Ecoboost normally tests well as the test cycle stays out of the boost, but in real world usage, expect much worse mileage.
F-150 from
http://wardsauto.com/wards-10-best-engines/where-s-eco-ecoboost
2.7L EcoBoost V-6:But there’s a big problem: The observed fuel economy is not that good. The EPA says this engine should get 26 mpg (9 L/100 km) on the highway with 2-wheel drive and 23 mpg (10.2 L/100 km) on the highway with 4-wheel drive. Our 4x4 supercab never got close to that, even under a light foot.
Several editors drove the truck for 253 miles (407 km), and the trip computer displayed a low of 17.6 mpg (13.3 L/100 km) and a high of 19 mpg (12.3 L/100 km).
We checked consumption old-school (253 miles divided by 16.16 gallons [61 L] to refill the tank) and came up with an even more disappointing figure: 15.6 mpg (15 L/100 km).
Comment from the same article:
The simple fact of the EcoBoost engines being "turbo" doesn't mean that a turbocharged engine can't hit its EPA numbers in the real world. I took the same 500-mile road trip in 18 different kinds of cars (rentals, trip was for work) some turbo, some not, and cataloged the mileage I got:
http://www.jetteroheller.com/rental-car-review-gas-mileage-comparison/
I had 2 different Ford Fusion 2.0T EcoBoosts, neither of which (even when driven EXTREMELY gingerly) could come close to their advertised economy - my best tank was 26.2mpg, vs the 33mpg hwy I was meant to get.
4 other turbos I drove on the same route (Subaru WRX, Cadillac ATS 2.0T, Volkswagen Jetta 1.8T, Mercedes C250 1.8T) were able to meet or exceed their EPA numbers. So, something's fishy about how Ford is rating these, indicating they're calibrating their powertrains JUST to get nice EPA numbers.
http://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/...2753-managing-3-5l-ecoboost-fuel-economy.html
According to Michael G. Ross,
Program Manager
for the Southwest Research Institute, dynamometer testing (with PERC funding) on a Ford 3.5L EcoBoost engine showed the potential for significant improvements in engine efficiency at medium to high loads when the engine is boosted. “Under boosted conditions, the engine is very knock-limited on gasoline, especially regular gasoline,” Ross explains. “To control knock when running on gasoline, the spark timing is retarded up to 20 degrees, which causes the exhaust temperature to increase significantly.”
Ross says under those high-load conditions, the engine dumps up to 30 percent in excess fuel to reduce the exhaust temperature in order to protect the turbocharger and catalytic converters. All that fuel is wasted. This is why the fuel economy for the EcoBoost suffers so much when towing."
Did a test drive on a 3.7 yesterday and the power won't cut it in the hills of Pennsyltucky. If an empty van is lackluster, shudder to think what a loaded one would be like.