What's up with the "Sport" model?

[Go4it]

I have a deposit down on a 1999 Explorer Sport and I was hoping the shorter length and manual trasmission would translate into better gas mileage than the full size Explorer. Well from the specs I found listed online (www.carsdirect.com) the Sport model has a 10" shorter length and shorter wheelbase, but when compared to the 4 door Explorer with the same engine (4.0 SOHC) and drivetrain (manual and 4x4) the Sport is heavier had has worse gas mileage! What's up with that?? I should just get the 4 door behemoth!!

Anyone drive a Sport (2 door) and can comment on the gas mileage?

Thanks.

 

[03ExplorerSPT]

I have an '03 Sport with the same engine but auto tranny. I get 15MPG here in AZ at school, 13MPG at home (much more idleing at home), and 20+MPG on the highway. You will be amazed with the highway mileage you can get. My 20+ is doing 80MPH.

 

[celly]

I dunno, but the Sport kicks ass, especially with some basic mods such as air intake, a performance chip and new exhaust. I've owned three Sports and could never bring myself to scoring a 4 door, even when my son arrived.

 

[Rhett]

Well from the specs I found listed online (www.carsdirect.com) the Sport model has a 10" shorter length and shorter wheelbase, but when compared to the 4 door Explorer with the same engine (4.0 SOHC) and drivetrain (manual and 4x4) the Sport is heavier had has worse gas mielage! What's up with that??

Sounds like you're gettin some bad info

If carsdirect.com says that a Sport is heavier than a 4-door, then they're full of hot air. That's simply incorrect. If carsdirect.com says that a Sport gets worse gas mileage than a 4-door with the same engine, then they are also full of hot air on that. That is also incorrect.

Now. About gas mileage. Many 2nd gen Sports came with smaller gas tanks than the 4-door trucks did. So, this translates into less range but the mileage is about the same. A SOHC Sport will get about the same mileage as a 4-door truck. The weight difference is not much, but a Sport is lighter.

 

[Ritsui]

Gear ratio may be a factor. I don't know any stats, but I imagine Sports would be more often ordered with 4.10 gears. All else being equal, a higher gear ratio will translate to poorer mileage on the highway.

 

[Monty]

I filled up for the first time monday, I have gotten 220 Miles on this tank and still have nearly a 1/4 tank left. I am extremely pleased with that for an SUV....

 

[BigDakota]

I can average about 21mpg on the highway trips with my Sport...sometimes a couple more.....and of course..a couple less!!!!!!!!

 

[HockeyStud852]

I have an '01 Sport. I get about 16 MPG with mostly city driving plus a little highway.

 

[MONMIX]

I have a 2000 Sport V6 SOHC
I get between 240 & 260 miles to a 17.5 tank.

According to my computer that is 18 to 20 MPG ( I think )

 

[Runnin'OnEmpty]

My 2000 Sport gets about 19 mpg in town, and about 21-22 mpg on the highway. It's an OHV, with a free-flowing Hooker AeroChamber muffler.

I agree that the Sports are lighter, and get better mpg. Where they really excell though, is in parking lots; they're much easier to park and handle.

 

[TTG]

And don't forget they're better for smoking ricers. They might be pushing the same horsepower as me after a buncha mods(I have the 4.0 OHV), but I still have nearly double their torque stock. I burn my ricer friends bad.

I get OK mileage, probabl 18-21 mpg depending on how much an ass I drive like(I enjoy my 220 torque too much)

 

[Brian_B]

The last time I checked mine it was 19.56 MPG, but that was before I got my SCT flaher back from Doug. I am still playing.

 

[silverfords2001]

Ive got an 01 sport sohc 66,000 miles and i get just at 17.5mpg 90% highway. My only mod is K&N drop in. I just got new tires/Allignment, so we will see.


EDIT: 4X2

 

[Kirby N.]

Might have something to do with the SOHC engine and the OHV engine? The SOHC 97 four door my friend had was a ton faster than the OHV in mine (93). I thought late model 4 doors only come with the SOHC and late model 2 doors have OHVs or SOHCs? Could be wong though (not the first time). I like the 2 door for 4xing since it is shorter, but if it were the same size (like the Jeep cherokee 2 and 4 doors) I would have a four door. flipping up the seat gets old.

 

[Go4it]

Hey thanks for all the input. There does seem to be a wide range of GM figues reported. I'm guessing the stats I read were messed up too. Hopefully it wont be too bad, I drive a lot in town and the way things are going gas is probably gonna be $300 buy the end of summer. The thing does rock though, looks awesome and yes I will be giving the 4wd a workout.

 

[jayhawkexplorer]

Pretty much, you can plan on getting 14 in the city and 19 on the highway with the 4.0 OHV, and 15-16 and 21 or so with the SOHC engine. The numbers vary based on driving style, mods, small differences like gearing, etc. but the basic mileage is around those numbers.

 

[96limitedX]

What's up with that?? I should just get the 4 door behemoth!!

LOL you consider 4 door Xs behemoths..they are tiny compared to what i drive some of the time. try a crew cab long bed f-350 4x4 in a packed parking lot. the 4 door is like a GEO metro after you learn that stuff lol

 

[mcG]

on my 97 sport (SOHC, auto, ~98k) i get about 220 or so miles per tank. this is mostly city driving. if i take it slow, use CC and drive on highways its much higher obviously. i'm really glad i went with the sport...

 

[DeathsArrow]

I get about 19 average with my 98 sport, mostly highway too. Which translates to about 275 miles or so to a tank.

 

[Silver X]

My '01 Sport averages around 14mpg with 90% city driving. I don't exactly take it easy though. My last all highway trip averaged 18mpg with the cruise control set at 87mph most of the way. I could probably hit 20mpg if I tried a little harder.