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Thread: Micra automatic or manual: which should you get for best gas mileage/fuel economy?

  1. #1
    Administrator MetroMPG's Avatar
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    Micra automatic or manual: which should you get for best gas mileage/fuel economy?

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    The Micra's fuel economy ratings for the manual vs. automatic transmissions are practically identical: 7.7 vs. 7.8 L/100 km ("combined" rating -- see full Micra mileage ratings).

    With numbers that close, you would be forgiven for thinking it doesn't really matter which transmission you get if fuel economy is a priority. But you would be wrong.

    Here's why the manual is the one to get if you're serious about saving fuel.

    But first, a little screening process...


    If you're a "typical" driver (turn the key, turn on tunes, go go go)


    Then you should just get the automatic -- it'll probably be more efficient and safer.

    It takes focus to drive a manual transmission well, and driving one efficiently takes even more focus. You have to actively participate in every trip.

    I hear so many manual cars going down my street at the 50 km/h speed limit in 2nd gear. (Normal every day cars, not fancy sports cars whose drivers are keeping the revs high to serenade the neighbourhood.) Those are the types of drivers who would be better off with an automatic.


    If you're motivated to hone your driving skill to save gas


    Then driving a manual Micra will beat the automatic's fuel economy by a BIG margin. Why?

    Because those automatic vs. manual mileage ratings don't tell the whole story.

    The laboratory fuel economy test

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    Drivers perform government certified fuel economy testing on a laboratory dynamometer by accelerating, cruising and decelerating at precisely defined rates. They literally stare at a compter screen hanging in front of the windshield and follow a trace, trying not to "colour outside the lines". It's like a big video game. And if the driver deviates from the prescribed speed by more than 2 mph, it's game over -- the test is thrown out and re-started.

    This is relatively easy with an automatic transmission: Put it in "D", watch the screen, and work the pedals. The transmission will always shift gears up and down at the same points throughout the test, based on its programming. In other words, over multiple tests, the car will always get the same result (or extremely close to it).

    When testing a manual, though, the driver is instructed on the computer screen exacty when to upshift and downshift.

    Why? Because the fuel economy test has to be repeatable; the test driver can't be left to make shift decisions on his/her own.

    And the key issue is: the shift points that the driver is instructed to use are not particularly efficient. They're meant to replicate "typical" driving (by typical brain-dead drivers who drive down my street at 50 km/h in 2nd gear. OK, probably not that brain dead.)

    That means several of the simplest fuel-saving techniques are not used during the test, e.g:

    1) short-shifting (up-shifting at lower engine RPM when only light/moderate acceleration is needed);
    2) shifting into the highest possible gear (without lugging) once at cruising speed (even at sub/urban cruising speeds)

    The manual testing rules also specifically prohibit another technique that can save fuel in the real world:

    3) coasting in neutral at certain times.

    The end result of these test restrictions is that most manual transmission cars can get significanly better fuel economy in the hands of a motivated eco-driver than their official fuel economy ratings suggest.


    How much better fuel economy with the manual?

    Short answer: it depends. Depends on the car, the route & the driver. (In other words: your mileage may vary.)



    But here's a bit of data.

    Let's look at real world results for Versa sedans (which use the same 1.6L engine as the Micra) tracking mileage on Fuelly:

    • 9% - on average, automatic drivers (14 of them) are beating the EPA "combined" rating by this amount
    • 19% - manual drivers (6 of them) are beating the same rating by this amount


    OK, so that's not exactly a scientific study. But it matches my own experience.

    I used to be an instructor for a company that teaches defensive driving as well as eco-driving techniques. For fun, I still sometimes take friends & acquaintances out to coach them on how to drive more efficiently in a sub/urban setting.

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    We always beat the official fuel economy ratings by a good amount. But the manual transmission cars beat the ratings by a LOT more than the automatics. Of 10 eco-driving sessions in 10 different cars (half automatics, half manuals):

    • 23% - on average, the automatic drivers beat their "city" fuel economy rating by this amount
    • 44% - manual drivers beat their rating by this amount


    Manual transmissions simply give the driver more options for saving fuel than automatics.

    So, if you're motivated and skilled (or willing to develop your eco-driving skills), I'd definitely go with the manual.

    ---

    More info:




        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Micra S manual: 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.5 mpg (Imp) ... 20.0 km/L ... 47.0 mpg (US) ...


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    AlphaMicra (04-25-2014)

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    Administrator Daox's Avatar
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    Very nice compilation of info Darin. I definitely agree and my experience has been a competent driver can totally smoke the fuel economy ratings with a manual transmission. You can beat them with an automatic, but not by as much.

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    we gotta have a competition on fuel economies... except thinking about it, someone will just find a mountain downhill and skew the numbers. -_-;

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    Administrator MetroMPG's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by nintu View Post
    we gotta have a competition on fuel economies... except thinking about it, someone will just find a mountain downhill and skew the numbers. -_-;
    I'm in!

    But, yeah, that west coast mountain thing is a bit of an advantage.

    We are actually planning to add a fuel economy tracking feature to the site once we have a few owners. Not for competition, specifically -- though friendly competition is inevitable whenever you post a list of drivers' results.

    But I guarantee the difference between the manual and automatic averages will be waaay more than the official 0.1 L/100 km.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Micra S manual: 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.5 mpg (Imp) ... 20.0 km/L ... 47.0 mpg (US) ...


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    Senior Member AlphaMicra's Avatar
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    Even if the fuel economy is equal, I believe a manual transmission is safer. It engages the driver and discourages distractions, making the driver a participant in the driving experience, not just a spectator.

    In our culture obsessed with absurd excess, the Nissan Micra is my counterculture car of choice.
    Be sure to visit my blog at mymicra.com!

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Micra SV manual: 6.4 L/100 km ... 44.3 mpg (Imp) ... 15.7 km/L ... 36.9 mpg (US) ...


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    Administrator MetroMPG's Avatar
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    Not to mention more fun. I've owned 1 automatic in about 25 cars (a giant American classic car).

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Micra S manual: 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.5 mpg (Imp) ... 20.0 km/L ... 47.0 mpg (US) ...


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    Senior Member AlphaMicra's Avatar
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    In our culture obsessed with absurd excess, the Nissan Micra is my counterculture car of choice.
    Be sure to visit my blog at mymicra.com!

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Micra SV manual: 6.4 L/100 km ... 44.3 mpg (Imp) ... 15.7 km/L ... 36.9 mpg (US) ...


  9. The Following User Says Thank You to AlphaMicra For This Useful Post:

    MetroMPG (04-25-2014)

  10. #8
    Administrator MetroMPG's Avatar
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    Funny!

    Two comments on that vid...

    1) They showed an automatic shift gate at one point when they meant to show a manual...

    2) The Prius isn't the reason manuals are disappearing! The Prius deserves more respect than typical "enthusiasts" give it.

    In fact, I was going to say earlier (but didn't) that the style of automatic that I'd choose if I couldn't have a manual would be the CVT style found in Toyota (and some other) hybrids. Driving a hybrid in everyday use is far more engaging than driving a conventional automatic.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Micra S manual: 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.5 mpg (Imp) ... 20.0 km/L ... 47.0 mpg (US) ...


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    Senior Member lbarouf's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MetroMPG View Post
    I'm in!

    But, yeah, that west coast mountain thing is a bit of an advantage.

    We are actually planning to add a fuel economy tracking feature to the site once we have a few owners. Not for competition, specifically -- though friendly competition is inevitable whenever you post a list of drivers' results.

    But I guarantee the difference between the manual and automatic averages will be waaay more than the official 0.1 L/100 km.
    We could get fuelly accounts and compare there. I like the online backup of my log that fully basically provides. I wouldn't get an automatic gearbox for any amount.

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Micra S manual: 7.7 L/100 km ... 36.6 mpg (Imp) ... 13.0 km/L ... 30.5 mpg (US) ...


  12. #10
    Administrator MetroMPG's Avatar
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    FYI, the forum log is online now: http://micra-forum.com/mgarage.php

    And it's backed up nightly. (Maybe you mean an export feature?)

    Also, "fleet" stats are going to be messed up by drivetrain differences. For the current gen, there's 1.2L n.a & 1.2L supercharged, 1.5L n.a. & 1.6L n.a., then 5-speed manual, CVT and conventional automatic. Fuelly does some good things, but sorting results by drivtrain is not a strong point.

    Once we get some more data in our log, I'll be breaking it down in interesting ways.


        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Micra S manual: 5.0 L/100 km ... 56.5 mpg (Imp) ... 20.0 km/L ... 47.0 mpg (US) ...


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