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The published EPA is 24/33.
Either problems with the car or your driving, we can't tell which.
If you are light with the gas pedal and don't have a lot of sitting at lights/stop signs, then it is the car.
At a steady speed in the 40-60 mph range, you should easily get 30+ mpg. Easy to check!!!!!!
You would do well to compare your numbers to the Consumer Reports city, highway, and overall MPG numbers when they are published.
~alpha
PS- the 4 cylinder Camry is rated at 24/33.
Everyone I have talked to that is a current or former Toyota owner has told me, "Don't be surprised if you get BETTER than the posted mileage." So, I was expecting better.
When will those be published??
Your mileage is not out of line -- you said much of it was city with long traffic lights. My '04 Camry with the same engine but 4-speed transmission gets 23 mpg in our "city," which is more like a small town. My '05 Camry with same engine and transmission as the '07 gets 21 mpg under the same conditions. Both are fully broken in.
2005 Toyota Camry 2.4 4-cyl 5-spd auto.
EPA CR EPA CR
city city hwy hwy
24 16 34 34
Look at Consumers Union's city ratings -- they are significantly lower, because they run a much tougher test than EPA.
And how do you explain that on the exact same trip, same driver, etc., I get the EPA estimate on my Honda Civic (31-32 mpg) but am 12-20% under on the Camry? (18-20 mpg) I do think that some engines come from the factory with better mileage potential than others, either because of closer tolerances, better assembly, etc. And there are other factors that could effect mileage that the dealers just don't want to take the time to locate when one complains; it's easier to just blame the driver!
I don't have all the answers, not knowing exactly how and where you drive, but I can assert that differences in transmission and differential gearing will have more of an effect than engineering tolerances or assembly quality on gas mileage (same trip, same driver). Also, was the Civic a manual transmission?
On a 5-mile trip, the engine will not even warm up fully, even if the temperature gauge is showing "normal." (Engine oil takes longer to heat than coolant.)
Yes, the EPA city AND highway tests are probably too easy, which is why the agency is considering changing their test methods.
I think you hit the nail on the head. I have read that some are having trouble with their transmissions. My brother said mine is idling too rough. He had another one just like mine come in his shop the other day and he said it was not idling rough like mine and the owner was getting good gas mileage. SOOOOO, I am taking mine in to the dealer. I am going to tell them to check whatever affects gas mileage (i.e. tire pressure, alignment, transmission, etc.) and adjust it. I will take it back until I get the mileage that I believe I should be getting. If I don't get to that point, then they are going to get me a new car!! I bought the thing to get good gas mileage and for the reliability. If I am not going to get that, then I don't want it. I used to have a Mitsubishi Galant 4 cyl. that I drove VERY hard and fast and I got GREAT mileage out of it. I also got great mileage out of my Accord which was the same horsepower and size engine as this Camry. So, I don't want to hear the excuse that it is my driving that is the reason for the poor gas mileage.
You said your husband got 32.5 mpg on a recent all-highway trip, really the same as the EPA highway rating of 33. And I bet he didn't average 48 mph and limit his top speed to 60 mph like the EPA does!
If you drive "VERY hard and fast" around town, you're not likely to get the EPA city rating. In their test, the acceleration is gentle, in large part because dynamometers of the 70s (when the test was first designed) could not handle high acceleration loads.
I agree with the last poster, you're not going to get your dealer to take the car back without a huge cost penalty (enough to buy LOTS of gas).
I already posted earlier that have NOT driven this car fast or hard, so that is NOT the reason for not getting the listed mileage in the city. I have also stated that the car idles too rough and that it seems to have a fuel injection issue as it acts as if it almost wants to stall when I back off the gas and then accelerate when turning corners, etc.
Oh, yes there is!! It's called Century Buick in Huntsville, AL!! They ruined a brand new car I bought there when they put a luggage rack on the back (very crooked and leaked--no way to repair). I demanded they give me a new car and they did!!
Also, I never said I am going to go in there and say, "my car doesn't get good gas mileage, give me a new one." However, I am convinced that there is something wrong with this engine that is making the city mileage unusually low. And I am still wondering about this variable valve system that it has on it. It is my understanding, from the way my brother described it to me, that its purpose is to even out the RPM's on a trip so that you get better gas mileage. Well, what does it do when you are starting and stopping alot? As I have watched the gage that needle sure jumps around alot-goes up to 3,000 when I am accelerating on the main road on my way to work and quickly jumps back down to between 1,000 and 2,000 and stays there, if my speed is maintained. If I stop and start again, up and down goes that gage again. How can that be good?? Seems to me that it benefits the highway driving but might impede the city. Just speculating, so you armchair mechanics don't need to jump down my throat. Just makes me wonder since this is the first 4 cyl. car that I have had that has gotten such crappy city mileage.
You did say your husband got 32.5 mpg on the highway? Were you expecting 40?
Your brother doesn't seem to know very much if he thinks the VVT (variable valve timing) "evens out the rpm." The idle is "rough?" Test drive another Camry like yours (or 2 or 3, all with 4 cylinders, of course), and see if there's any difference.
Your tachometer goes up to 3000 rpm when accelerating? That's perfectly normal, and the harder you accelerate, the higher it will go before upshifting to the next gear. If you're cruising at a steady 65 mph, the tach will stay glued to the 2000-rpm mark.
If you want the rpm to stay the same in most situations, go buy a CVT (continuously variable transmission) -- the Camry Hybrid has one.
It "almost stalls?" But actually doesn't? The tranny DOES have to shift gears when you decelerate, then accelerate.
I'm finished arguing -- take it up with the dealer. However, if you are "convinced that there is something wrong with this engine," nothing he/she says or does will probably make you happy.
That's just the tachometer giving you RPM readings. Has nothing to do with VVT-I (Variable Valve Timing). Also, has nothing to do with gas mileage. When the transmission shifts up to the next gear, the RPM's will drop. Haven't your past cars had tachometers?
If the car has a rough idle, take it to the dealer and complain about the rough idle. The dealer has to fix that under warranty. If whatever is causing the rough idle is also causing poor city MPG, then your problem will be fixed.
Also, if you always use the same brand of gasoline, try switching for several tankfuls to some other brand, preferably a well known one like Mobil or Valero.
Keep us posted.
I learned something tonite!!!!!!!!!!
VVTi increases the efficiency, power and torque of the engine throughout the RPM range by advancing or retarding the intake valve opening and duration.
Your rpm drop is either because you let up on the accelerator or the transmission shifted to a higher gear.
Did most of you who got the 4 do so just to save gas?
Also, the '07 Camry gained about 100 pounds compared to its predecessor, but the 4-cylinder is by no means overtaxed.
I base this not only on everyday driving but also on my December Los Angeles to Virginia run, with 3 adults aboard and a full load of luggage (in the back seat and trunk). The car ('04 Camry LE with 4-cylinder and 4-speed auto) had absolutely no problems climbing mountain grades (we largely avoided the interstates), and we still got 30.3 mpg overall for the length of the trip.
This car gets up to 38 mpg on typical interstate trips with 2 people and a small amount of luggage.
I plan my whole day/life around the following 'note-to-self" personal LA freeway guide:
Midnight - 6am - Hot damn, the freeway's clear-GO!
6am - 10 am: bring a book and some good cd's, you'll be inchin' along for quite some time.
10am - 2pm : GO GO GO!
2pm - 7pm: as for 6am
7pm-midnight: as for 10 am
It might sound funny - i wish i were joking! But i'm not
29.11 actual 28.9 trip computer
40% city.
for over 2,000 miles:
26.41 actual, about 60% city.
Filled up yesterday. Loaded up with 4 male golfers and 4 cart bags, shoes, etc.
Drove 67 and 77 mph and trip computer is reading 32.1 mpg for 150 miles.
No problem on hills holding the set cruise speed.
I must say that I am quite shocked to see this kind of mileage so early (around 700 miles on the odometer). I do fill up at the same station, and use Exxon 87 octane. I sure hope the numbers don't go down after a few thousand miles from now. with this kind of mileage, combined with the smoothest riding car I ever owned, this car is turning out to be some kind of blessing for me.
My definition of city driving is less than 40 mph speeds with stop signs/lights every 5-10 blocks. No expressways, freeways, limited access roadways.
The 27 mile one-way drive will help, because the car gets fully warmed up and then some. Now, this must include some uncongested freeway driving?
Having never been to Texas except for the northern panhandle, I have no idea what your commute might be like.
I also doubt he is driving on 35 mph or less city streets for the whole trip.
I would ask what the average speed was if he had a trip computer.
How long does it take to drive the 27 miles from key-on to key off?
I used a pocket mpg calculator that I've had for some time now, and the online one that someone recently posted here. They are almost the same by about one mile difference.
I just traded in my Prerunner for this car, and it took about two years to finally get the mpg it was supposed to get. Can't understand why this one would be so high so soon. I'll keep checking for about the next month to see if there's any difference.
I had a feeling not too many people would believe this. Kind of made me wonder if I should post it at all. I hope those who are not getting the mpg they hoped for, will be getting it soon.
The biggest factors affecting fuel economy: hard acceleration and braking, high cruising speeds, and nonuse of cruise control.
The biggest factors affecting fuel economy: hard acceleration and braking, high cruising speeds, and nonuse of cruise control.
Find the whole story within this series -- scroll back several pages.
Last tank:
Trip meter - 29.9, Actual 28.41 mpg
7 tank Avg:
Trip meter - 27.9, Actual 26.74 mpg
456 miles on last tank, below Empty indicated and -10 miles on range.
50-60% Highway.
My lowest tank was 24.56 mpg , highest 29.11.
'07 Camry XLE V6, 4638 miles:
Last tank:
Trip meter 31.0 Actual 29.44 mpg
10 tank avg:
29.42 mpg
lowest 27.32 mpg highest 31.32
All tanks about 90 to 95% highway, steady 65 to 70 mph.
If you do a calculation to predict your rough mileage based on strict city/highway percentages, not taking into account the other many variables, a 90% highway percentage in a car getting 22/31 EPA would give us 30.1 mpg which is pretty close to what I actually get.
1st Fill up: 18.83 mpg
2nd Fill up: 18.48 mpg
3rd Fill up: 18.45 mpg
4th Fill up: 17.50 mpg
Southern California area, 60/40 city/highway
as you can see, it's steadily getting worse and worse as time passes, with the last fill up being a pretty big difference from the one before. And thats surprising, since I've been extremely careful with my driving on the last fillup, moreso than the previous ones. I am no longer able to get even close to 280 miles on the tripometer from full to when the fuel light comes on, more like between 250-260 miles and thats including driving with no fast acceleration or hard braking and driving alone.
I know 210delray doesn't think there's anything wrong with my numbers, especially with the traffic around SoCal. But you know, my friend has the 06 version of my car, also lives in SoCal, drives A LOT worse than I do and consistently has people in his car...yet right from the start he's been getting around 400 miles per fill up or even better some times. And i know, the 07 version is heavier but I think toyota would take that under consideration when posting their fuel economy numbers for the new one.
You got that one right. BTW, on our last fill up of our '05 Camry 4 cyl 5A, we only got 20.8 mpg -- virtually all short-trip, in town driving. And we're in a small town, not a huge metropolis like SoCal.
Meanwhile, on my commute to work with the '04 Camry 4 cyl 4A, I'm averaging nearly 30 mpg over 3 tanks, but my commute is mostly highway and counter to the main flow of traffic.
So, try taking your car on a trip to the high desert, past Victorville and up to Owens Lake. Beautiful scenery you've got, and that should improve your mileage!