Do you get more MPG with a turbo engine?

Well, yes and no. Turbocharged vehicles allow automakers to keep power output high while they downsize engines for better fuel economy. But much of the mpg gain is lost when American drivers stomp the gas pedal and enjoy turbos' high performance.

Which is better for fuel economy turbo or unboosted?

In Emissions Analytics’ testing, turbo vehicles beat their EPA labels by a slim margin on average (0.6 percent), and they also fared better than unboosted models, which fell short of their EPA marks by an average of 2.3 percent. Stop-and-go traffic dragged down turbocharged engines, but it did the same thing to naturally aspirated powertrains, too.

Which is better a turbo engine or a nonturbo engine?

Moreover, in some cases nonturbo engines can get higher fuel economy than turbocharged engines. Honda quietly dropped the 2.4-liter four-cylinder turbo engine in the 2013 Acura RDX and replaced it with a bigger nonturbo engine that gets better fuel economy.

How does a turbocharger affect the fuel economy?

The turbine runs an air pump that blasts a denser mixture of fuel and air into the engine's cylinders, enabling a smaller engine to deliver more power. But when the turbocharger is running, fuel economy declines, sometimes dramatically.