More fuel mileage numbers for the Cadillac ATS are in, with the current range-topping 321-horse, 275 lb-ft 3.6L LFX V6-powered model returning an EPA-estimated 19 miles per gallon in the city and 28 on the highway, whilst starting at $42,090. The numbers appear underwhelming, but we should note that the 321 hp engine requires only regular 87 octane, and can be substituted with E85 — whereas its German competitors require premium gasoline.
For those looking at the all-wheel-drive model, the numbers slightly decrease to a 18 city/26 highway mpg rating while commanding a $2,000 premium. Both utilize a six-speed automatic transmission, as there is currently no manual transmission offered for the V6 ATS.
As a refresher, the base ATS with a 202 hp 2.5L Ecotec returns 22 mpg city and 33 highway. The 270 hp turbocharged model still awaits its EPA numbers.
Meanwhile, the $43,695Â 2013 BMW 335i and its turbocharged 3.0-liter I-6 is EPA-rated at 23 city/33 highway mpg. The engine does require the more expensive premium-grade gasoline, but those modern eight-speed automatic transmissions really seem to make a difference.
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How does the heavier, less aerodynamic Camaro V6, with the same engine, have an EPA rating of 31mpg, and this only gets 28? My ony assumption is how a manual is more efficient at transferring power, but still. Very puzzling.
I always knew the Camaro was magical… Besides my 2002 Trans Am WS6 with 325 hp 350 ft.-lbs. stock gets 28 mpg highway 19 city like the ATS.
The camaro 2LS automatic has a 2.92 axel ratio and taller tires.
Yea, the Camaro’s mpg is nothing short of impressive.
Good enough numbers.
ATS must have a more aggresive axle ratio than base V6 Camaro.
Wish Caddilac would make manual trans and G80 avalable in V6 ATS.
Wish Chevrolet would make G80 a stand alone option in V6 Camaro, so folks could practice car control for less than 30 grand.
Isn’t it the 328i that gets 22/33 city/hwy where as the 335i gets 20/28
Both the 335i and 328i touch 33 mpg highway. The 328i actually gets 34 with a stick.
everything im seeing for the 2013 335i is in the neighbourhood of 20/30-22/33mpg city/hwy.
with gas [for me] currently at $1.32/L ($5.00/ US gal) for regular and $1.5/L for premo ($5.70/US gal), so the bimmer with premo costs ~$11.00 more to fill up (if they both used the same size tank as the bimmer, 16gal). Take that $11.00 and you can get an extra 2.2gal for the ATS. Lets say combined city/hwy mpg that the ATS gets 24mpg, that extra 2.2gal equals an extra 53miles driving distance per tank (or 85km), or up to 64miles if pure highway driving. hey! better than the Volts electric range.
the MPG difference is now offset by the fuel cost difference.
Upgrading the intake, doing a port and polish to the throttle body (even just ghetto with a dremel) can improve both cars a ton. My 3.6L CTS with a Volant CAI, throttle body port and polish (I did mine on a lathe) my car displays 34-37mpg on the hwy when cruising at 110km/h (70ish mph). Which is a roughly 10mpg improvement over what the epa “says”. Not to mention the nice power bump as well. My typical driving is pretty much a 50/50 of city/hwy and I see over the span of a full tank an MPG use of 28 (much better than the EPAs 23mpg combined estimate) and I don’t try to hyper-mile, i drive it to be driven.
You’re forgetting something though, Andrew. If you can afford a 3 Series, you probably don’t care that much about the cost of premium fuel compared to regular.
I suppose, and the average consumer likely wouldn’t realize the comparison of MPG vs. price at the pump for reg vs. premo. They see the mpg number and that’s that. Just like most people get caught up on horsepower and the HP number is all that matters to them.
If I was going car shopping, completely un-biased, I for one would be crunching the numbers as I did above to compare running one car on premo and another on regular. And in this instance I’d take the car on regular. Not to mention I’d take the non-turbo 3.6L over the 3.0T offered in the bimmer.
BMW gets 33mpg because of it’s 8 speed trans. Now if it’s a 6 speed then it’s something else.
The Chrysler 300 with 3.6 and an 8 speed box does 19 City 31 Hwy 23 combined-The ATS does 22 combined. So I’m not convinced that the ATS’ mpg figure is so bad as to lose sales.
Now add an 8 speed or more to the Cadi spec sheet, and I bet it would beat the 300C
A 300 is a full-sized car, though. The ATS is a compact. Not even close to the same class. Perhaps price point, but that’s it.
That Chrysler 300 is pretty cool, no doubt. This Cadillac is a luxury car and the buyer who can afford it doesn’t care too much about MPG- only Obama cares about making cars with higher mileage at a higher cost. Mileage minded folks can get the base model which I’m sure is a great performer. The ATS super-six is probably faster than the heavier 300 six.
You could get a high-mpg car for cheap. Simply take out all the heavy safety, NVH-reducing, and high-tech contents out of a vehicle. You know, because it’s Obama’s fault we have those pesky things in the first place.
Besides the 300 only has 292 hp whereas ATS V6 has 321hp
BMW have no throttle plate, and a continuiously variable intake valve lift, sceme. the technology is said to increce efficiency by 7%. It is patented so I beleve there is BMW and every body elce and anny comparisons with currant BMW are apples to oranges at best.
BMW is just an automaker. They aren’t a company that was handed down by Greek gods.
But it goes to show you where 40 years of doing things meticulously right gets you.
Actually, Valveronic does have a throttle body. Its there for cold starts and as a back up in case the Valvetronic system fails (which has happened). Once the engine reaches operating temperature, the throttle body goes wide open and the Valvetronic system takes over.
Really disappointing that it loses out to the BMW’s mileage by so much. It looks like GM had better get that 8-speed tranny out asap!! All their current RWD cars, plus the upcoming Corvetter and pickups, can sorely use it too, I strongly suspect.
Ummm, make that Corvette lol
Not great, but not terribad, either.