fuel mileage in recent years. But lest we forget, it was the Ford Explorer that helped create the SUV craze. And it wasn’t long ago you could buy the monstrous Excursion from any nearby dealership, a road behemouth more suitable to Lord Humongous than suburban soccer moms.
Consumer Reports recently did its annual round of real-world gas mileage numbers. The 2010 Ford F-250 Lariat ranked as the vehicle with the worst tested gas mileage, getting on average just 10 mpg.
The testing was for “light duty” vehicles, although there is nothing exactly light about the F-250. What really surprised me was that this was a diesel-equipped model. How much worse would the gas version have fared? Second place of this dubious distinction goes to the Hummer H2, a zombie brand which managed just 11 mpg. Behind that was the Cadillac Escalade and several other giant domestic SUVs.
As far as the most fuel efficient cars, it should come as no surprise that the Prius topped the list at 44 mpg. Surprisingly though the Smart FourTwo beat out the Honda Insight, netting 39 mpg and 38 mpg respectively. The highest ranking domestic car (and the only one in the top ten) was the Ford Fusion Hybrid, with 34 observed mpg.
While the F-250 fared the worst this year, 2010 should be a different story. Ford is unleashing a bevy of new engines, and yesterday they unveiled their in-house built diesel engine for the Ford Super Duty. The 6.7 liter diesel engine has 390 horsepower and a monstrous 735 ft-lbs of torque, while improving fuel economy (though by how much we don’t know, as the EPA doesn’t require the figures to be published). That is good enough to tow up to 24,000 pounds. The F-150 should also be getting Ford’s new EcoBoost engine sometime this year.
Out with the old, in with the new!
Source: Consumer Reports | Pickuptrucks.com | Image: Ford
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About Christopher DeMorro
Something tells me that whatever testing procedure they used was very unfavorable to diesels. I’m willing to bet any average person off the street could come in and do better than that. I’ve heard of guys getting 20+ mpg in those big diesel trucks.
Now from Ford’s gas V10 engine, I could believe 10 mpg, but a diesel, they’re out of their minds.
Something tells me that whatever testing procedure they used was very unfavorable to diesels. I’m willing to bet any average person off the street could come in and do better than that. I’ve heard of guys getting 20+ mpg in those big diesel trucks.
Now from Ford’s gas V10 engine, I could believe 10 mpg, but a diesel, they’re out of their minds.
I tried finding their testing procedure, but they want me to subscribe. And I’m no fan of Consumer Reports ever since they signed a 99 year lease for the CT drag strip while refusing to let the public have access to it, even when they aren’t using it
I tried finding their testing procedure, but they want me to subscribe. And I’m no fan of Consumer Reports ever since they signed a 99 year lease for the CT drag strip while refusing to let the public have access to it, even when they aren’t using it
This is comparable to what I get towing a 7 1/2 ton trailer through the mountains. Actually, I get 11-12 mpg. When not towing I get 23 mpg. I get this in town and on the highway. Doesn’t make a difference. My truck is a one-ton dually Dodge 350. I suspect the new Ford F-250 gets better than I do.
This is comparable to what I get towing a 7 1/2 ton trailer through the mountains. Actually, I get 11-12 mpg. When not towing I get 23 mpg. I get this in town and on the highway. Doesn’t make a difference. My truck is a one-ton dually Dodge 350. I suspect the new Ford F-250 gets better than I do.
Something’s up. All the diesel 3/4 tons get near-20s in the real world and my 2006 Jetta TDI beats the winning Prius figure.
What’s going on?
Something’s up. All the diesel 3/4 tons get near-20s in the real world and my 2006 Jetta TDI beats the winning Prius figure.
What’s going on?
I own a 2010 F-250 Lariat.
I don’t know what Consumer Reports has against Ford, but I can get 16 to 18 mpg highway with my diesel equipped PU.
Get it right Consumer reports, your only hurting trade in values and the only company that didn’t take gov. money!
I own a 2010 F-250 Lariat.
I don’t know what Consumer Reports has against Ford, but I can get 16 to 18 mpg highway with my diesel equipped PU.
Get it right Consumer reports, your only hurting trade in values and the only company that didn’t take gov. money!
I have had my F250 since August 10′ and I can say I drive hard all the time. (Short distances mostly) My diesel equipped truck isn’t even broken in at 4500 miles and I can easily get 17+ on the highway and 13 in the city! And yes, I bought my Ford because they didn’t take Government money! My Lariat also looks great too! First Ford I’ve ever owned and I’m very happy so far.
Your websight sucks. I’ve gone through these reviews and you pretty much have your tongue in the rectum of HYBRID vehicles the whole time. You’re the kind of clown shoe that drives hybrid vehicles for the name alone, and have $10,000 extra to throw around. Unless you drove the 250 like a retard there is no way you got 10mpg out of it. I want to know what kind of road tests you actually did to get it that low. Also, what procedures are used in determining actual MPG? There are tons of factors that come in to play when coming to that conclusion. Last but not least, you can stave your ‘global distruction’ guilt by buying non-hybrid cars like the Yaris that fetches just about the same MPG as your beloved PRIUS(of crap). Check the numbers our yourself.
I hope you come to grips with your wretched propaganda habits and realize that some people actually need the payload 250′s offer. I own a truck and use it all the time. Not all of us push paper for a living, ya weasel.
i am sure that some fool could get that low fuel milage, but he would have to work at it. how was this particular test run, where how much idle & warm up time. heck , my son could tear up an anvil with a rubber hammer, so i am sure some dumn butt could get low fuel milage. but in the real world with real sane drivers with a vehicle in good condition with good fuel one shoul get 17 to 20 easy. maybe the guy had 4 flats and was driving on the rimms up hill in 4 wheel low lock pulling 10 dead elephants.
I believe the ford as rating. I own a 2010 F250 XL with the V10. Best mileage was 12 MPG on a highway trip flat level road at 65 MPH. Anything faster or more hills barely get 10 MPG. Towing anything drops to 4-7 MPG depending on load (nothing over 8,000 lbs) and wind. Sucks on power. Any wind or hills downshifts to 3rd gear and 3-4000 RPMs.