The vehicle is underpowered, and as soon as it shifts out of overdrive, 
the gas mileage goes to poor. Lot's of vehicles today come with some 
sort of 4wd, you don't say which one and which powertrain 
(engine/transmission). One of the fallacies is that big engines don't 
get good gas mileage. The big engine will stay loafing at low RPM in 
overdrive up and down the hills where it can get excellent mileage. A 
plus is the performance is be able to get around those low powered 
vehicles going up the hills when they are well below the speed limit, 
and there is a short passing zone. The Bronco with a 351 C.I.D. (5.8L)  
SEFI V-8 which cruises at 65  mph @ 1700 RPM, weighs 5300 lbs. empty 
normally gets 18 mpg @ 75- 80 mph, and has seen 24 mpg on a 700 mile 
trip.  This is a vehicle that will do 0 -60 in 9 seconds, and the 
computer limits it to 106 mph, but it gets there quickly. The Cougar 
with a Cleveland 2.5L Duratec 24V DOHC is a high revving (6500 rpm 
redline)  engine, but with it's power also, rarely near that rpm. It 
gets 30+ mpg in the 75 -80 mph range. It also is around 0- 60 9 second, 
and we don't know what top is, it's been several times to 110 mph easily.
> I think your comparing a "sports" auto with the average family car.
> My father has a new ford 4wd thing. As soon as you think about
> accelerating it changes down 3 gears and rev's the ass out of the engine.
> Which is pointless because you just wanted to go up a slight hill.
>
> However if you want to overtake and floor it, it still changes down 3
> gears (eventually), revs the ass out of the engine and then when it gets
> its act together the car actually starts moving.
>
>
>    
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