Which Small-Engine Muscle Car Gets the Best Mileage?
Shoppers who choose small-engine muscle cars may have mpg on their minds, so we tested our three contenders to rate their real-world fuel efficiency: the 2016 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT V-6, the 2016 Dodge Challenger SXT Plus V-6 and the 2016 Ford Mustang EcoBoost Premium Fastback four-cylinder. We tested their V-8 siblings here.
The Small-Engine Muscle Car Challenge
Results | Performance | Mileage Test
Both the Camaro and the Challenger came equipped with eight-speed automatic transmissions, while the Mustang’s turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine was mated to a six-speed automatic. The Camaro and Challenger both drink regular gasoline, while Ford recommends premium for the Mustang EcoBoost for maximum performance.
That distinction is important. Regular gas is cheaper than premium, but as gas prices fall, that gulf is increasing. Mustang shoppers will have to decide if the performance is worth the added cost.
When the dust settled, the Camaro V-6 completed a Chevrolet sweep of our mileage drives, small and large engines both. The Camaro produced a remarkable 28.2 mpg when we averaged its trip computer results with our observed results. In second place was the Mustang; its turbocharged four-cylinder averaged 26.8 mpg. The Challenger couldn’t rely on its eight-speed automatic transmission to overcome its weight: It averaged 24.6 mpg.
How We Tested
Just as with the V-8s, our competitors began and ended their routes at the same gas pump. In between fill-ups three judges drove 130 miles, changing drivers at regular intervals to account for differences in weight and driving styles. Our route included city streets, winding canyon roads and highways. Because we skewed slightly toward highway conditions, evidenced by average mph results that ranged from 37.8 mph to 38.1 mph, all three beat their EPA combined ratings. The Camaro even beat its EPA highway rating of 28 mpg.
