Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General General The Contour is a great highway car!

Some of the MPG/listed speeds listed above seem unrealistic. I have made five, two thousand mile plus trips and never achieved the the MPG some have claimed. One trip, a '95 MTX ZETEC driving across Montana before the speed limit was reduced and my MPG dropped at higher speeds. I have been close to 30 MPG in my first SVT, and the SE, but never more than that.

The ease with which the Contour can be driven in all styles, and it's kind of 'jack of all trades' ability is what makes me love it to death (and no doubt others). It's a great car that comfortably performs.
One thing I can say that is very important to me, I have never finished a long road trip and got out and cursed for any reason. Very well balanced car, which makes highway driving a breeze!

i got about 700kms a tank on a trip from home to kingston and back. only time i did that.
Usually its 550km a tank, mostly highway and some town travel.
my only complaint about highway driving is the noise from the wind, too noisy if ya ask me

I agree one can get great mileage with the SVT cruising. I got 31 mpg cruising at 70-80 mph using only cruise control. In the mountains going from 0 elevation to 6000 ft. with A/C on, 1 passenger and a full trunk.

However, since then best I've ever done is 28 mpg.

Gas mileage depends on many things. Doing mods like exhaust, intake, spark plug wires, etc. will increase your gas mileage if you are just cruising. Tires also make a big difference. I used to get 26 mpg with my falken's, but as soon as i switched to toyos, i jumped to the low 30's. Last summer, I went to the Adirondacks in NY for a backpacking trip with a buddy, and I averaged 31.9 mpg over the whole trip. A/C was on the whole trip, and I only used cruise control about 60% of the time. A lot of time was spent cruising up and down mountain roads (I'd go up there again just to do that ) and my average cruising speed was probably 75mph. One of my housemates at school has a 4 door civic and can't even break into the 30's on the highway This is one reason I love the car

And to think the silly EPA rated the Duratec at 21/29. I laugh at those numbers. I cruise around 72 and get about 32 MPG highway. City is around 25-27 now. Tire pressure is an important factor and I stay around 32. I could go higher, but the maximum pressure on the tires is 35... And the ride is too rough.

I completely agree. I bought my former 98 SE 4 banger in northern California and would go the LONG way home from work JUST to take it through the twisties and back roads up there.
In February of 2001, we drove the car from northern Calif to southern Calif, then the next day took off on a cross country move to Charleston, SC. I decided it would be more economical to drive the Tour instead of renting a tow dolly and paying for the extra gas to tow the car behind our Explorer.
The car did BEAUTIFULLY. I had SO much fun. Just jammin and driving my Tour across the US like that.