2013 Scion Fr - S review - Mpg test drive

I’m Dan Gray for MPGomatic.com and this is a Scion FR-S The 2013 Scion FR-S is powered by a 2.0-liter Boxer four-cylinder engine - codeveloped by Toyota and Subaru - that produces 200 horsepower (HP) and 151 foot pounds of torque. The rear-wheel-drive (RWD) FR-S is available with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. The official fuel economy estimates for the 2013 Scion FR-S are 22 city / 30 highway miles per gallon for the manual and a significantly higher 25 / 34 for the automatic. With just a long weekend to test our automatic-equipped Ultramarine FRS review unit, we managed to travel more 300 miles and blew past the official mileage estimates, scoring an average of 41.6 MPG on the Interstate highway and 34.1 MPG combined with temperatures ranging from the seventies through the nineties. The automatic is noticeably slower than the manual in the sprint to sixty, as the manual provides drivers with the ability to launch at a much higher RPM. A monochrome digital display at the base of the speedometer provides average and instant fuel economy data, along with two trip meters and an ambient thermometer. Handling characteristics are superb. If you want to make the tail wag, just turn off the nannies. The six-speed automatic uses Dynamic Rev Management and delivers fast shifts. Gears can be changed manually with either the slapstick or steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. The leather-wrapped steering wheel does not include integrated controls. Aluminum pedals and scuff plates make this little sport coupe’s intent clear. Fabric covered deeply bolstered bucket seats complete the look. The standard eight-speaker 300-watt audio system includes full iPod support. Hands-free Bluetooth standard, complete with streaming audio. A 12-volt outlet is located in the open center console, while the auxiliary audio and USB inputs are at the base of the dash. As with most smaller sports coupes, rear seat room is an issue. The FR-S’ deeply sculpted rear seat can accommodate two smaller folks, with 35 inches of headroom and 29.9 inches of legroom. There are no rear seat headrests. Trunk space is tight with just 6.9 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seat up. Folding the one-piece rear seat down allows for longer items. Even so, the FRS is probably not the vehicle you want to take for that semi-monthly trip to Costco. The race track, yes. Costco, no. All-in-all, the 2013 Scion FR-S delivers an intriguing mix of sporting manners and a surprising level of fuel efficiency. The FR-S is a pure driver’s car, unfettered with a number of conveniences and luxuries that many take for granted. The lack of leather upholstery, seat heaters, GPS, and satellite radio will send many folks to the Subaru dealer for the more slightly more expensive and fully-outfitted BRZ. For more reports and reviews, come to MPGomatic.com ... where mileage matters.