GM Boosts Fuel Economy Across its Brands for 2009, Beats Toyota, Honda in Midsize Sedan Segment

At 33 miles per gallon highway, four-cylinder, non-hybrid versions of the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu and Saturn Aura midsize sedans equipped with six-speed transmissions carry a higher EPA highway fuel economy label than comparably equipped Toyota Camry and Honda Accord models.

In addition, the Chevrolet Cobalt XFE and Pontiac G5 XFE, at 37 mpg highway, achieve a higher EPA highway fuel economy rating than comparably equipped versions of the Toyota Yaris and Corolla, or the Honda Fit.

“Fuel economy is top-of-mind for many of our customers, and we’re providing great-looking, well-equipped and fuel-efficient choices across our lineup – from subcompacts to crossovers to full-size pickups and SUVs,” said Mark LaNeve, GM North America vice president, Vehicle Sales, Service and Marketing. “We are using our technology leadership to squeeze more miles out of a gallon of gas, and we are investing our global resources to develop advanced technologies to help us diversify the energy sources for our future transportation needs.”

In all, GM delivers 18 ’09 models – including three hybrids – that achieve EPA-estimated 30 miles per gallon or more on the highway, more than any other automaker. Chevrolet, GM’s largest brand, leads with eight – including the popular Malibu midsize sedan – followed by Pontiac and Saturn with five each. (Please see separate release for a complete list of GM’s 30-and-up performers.)

The following is a look at some of GM’s more fuel-efficient 2009 model year vehicles.

Cadillac: The all-new Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, the world’s first large luxury hybrid SUV, achieves an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city and 21 highway using GM’s two-mode hybrid system and Active Fuel Management technology. That’s a 50-percent improvement in city fuel economy over the non-hybrid Escalade.

Chevrolet: While GM’s largest brand offers eight models that achieve 30 miles per gallon or more highway, that’s only part of Chevy’s fuel solutions portfolio.

New ’09 Chevrolet models include the Traverse crossover, which seats up to eight and is equipped with GM’s fuel-saving, 3.6L direct injection V-6. With an EPA fuel economy rating of 24 mpg on the highway, the two-wheel-drive Traverse model beats the eight-passenger Honda Pilot and seven-passenger Toyota Highlander.

Already a fuel economy leader in full-size SUVs and trucks, Chevrolet’s new Tahoe XFE model is expected to maintain its segment leadership at 21 mpg highway and beating a comparably equipped Toyota Sequoia. In addition, a new V-8-equiped Chevrolet Silverado XFE 2WD achieves highway fuel economy of 21 mpg.

Chevrolet also will debut the Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid, featuring GM’s two-mode hybrid system. Silverado Hybrid 2WD achieves an EPA-estimated 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway – a 50-percent city improvement over the non-hybrid – while the Silverado 4WD is rated at 20 mpg city and 20 mpg highway.

Other noteworthy fuel-efficient vehicles for the 2009 model year include the 3.5L V-6-equipped Impala full-size sedan, which seats up to six, at an EPA-estimated 29 mpg highway.

Even performance-oriented Chevys are tuned to sip fuel: The powerful Cobalt SS is rated at 30 mpg highway and the HHR SS and Panel SS are rated at 29 mpg. And GM’s world-class supercars get super fuel economy, too: The Corvette, equipped with the 6.2L LS3 V-8, gets 26 miles per gallon highway when equipped with a manual transmission, 25 with the automatic.

GMC: The new GMC Yukon XFE and Sierra XFE debut with highway fuel economy of 21 mpg, The GMC Sierra Hybrid also is new for ’09, featuring GM’s two-mode hybrid system. The 2WD model delivers 21 mpg city and 22 mpg highway; and the 4WD delivers 20 mpg city and 20 mpg highway

Pontiac: Pontiac offers five models that achieve 30-plus highway, including the 2.4L Pontiac G6. When equipped with a six-speed transmission, it achieves an estimated 33 mpg highway and beats the gasoline-equipped Volkswagon Jetta, Mazda 3 and 2.4L-equipped Toyota Corolla.

Saturn: Saturn also offers five models that deliver 30-plus highway, including the industry’s highest-rated highway fuel economy in an SUV, the Vue Hybrid, at 32. This compact yet capable vehicle provides a 27-percent increase in fuel economy over the non-hybrid model, allowing it to make a round trip from New York to Washington, D.C. or Los Angeles to Las Vegas on a single tank of gasoline.

Later this year, a Vue 2 Mode hybrid debuts, and promises impressive performance and fuel efficiency. It is expected to be more fuel-efficient than any other V-6-powered crossover vehicle or SUV.

Saab: The 2009 Saab 9-3 2.0T sedan and SportCombi are EPA-rated at 29 mpg highway when equipped with a manual transmission, making them fuel economy leaders among luxury sedans.

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