My 98 2.5 5 speed gets a consistant 26.5 to 27 mpg in a mix of 80% stop & go & 20% highway driving. Strictly highway it might pull 29-30. If these cars had a real overdrive that would drop the rpm's to 2200 or so at 65 (instead of 2900 or so) I'm sure 35 mpg would be no problem. The engine has more that enough power to pull a taller overdrive.
