With the 2015 Ford Mustang EcoBoost, the Blue Oval has finally come back around to offering a turbocharged four-banger in America’s most popular muscle car. In addition to 310 horsepower and a flat power curve, the EcoBoost engine also offers the best fuel economy of any modern Mustang, with the EPA rating it at up to 22 MPG in the city and 32 MPG on the highway. Labrotory ratings are one thing, but what about in the real world?

Cars.com set out to see if the 2015 Mustang EcoBoost could live up to its fuel economy ratings, and it actually exceeded the published ratings in many cases…as long as one goes easy on the gas pedal, that is. During several road trips, Cars.com writer Joe Bruzek observed fuel economy in the mid-30s, and managed to average as high as 27.8 MPG with a manual transmission, eclipsing the 26 MPG combined rating by nearly 2 MPG.

That was during the course of “normal” driving, with speeds hovering between 60 and 70 MPH on the highway and dipping below 30 MPH thanks to the inescapable traffic congestion around Chicago. This was with the optional Performance Package too, allowing Mustang EcoBoost drivers to dip into a deep well of performance when wanted, while still being plenty capable of delivering civilized fuel economy numbers. Our own Don Creason experienced similarly impressive fuel economy figures during his own time with the 2015 Mustang EcoBoost.

.Then there’s the black sheep of the 2015 Mustang family, the 3.7 liter V6. Once heralded as a sign that base model muscle cars no longer need sacrifice any pretense of performance. Ford has since detuned both power and fuel efficiency to make room for the 2.3 liter EcoBoost. Despite once being rated at 31 MPG on the highway with the six-speed automatic and boasting 305 horsepower, the base V6 is now good for just 28 MPG and 300 horsepower.

The future of the six-banger isn’t looking too bright. But with the 2.3 liter EcoBoost delivering more power and better fuel economy, we’re not sure many people will be all that broken up about it.