Premium Pain at the Pump

USA Today has an enlightening story today about the trend of new cars that require or recommend premium fuel. As we’ve tested new cars and refueled them here at Cars.com, that’s something we’ve noticed too. According to Kelley Blue Book, the number of cars that fit the premium bill rose from 166 for the 2002 model year to 282 for the 2008 model year. That’s a sharp jump.

The story says that you can take a step down in octane no matter what the car requires, but in certain high-performance engines – like those with turbochargers — there will be a noticeable impact on the overall performance of the car. In the case of sporty Mazda models like the CX-7, MX-5 and Mazdaspeed3, not using premium could invalidate the warranty (if the switch causes mechanical problems). Still, even economy cars like the Chevy Cobalt recommend premium fuel. 

Are premium fuel costs making you downgrade at the pump? Have you noticed a difference in your own car? Let us know in the comments.

More cars use pricier premium gas (USA Today)