2nd Apr 2011, 07:49
I agree. I just rented a 2011 Chevy Malibu, and found when refilling the gas tank, that it had gotten 30 mpg in conditions dominated by doing 70 mph on the interstate, along with some minor city driving. I thought it was great that you no longer have to buy a puddle jumper in order to get good gas mileage, but can actually drive a real car instead!
3rd Apr 2011, 20:38
A Ford Fusion literally has nothing to do with a Toyota Yaris. For starters, the Yaris is almost $7,000 less. It's an entry level compact car more akin to something like an Aveo or a Ford Fiesta. These cars serve their purpose, which is to offer an affordable and economical product. Hence why they're called "entry level".
Secondly, all cars sold in the US undergo a strict regiment of safety tests. All must meet the criteria. The US has some of the strictest safety standards in the world. Thus it's totally inaccurate to say that a small econo car is by default- "flimsy". They're built exactly the same way as your Fusion: A rigid unibody construction with all the required safety features.
Lastly, some of the newer econo cars offered now get as much as 40+ MPG. The Chevy Cruze and the Ford Fiesta do. Its also important to realize that since the 70's and 80's the overall interior space of most compact cars is equal to some of the midsized cars from the 80's- like a Taurus. If you can have just as much room in a smaller car as a larger car, then why own a large car in the first place?
1st Apr 2011, 16:09
I think the Yaris will be running long after the Fusion. Sorry, till American cars match Japanese cars over the long haul, I'll stay with Toyota and Honda.