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Beware of Fuel Sippers Sipping High-Test

Good mileage doesn't always mean big savings

By Joe Benton
ConsumerAffairs.com

May 29, 2008

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Two hot selling high-performance mini-cars, the Smartfortwo and the Mini Cooper, look like great deals, especially at the pump. But as consumers look to downsize from their SUVs to fuel sippers, it's important to be aware of the high-test premium both little cars demand.

The good news is the $12,235 Smartfortwo, manufactured by Mercedes Benz gets 40 miles to a gallon on the open road and 33 to a gallon around town. The hot little $18,700 base-model Mini Cooper, manufactured by BMW, is advertised at 37 miles to a gallon on the highway and 28 in the city.

But neither manufacturer advertises that they recommend and/or require premium fuel for the little runabouts. That information is buried in the owner's manual or hidden inside the gasoline filler compartment.

There's a reason high-octane gas is called "premium." That's because it goes for a premium price, almost 40 cents a gallon more than regular.

The high-test premium amounts to roughly $4 dollars for a 10-gallon tank of gas. Filling up a Smartfortwo with the 8.7 gallons of high-test required to top off the tank in the 70-horsepower micro-car will cost almost $40, moving the tiny two-seater into small SUV territory.

Filling a Mini to the top takes 10.6 gallons of premium, moving the price tag for a tank-full even closer to SUV fill-ups.

Many of the new crossovers that automakers are counting on consumers snapping up to replace their SUVs and guzzlers also belly up to the high-test pump. The Acura RDX, Mazda CX-7 and Nissan Murano are three examples.

It's important to notice whether the manufacturer "recommends" or "requires" premium.

Using regular when the manufacturer recommends premium will cause performance to fall off and the engine may run at a higher temperature. Excessive heat causes engine parts to wear prematurely and, quite possibly, fail sooner.

Filling the tank with regular when the manufacturer requires premium could damage vital engine parts because the engine is almost certain to run warmer than is normal. Most most modern cars and trucks with an electronic control unit for engine management have safeguards and limiters built into the computer software in case lower octane fuel is occasionally used.

But be careful. Filling up with regular all the time to beat the pump price could cost more down the road in repair bills and voided warranties.

Here are some popular models that prefer premium gasoline along with the approximate cost of a fill-up with high octane fuel at today's prevailing rates.

VW Passat, $80.39
BMW X3, $76.82
Mazda CX-7, $78.99
Acura RDX, $78.12
Nissan Murano, $94.18
Toyota FJ Cruiser, $82.46
Lexus E350, $80.29
Infiniti G35, $86.80
Chevrolet HHR SS, $69.44
Nissan Altima V6, $86.80
Nissan Maxima, $86.80

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