thought this was funny

Didn't the 318 get better mpg aimply because it could make more power with less throttle?

Reminds me of how the 4 banger silverado get worse mph than the v8.

Yeah, some cars or trucks are doomed to crappy mileage simply because the engine is poorly matched for the use of the vehicle. If you have to constantly mash the throttle to keep up with traffic or pull a load, it's not enough engine for the job. IMO the best engine would be the one that can do the job at part throttle and maintain speed with very light throttle.