[igor]

I am desperately looking for a car that could replace my Mazda3 should I need more space.

the conditions:
- wagon - FWD
- I4 gas engine
- 33mpg (at least) - preferably 35mpg

Will the new 2.2l VVT engine for 2009 meet the mileage i am looking for? I am not too hot on the exterior or interior styling, but should i need more space - I will sacrifice looks for the overall efficiency. The only other cars that come close: 2009 Jetta SportWagen and 2009 Hyundai Elantra Sportwagon ar both about 90% there, but not quite. With regular sedan compacts getting 35+ mpg, I see no reason why the best wagon on the market gets 32.
the best info I have seen to date was this: http://www.gminsidenews.com/forums/f18/meet-your-2009-chevrolet-truck-lineup-64923/


(PS: I will not buy a diesel until it makes financial sense - with the 50cent price difference - I would never see the investment return).
Igor

 

[iamwin]

If Ford was smart enough not to cancel the Focus hatch....
Oh well, such is life.

 

[igor]

If Ford was smart enough not to cancel the Focus hatch....
Oh well, such is life.

the hatch is too small for what I want - I want the Wagon - I am sad the Wagon was killed, but I would have not bought the old Wagon - it was not safe enough.

There is a chance I will take the price and mileage hit and buy the Jetta just for the 5star rating (all around) and rear side impact airbags .. but I do not really want to.

And Whatever happened to compact wagons - 30 cu ft used to be the norm - not more and more we are seeing 25 cu ft. The Focus wagon had 43 cu ft. (with seats up)!!

Igor

 

[mbukukanyau]

I have a HHR, 2.4 LT black, 2006. Almost 30K miles on it, yestaday, took it from san diego to torrence, (torrence is LA area, and it did an average of 32 mpg....) per trip computer.
Zero issues, great driver too

 

[Hitman1970]

the hatch is too small for what I want - I want the Wagon - I am sad the Wagon was killed, but I would have not bought the old Wagon - it was not safe enough.

There is a chance I will take the price and mileage hit and buy the Jetta just for the 5star rating (all around) and rear side impact airbags .. but I do not really want to.

And Whatever happened to compact wagons - 30 cu ft used to be the norm - not more and more we are seeing 25 cu ft. The Focus wagon had 43 cu ft. (with seats up)!!

Igor

I hate to say it, but Jetta wagon is the only thing that comes to mind with your crtieria.

Mazda 5?

I guess Rondo does not meet your mileage criteria?

Suzuki Forenza Wagon is gone too.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Vibe?

 

[GMC-70]

Just went to Vermont this weekend with my 07 2.2 HHR LS 5 spd and averaged 32.5 mpg with mostly highway driving (600 miles RT)

Overall, I get around 28 with mixed driving.

 

[mbukukanyau]

Igor, Unless you find the HHR repugnant, I would get one. My wife who is no car nut drove little wagons and prefered the HHR over the rest of the little wagons when we were looking to replace her Mazda 626.

She said, she liked the seating and the driving feel. Plus, in typical GM fashion, the Engine hums along quietly, without too much reving due to TQ.
Its nice

 

[osv_alero]

We like ours. Our 2.4 liter averages 30 mpg.

 

[Achelous]

Anyone know when these '09's start showing up in dealers?

 

[member12]

true delta.com has some fuel economy info.

I don't know if the 2.2L has the "XFE" package on the HHR, but I do know that 33mpg highway is easily possible on any manual transmission HHR.

We don't know the EPA figures yet, but I am sure it's 34-35 mpg highway if you are willing to row your own gears. Probably more if you actually follow the speed limit and live in a flat area.

 

[kodos78]

I have an HHR SS. I have about 530 miles on it. If I watch the Instantaneous Mileage on the DIC I can easily get 35mpg on the freeway with the SS (5 speed). But I know I can easily nail 30mpg without varying my usual driving style.

 

[red_rider]

Igor, Unless you find the HHR repugnant, I would get one. My wife who is no car nut drove little wagons and prefered the HHR over the rest of the little wagons when we were looking to replace her Mazda 626.

She said, she liked the seating and the driving feel. Plus, in typical GM fashion, the Engine hums along quietly, without too much reving due to TQ.
Its nice

Mostly true imo, there's a lot of things I like about the HHR, but the high seating position isn't one of them.
Overall, I'm still waiting for a real equivalent to a cobalt wagon.

 

[TriShield]

If Ford was smart enough not to cancel the Focus hatch....
Oh well, such is life.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/transitconnect/index.asp

This is coming but I believe it's for commerical sales only. Four cylinder, plenty of room, nice European driving dynamics and frugal.

 

[TriShield]

I have a HHR, 2.4 LT black, 2006.

What is your city MPG?

 

[mbukukanyau]

What is your city MPG?

usually betwn 20 and 23, but I am not light footed in stop and go.
I step on it, to enjoy the shifting

 

[genjy]

usually betwn 20 and 23, but I am not light footed in stop and go.
I step on it, to enjoy the shifting

Your wife's HHR is manual?

 

[fp115]

The new Vibe and Astra get 46 mpg, why not simply go for those?

 

[baby-vortec2900]

My dad's 07 LT 2.4 auto gets 30-31mpg in mostly highway mileage, but keep in mind, his is turbo charged so that cuts him down a little bit if he drives aggresively. The 2.2 should easily get 32mpg or higher.

I like his HHR a lot. Even with a family of 5 in there it maintains a large amount of cargo room. If you are taller though, the high seating position mentioned earlier requires you to hunch down a little to be confortable. I am 6'5'' though so for most people this is no problem. My dad who is 6' has no problem with that. Great car for the money

 

[salbracht]

The new Vibe and Astra get 46 mpg, why not simply go for those?

GULP! I almost fell off my chair!

Both the Vibe & Astra advertise 32 mpg/highway. Are you quoting Canadian (metric) numbers?