I picked up our new travel trailer over the weekend. It is about 1800 pounds dry. Will be less than 2500 wet and loaded. I find the Ascent can tow this no problem but I am disappointed with the fuel mileage. Initially, I was going around 65 MPH and the consumption was 13 MPG. Then I reduced my speed down to 59 MPH and the consumption improved to 14 MPG. I wasn't expecting this at all and it could be because I didn't know better.
We used to have a 20-feet GM Express conversion van and I was getting significantly better with the V-6, even when carrying (not towing) my motorcycle. I may try 91/93 octane instead of 87 to see whether the difference makes sense financially.
I love the Ascent. It is a very nice car. Well executed. I may have looked at other options in addition to the Ascent if I had known. We bought a 5-year / 75000 extended warranty so I will keep it that long if nothing bad happens until then.
Maybe SUV's are not made for towing even when they are marketed that way. Nothing like a good V-6 with a real transmission!
The new high tech small turbo gas engines generate power via more air and fuel being burned. Todays engines have reached the maximum energy output of the fuel.
If you plan on long trips towing a draggy trailer and want mileage? The best possible option are the small 2.8-3L diesels for one a gallon of diesel contains 30% more energy than a gallon of gas. So right off the top your getting 30% more power out of each gallon than a gas engine vehicle.
The lower tech older larger engines like my small 4.7L V8 Sequoia gets between 14-16mpg even with our 1800 lb boat the trucks drag was far worse than the boat. A 6x12 uhaul box dropped it to 10-12 mpg the drag being the major negative.
If my wife would allow my top choice for a tow / road trip rig would be the 2.8L diesel GMC Canyon owners report 15-16mpg towing 4500-5000lb big boxy travel trailers. Many see 20+ with less draggy trailers. No trailer 30+ mpg is very common unless your running 70+mph.
The Ascent when not towing is going to post really competitive mileage but towing boxy draggy trailers its going to burn very similar fuel amounts as other small displacement gas engines simply given they all need to generate roughly the same power to haul the trailer regardless of brand or engine type.
The ford 2.3DIT Turbo in the new Ranger will probably post 13-15mpg towing the same trailer the Ascent tows at 15-16. The only big mileage gap will be with the small diesel offerings. Which will do 18-20mpg where the gas engines are doing mid teens.