Mileage Challenge 5.5: Final Thoughts

Beyond the numbers that we so diligently broke down yesterday, driving four different cars for six hours can be telling in many more ways than just fuel economy. Our editors share their thoughts on the cars and pick which car they’d log another six-hour trip in.

Mileage Challenge 5.4: The Results

Our latest mileage challenge had editors logging more than 300 miles each in three hybrids and a diesel: the 2010 Honda Insight, 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid, 2010 Toyota Prius and 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. We tallied up all the numbers and corrected for a brief photography stint between Legs 2 and 3. (Angling cars around for the camera — complete with rapid stops, starts and idling — has a way of dinging your mileage, and it’s not representative of real-world driving.)

The results were striking.

Mileage Challenge 5.3: Dizzying Displays

Most people think all of the advanced technology in today’s hybrid cars is under the hood. While automakers continue to enhance new engines, batteries and drivetrains, they’re also working on ways to wrangle the one factor they can’t control — the driver.

To gain maximum efficiency in a hybrid, a driver must be taught to drive properly so fill-ups are few and far between. In the crop of cars we tested on our mileage drive, there were a dazzling array of displays to teach people to drive as green as possible.

Mileage Challenge 5.2: Avenues and Interstates

Our latest mileage challenge took three hybrids — the Honda Insight, Mercury Milan Hybrid and Toyota Prius — and one diesel, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI, from Chicago to Fond du Lac, Wis., and back. The total distance came to just over 300 miles: The first 38 miles were in urban gridlock, the next 230 miles or so consisted of relatively open highway driving and the final 35 miles took place in afternoon interstate traffic.

As in our other mileage challenges, the ground rules remained largely the same: Four editors filled the tires to their recommended pressure, kept windows and sunroofs closed, drove as we normally would and switched cars at each leg to control for driving habits. But this being a challenge with hybrids there were some added things to look out for that could sway the results.

Mileage Challenge 5.1: Hybrid vs. Diesel

Despite gas prices averaging below $2.50 a gallon nationwide, hybrids and alternative-fuel vehicles are as popular as ever. The redesigned Toyota Prius is one of the country’s best-sellers, and Volkswagen’s TDI diesel was in short supply after it debuted at dealers earlier this year. With interest in these types of vehicles still high, we held another mileage challenge with the most popular of these cars and included both hybrids and VW’s most efficient diesel.

Reader Review of the Week: 2010 Mercury Milan

Can you guess at the car-related tragedies and triumphs that must have occurred in the life of a person who goes by the moniker “FoMoCo Fan Again?” From the depths of Maine, “FoMoCo Fan Again” explains how the 2010 Mercury Milan rekindled his (or her) faith in Ford products, while not ignoring that even brand fans can find plenty of places for improvements. Read the review, and then post your own here.

Ford Explorer Sport Trac, Mercury Mountaineer Not Dead Yet

Earlier this week, online stories started popping up declaring that Ford was dropping its Explorer Sport Trac pickup and Mercury Mountaineer SUV. Theoretically, when the next-generation Explorer moves to a crossover platform instead of an SUV platform, these two spinoffs won’t be making the transition. Or so the stories said.

We contacted Ford, and it stuck by the industry standby: “We don’t comment on future product.” Jay Ward, Ford’s communications manager for crossovers and SUVs, said the other stories were purely speculation. Ward wouldn’t even let me speculate that both vehicles could continue on as-is after the Explorer unibody launches.

The only time frame for the Explorer that Ward would divulge was that the world would “see” it in 2010. Whether that means we won’t see it until a 2010 auto show — like the Detroit auto show in January — or that it will go on sale in 2010, he wouldn’t clarify.

It’s likely both would be the case, though, with an auto show debut in early 2010 and production starting late in the year.

Ford Payment Protection Plan Ends June 1

In April, Ford announced a plan to pay your car payments for up to a year if you lost your job. The company called it Payment Protection, and the plan ends June 1. Under the plan, owners were basically assured that if they had to file for unemployment, Ford would pick up their new car's payments for up to a year, up to $700 a month.

The plan was meant to reassure potential buyers in a shaky economy. The June 1 expiration date is approaching, and with the economy showing signs of life, it's unlikely Ford will extend the plan.

Hyundai's Assurance program, which pays for the negative equity of a new-car purchase up to $7,500, ends June 30.

GM's similar plan ended April 30.

Ford Offering $1,000 Conquest Cash to Chrysler Owners

Conquest incentives aren’t new in the automotive industry. In fact, they’re often seen as very effective. Besides helping make a sale, they also help steal market share from a competitor. In the latest example of such an incentive, Ford dealers in the New York region are offering $1,000 in conquest cash to all Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge owners looking to buy a Ford, Lincoln or Mercury SUV, truck or crossover, but not car.

These incentives are usually added on top of other cash-back or financing offers.

Detroit News columnist Daniel Howes sees this as a low blow by Ford — kicking its competitors while they’re down, and perhaps even perpetuating bankruptcy fears among buyers.

We’re not sure how any car shopper today wouldn’t already be aware of the dire straits in which Chrysler and GM find themselves. We’ll just say smart shoppers shouldn’t pass up an extra incentive if they find a vehicle that fits them.

Update: Ford says this offer is available in the following regions: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Denver and Phoenix.

Ford banks on its rivals' misfortune (Detroit News)

2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid Video

When it comes to hybrids, there’s one number that car buyers most want to know: Fuel economy rating. Cars.com reviewer Mike Hanley says that, in this regard, the 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid is a hit. How much of a hit? Watch his video review to find out how many miles the Milan coaxes out of a gallon of gas, and also how the car stacks up against its sibling, the Ford Fusion Hybrid.

2010|Mercury|Milan Hybrid