Same gas mileage as a V8? Why?

[Dan in Littleton]

I would get the same mileage as both my Frontiers with my 2003 Chevy Avalanche. Getting 20 mpg on the highway was easy with that truck. I just didn't need that much truck anymore so I got the Frontier.

[JB'sFrontier]

I have been getting better gas mileage than a v8, but also the frontier is a 8 yr old design.

[Bigpat5123]

I think alot of people think that the window sticker mileage is actually what you get! You might get 20+ miles with a new V8 on the highway, empty and on flat highway. But your average mileage city&highway will still be less than a V6 in most cases. I average about 19mpg fall, spring and summer and about 17mpg winter with mixed driving . I do not think a V8 will do that, maybe empty with just a driver and flat highway. Also the full sizes are unnecessary for most people even if they get the same mileage, I would rather drive my frontier everyday/commuting than a full size truck. Just my $.02.

[chainsaw]

The mileage is due to several factors compounding. Emissions. Fuel mixes. Added weight from features (my truck weighs 5600 with no add ons!!) And on the 4x4s the forward running gear turns all the time dragging the mileage down too.

[Bigpat5123]

Good points chainsaw. Also if you do some research usually the mileage estimates are for 4x2 models. As chainsaw said if you get a 4x4 that reduces mileage.

[Nomad 13]

Originally Posted by Sangster

wait until you have 180k miles and 1000lbs of extra weight/armor/winch/etc.

You'll get GREAT mileage!

Or add a big a** lift and ridiculously heavy mudders. Then you'll get it down to a very respectable 14-15 MPGs combined like mine

I'll take the MPGs for the sole fact that I can still light em up with all the power the big 4.0 puts out (with some minor mods : ), not to mention it still carts all the crap we bolt on them up every hill we point them at

[PedalBiker]

Our "modern' minivan with all it's tricks still doesn't do well in city traffic.

Your local traffic engineers an influence your vehicle mileage significantly. Fort Collins has a lot of work to do to get their lights working properly -- unless their goal is slower traffic and more pollution.

[RBOWWOW]

Originally Posted by upflying

Check the mpg on the Canyon/Colorado if you want lousy mileage in a small truck.

I call BS on that..
let me introduce you to the other truck in the family.
We use this if we want to get 19-21 mpg highway. (vs. 15 in the frontier)
This is after adding larger tires (265-70-17), Suspension Maxx Keys, Ball Joint Flip and Spacer, Differential Drop, Skykacker AAL's and Rancho 5000's.
Got 21-23 before the tire swap.

[seven50rider]

Ok, makes sense know. Thanks!

[begleysm]

Here comes my 2 cents. I have a stock 2012 Crew Cab SV 4x4.

Last time I filled up I got 10.2 gallons of gas and had driven 191 miles. That was approx 90 surface road miles and 100 highway miles. That's 18.72 MPG.

Also (and unrelated) I recently looked at this Fuelly website. Here are some figures on the newest model year they have data for for the Frontier & similar trucks.

2011 Dodge Dakota (4 cars, 61 fuel ups): 20.4 MPG
2012 Chevy Colorado (2 cars, 23 fuel ups): 18.4 MPG
2012 Nissan Frontier (53 cars, 924 fuel ups): 17.8 MPG
2013 Toyota Tacoma (20 cars, 120 fuel ups): 17.6 MPG
2011 GMC Canyon (2 cars, 10 fuel ups): 17.0 MPG
2008 Ford Explorer Sport Trac (10 cars, 254 fuel ups): 16.8 MPG


Here are numbers for the median (most common, but not average) MPG for all model years combined

Chevy Colorado: 20 MPG
GMC Canyon: 20 MPG
Toyota Tacoma: 19 MPG
Nissan Frontier: 18 MPG
Ford Explorer Sport Trac: 16 MPG
Dodge Dakota: 16 MPG



Just some food for thought.

Sean