In the Xa 2006 what's the optimal speed to drive in highways, ie at what speed you obtain the top MPG?

 

do the speed limit or around 55-65mph

 

Unfortunately, the overdrive (5th gear) in the xA is mildly useless and is extremely high (or low, depending on how you're looking at it). I can't believe I didn't notice this when test driving, but at 60 mph you're doing about 3k rpm. If you want to save gas, you need to hang around that 3k mark.

I love my xA, but its definitely not built for the highway.

-mC

 

The manual transmission is the same for xA and xB, and gives better acceleration and power in every gear, by using more rpms per mph, which costs 1-2 mpg compared to the automatic.

The automatic does less rpms than the manual, which does not make as much power at any given mph, but does reduce the noise and the increase the mpg.

Depending on what your highway is like, and the way you like to drive, either transmission could be considered "built for the highway".

 

How much gas is worth saving? If you park that manual xA on 60 mph and hold it steady for a tankful, you will get 45 mpg. I say that because my xB got 43 like that. Imagine what the automatic could do.

 

Sorry for the lack of a comparison or clarification. If I were in the midwest, where I grew up, it'd be perfectly acceptable and the speed would be fine. Here in Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, if you're not doing 80 you're being run over. It sounds odd, but I'm so used to cruising at 85 that I completely forget how much of a breakneck speed it is compared to the good ole' Midwest.

I suppose I'm just not used to having to drive like, well, a normal human being.

 

I live .5 mile from the expressway and then have a 25 mi ride at 55 and then 25 at 65mph. 3 days a week using cruise control. 10 miles to work at 35 mph the other 2 days using my foot. I clock 38 mpg regularly. I drive it like it was intended.

 

i just moved from DC to Austin, TX two weeks ago, and i averaged 35 mpg and i travled at about 70-80 mph most of th way. btw, mine is an 04