PM Gets 32+ MPG from Chevy Cobalt XFE

Most of the story is in the headline. Popular Mechanics put 500 miles on a Chevy Cobalt XFE. That’s “eXtra Fuel Economy”, with a combination of relatively cheap tricks to reduce aerodynamic and tire drag and increase engine efficiency. With all that, and in a mostly highway driving regime, 32.2 mpg is frankly not very impressive. I drove a 2009 Toyota Corolla on my trip to California last week and got 36 mpg overall, even with all the long grades around Lake Tahoe.