I believe they just introduced the XFE late last month or earlier this month, it hasn't been around long. Hopefully if GM is wise they will choose to market that car!
We just purchased a Cobalt XFE and so far been pulling on this tank 38MPG which isn't as much as my '94 Saturn's best of late 47 MPG, but for an out of the box heavier car that can run circles around my Satty, and definitely better than the '90 Honda Accord it is replacing. (Automatic).
As much as I love the Vibe for its "fun-to-driveness" and bulletproof reliability, I have to agree that it's really tough to hit the 34 sticker number consistently. 31 or so seems to be closer to reality, although I've had customers report 35-36 on long trips driven prudently.
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I rented a Matrix with an automatic a few months ago; the Vibe is the GM clone.
I managed high 30's with stop-and-go traffic...in a snowstorm. And I don't mean just a dusting, either. Normal highway commutes in February were in the low 40s. That thing should easily hit 50 during the summer.
I filled the XFE yesterday. FE gauge read 40.1 MPG (33MPH avg speed), and miles/gallons came out to 39 and change. So for having less that 700 miles on the car, it is doing better than EPA says it will do. Just driving it, other than driving at 55MPH on the highway just like my Saturn.
My friend who owns a busy auto repair shop told me before I bought my 99 Grand Am with the 3.4 liter V6 that I would get good mileage from it. I thought that would mean 25 mpg max. Never thought 35+ would be achievable in a nice, comfortable car with an automatic. As I've said before, it's the low rpm--1500 rpm @ 60 mph that does it. That, and actually driving consistently at 60 mph.
I bought my mom a cobalt sedan in January before the XFE was available. I like it, so my next ride might just be a manual cobalt sedan XFE. Sadly, I read that the sedan will only be offered in manual until the end of the 2008 run of vehicles. Not sure why they are doing that, I can't see the sedan having any more problems with the manual than the coupes. So that means if I want one I have to buy it in the next few months or hope to find a used one later on.
It's not that the sedan is less suitable for the manual, but rather that they're not selling. It's rather expensive to offer options that don't sell and most people who choose the sedan don't choose the manual. That's bad for hypermilers though...
So that means if I want one I have to buy it in the next few months or hope to find a used one later on.
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