Visualizing Fuel Efficiency Deviation

I created a diverging bar chart showing how each car's MPG compares to the dataset average of 20.09. Blue bars indicate above-average performers, coral bars show below-average ones. The zero line marks the mean, making deviations immediately visible.

This chart reveals clear differences between groups: fuel-efficient compact cars cluster on the right (Toyota Corolla at +13.8 MPG) while heavy luxury vehicles dominate the left (Cadillac Fleetwood at 9.7 MPG). The deviation from the benchmark is the chart's core feature: the sorted arrangement and contrasting colors let you spot outliers instantly, which connects to Yau's point about making interesting data points stand out. The color coding does the heavy lifting here, letting viewers categorize performance without reading every number. 

The biggest challenge was the overlapping car names along the x-axis; they're hard to read in places. More importantly, the chart shows which cars deviate but not why. Adding variables like cylinder count or weight might explain these patterns, though that would sacrifice the simplicity that makes quick comparisons possible.




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