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Comments
I didn't drive it much, OD is at about 300.
I drive very conservatively, but not too much that I slow the traffic down. I've seen about ~45 on highway and little bit lower on city.
My brother who swears he drives VERY conservatively only gets 37 mpg out of the same car.
I'm with you. I went from an Accord (my last 6 cars were Accords) to the Elantra and find that it steers easier and brakes nicer than the Accord, has less road noise, the interior is fine for the three of us, and the new styling is nice. Sites such as Edmunds and Consumer Reports like the Elantra. So I like the car but have been sadly disappointed by the mpg. But it is fun to drive and I'm pleased with my choice. Can't cry over spilled milk especially when the whole carton didn't spill.
Hope all is well with you,
Rudy
I have struggled to just get to 31 mpg highway..now look i do drive fast but i also feel like i cant idle in traffic and can't drive locally where i get stuck at multiple red lights...because then i only get 27 or 28 mpg's....very disappointed in the MPG also...
Of course also my radio broke to the poitn where it works..but the digital display on it that tells you what station is on just says "Loading" constantly...so i have to figure out which station I am on based on memorization..( which i am good at thank God).
I brought it to the dealer and wouldnt u know..the warranty for the radio was only 36,000 miles of which i was over already, yet they put on the invoice that the radio is defective..i complained to the headquarters, since they call me every day after i go to the dealer for service and i told them that that was BS...
dont listen to their diatribe about the 10 yr, 100,000 warranty....it is all BS...they look for a reason to say it isnt covered under warranty..and there are little things that are not 10 yr, 100,000....some things are 3 yrs, 36,000 ( liek my radio) , others are 5 yrs, 50,000 miles, etc....
next car will probably be a honda or toyota....done with hyundai....i was very disappointed...
So you drive fast, idle in traffic and stop at multiple red lights... and expect to get 33 mpg?? :surprise: The EPA highway rating is just that... what you should be able to get DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, at around the speed limit (EPA tests aren't done at high speeds). If you are idling, the mpg then is ZERO. When you are stopped at a red light, the mpg is ZERO. And the mpg suffers when accelerating... as when you are starting up from a red light. Under those conditions, upper 20s isn't bad for a car with an EPA rating like yours.
If you want to see what your car can do on the highway, try this: find a stretch of relatively flat highway a few miles long, one that you can drive on without slowing or stopping. Get on the highway, get up to the speed limit, reset the mpg meter, turn on the cruise control, and drive that several miles at a constant speed. Then turn around and drive in the other direction (evens out effects of hills and headwinds). And see what your fuel economy is. I'll bet it will meet or even beat the EPA highway rating.
Here's what you lose during a lifetime of driving, if you won't peddle your car slowly. In 600,000 miles of driving at 30 MPG, you'll use 20,000 gallons. If you get 20% less MPG or 24MPG if you are a leadfoot, you'll use gallons or use 5000 gallons more. At $3.50 per gallon, you'll pay $17,500.
Please..... throw $17,500 on the floor right now & I will pick it up & put it in my bank to use for my pleasure. Leadfooters are sinners against themselves AND against their families.
In terms of the new Elantra not hitting the EPA numbers I also have not found that to be true. I'm averaging 35.7 mpg based upon my manual fuel economy records (reported on the fueleconomy.gov site). This is all 10% ethanol as mandated by WA state and there isn't anything special about my driving or circumstances. It is a mix of highway, traffic (Seattle) and A/C use in Aug. I drive reasonably but not like a grandma. My high was 45mpg in I-5 driving from Vancouver, WA --- north of Seattle. My low... around 30 mpg in city/neighborhood driving.
I have the 6-spd automatic transmission.
If you treat the accelerator like an egg you don't want to break you will get better MPG - Duh!! However, if you do that while trying to merge onto the freeway you're going to cause an accident while you creep up to highway speed and merge with faster traffic. Some where on the monroney(sp) sticker you'll find two sets of MPG numbers. One set in larger print (29/40) and one in smaller print (24/??). In real life you will probably get closer to the smaller numbers.
I like my Elantra, but not for the gas mileage. I could have done as well with my 11 year old BMW 3 series with an inline 6. The Elantra is lighter with a smaller engine and yet it really isn't competitive in an apples to apples comparison of performance and MPG. If I'd driven my BMW like I drive my Elantra I'd have gotten very similar MPG (+/- 3mpg). As it was I got 24-25mpg driving it like I wanted.
My actual MPG is less than what the trip computer shows. When I got 31.6mpg doing the math the computer showed me with 34.7mpg. On this last tank with mostly city driving running around town I got 26.3mpg versus 27.7 on the computer. I'm always thinking about my driving style and MPG when in the Elantra and I don't like that. I've never had to struggle so hard to get the advertised MPG. In the effort to get the MPG I think it should get I find it's not as much fun to drive the Elantra even though it's got fun written all over it.
FYI - On my car the range display goes to zero when I go below 30 miles to go. I didn't find this in the manual, but the last bar on the gas gauge starts flashing when you are really getting low on gas.
I have the 2011 Elantra Limited. I drove conservatively for the most part
Over 10,500 miles since January 3rd on the car, of 70/30 highway/city driving and I have averaged overall 30.2mpg over those miles. Total gas cost was $1164 at an avergae of $3.36/gallon (0.11 per mile cost broken down)
Best mileage was 36.6 on a full tank straight highway run at 70-75mph.
Worst full tank mileage was 26.9, mostly stop and go urban in winter time, bad traffic.
the advertised mpg is wildly optimistic. 25/34 is more realistic. The trip computer estimates are anywhere from 1-2mpg too high. Dont expect what the computer tells you
MPG is about 1 mpg higher with the middle grade of gas versus the regular.
I like this car a lot, but feel somewhat betrayed by the advertising on the MPG and the fact this car never gets that. Great features though, and I got it before the dealers started gouging people. then again, I bought this in January when it was still fairly brand new.
Don't be expecting high MPG. 33 mpg overall would be VERY good unless you only drive highway.
I got my wife a BMW 328xi. For pure driving enjoyment, I prefer her car much much more. But the Elantra is a good little commuting car with nice features for the price.
If they put a turbo engine in the Elantra, it would be a great little car... (hint hint Hyundai)
RS
I'm pretty much doing almost all city driving these days and in DC even hwy driving is stop and go. I have a 3.5 mi commute to work, 25-35-45 post mph. I've also added a spare tire (I've already had one unrepairable nail in one of my Hancooks and had to buy a new tire 3 weeks in) I'm getting between 24-28 per fillup and I have actually been able to occasionally see higher readings (after a fuelup or after resetting the MPG meter) in the 30's city and even got to a 40.1 on the hwy a while back. I'm keeping the ECO on and have managed to learn how to keep acceleration in the green so to speak. There is definitely a lot of idling at stop lights/traffic and I was for a while at least putting the car in to park or turning off the engine and coasting downhill in N. I keep reading about how continuing to "shift" back to park in an automatic is bad for the clutch but it really makes no sense to me. Is the gear box so much shabbier than a manual trans that using it wears it out faster? Any comments on that? I "think" that I was getting better MPG by turning off the car at long lights (which seems to be a consensus) but was "worried" about "wear and tear" on thec lutch by shifting to park at long lights. Am I worried about nothing?
Thanks,
Jeff
If you are bent on turning off the engine at lights, maybe you should have gotten a car that does that for you, e.g. a Prius. I hear the new Kia Rio will have an auto-stop option also.
I see you have a M/T which may account for some of your better gas mileage. You make my point though. The car trains you how to drive it. The point is that I could get better gas mileage with any car driving the way the Elantra requires. From my research it appears the Honda Civic gets better MPG with varied drivers. So why buy a Hyundai for better gas mileage?? To a certain degree I do blame the car.
I had no idea the tires required 44psi. That sounds like a lot.
Tom
I would really like to know more about the algorithm that the trip computer uses, I think I'm getting about 33 MPG combined city and highway driving. Also, after a "trip" of a few hundred miles, that is, when I have not bothered to re-set the trip computer at all, my MPG hovers between 33 MPG and 35 MPG. I'm happy, I was looking for a car that got at least 30 MPG, and I have it, but would REALLY prefer to be kissing 40 MPG on a regular basis.
Also, have you heard stories about how Hyundais engines give you better MPG as they are "broken in"? I find that hard to believe. I expect a car's MPG performance to decline gradually and almost imperceptibly over the years, as the engine accumulates more wear and tear. Thoughts are encouraged and appreciated. John V. Karavitis
Believe it. It's true. I know because I've experienced it on the two Hyundais (both Elantras) I purchased as new cars, a total of 13 years of car ownership between the two of them. Also I've read many reports from Hyundai owners, including Elantra owners, testifying that mpg does improve as the engines "break in".
Case in point: I currently own a 2004 Elantra, purchased new in March 2004. Has about 64k miles on it now. EPA rating is 21/29. Over the years I have consistently achieved better than that, but in the past couple of years was having trouble breaking 35 mpg on the highway at 65+ mph. Then I had the 60k mile servicing done, which is extensive--new timing belt, new plugs, new filters etc. After that, the car did 37+ mpg on the highway. So maybe one reason cars' mpg declines as they age is they are not properly maintained. If you want the best possible fuel economy from your Elantra, keep it maintained including regular oil and filter changes, and keep the tire pressure at least to spec (which means visiting the air pump during times when temperature is fluctuating, as it is now--90s last weekend, 40s this weekend!).
I had no idea the tires required 44psi. That sounds like a lot.
I needed a car last year and was waiting for the then upcoming Elantra. I was excited that it was a compact sedan that will do 40mpg hwy and lots of features. Unfortunately, the timing didn't work out and I ended up buying a leftover 2010 Honda Civic LX-S with rating of 26/36 mpg as the closest to Elantra's billed hwy mpg.
I don't feel so bad now about not waiting for the Elantra. My Civic average is 34mpg, lowest 29mpg and best at 42mpg. Tires are at 32psi too.
Too bad Hyundai can't deliver consistently on the advertised mpg ratings.
How do you know it isn't? How many 2011-12 Elantras have been sold to date? Probably close to 200,000. And how many complaints have you seen re poor fuel economy?
Averaging 34 mpg on a 2010 Civic isn't too remarkable. Anyone who isn't slogging through city traffic every day and who doesn't have a lead foot can do that. I average 33-34 mpg on my 2010 Sentra in urban driving, including urban freeways, and it's EPA rated lower than the Civic. Yet for every driver like us there's probably another who has a tough commute or just likes to put pedal to the metal, and doesn't get the EPA rating. Whether it's in an Elantra or a Civic or Sentra or whatever.
Folks I've had my Elantra for 3200 miles and there are pros and cons to it. In the end when you balance all the pros and cons the one item that tilts the scales against it is the MPG. That is my opinion at this time.
Tom
Do you ever drive the car on the highway--no stops, reasonable speed? And you can't hit 34 mpg? That's very strange. I've averaged 33 mpg in the 2011 Elantra driving in 100 degree heat in city traffic and congested highways. And I wasn't trying very hard (it was a rental and I wasn't paying for the gas).
What was your previous car and what kind of FE did you get with it?
Backy, I use Fuelly and I see eighty 2011 Hyundai Elantras (477k miles tracked). The avg mpg is 31mpg which is exactly the same as the seventy Honda Civics tracked.
So if the Elantra used Honda's mpg test methodology, it would prob be rated at 26/36. Honestly, if I see a billed 40mpg hwy car, I would expect to do 46mpg highway with my driving style.
"Averaging 34 mpg on a 2010 Civic isn't too remarkable."
So what would be a car with auto that would be remarkable gas wise (over 34mpg avg), resale value wise, legroom/headroom wise, quiet ride for $16500? Sure its 34mpg average but on good weeks, I hit 38-40mpg on a sedan with 4 people, a baby and a full trunk. My last car was a Honda Fit which averaged 38mpg but never really got over 40mpg so I would say the Civic excels in highway driving and above average in city driving.
I digress, this is about the Elantra not being "remarkable" on their 40mpg hwy rating.
Why not rent an Elantra for a few days, drive it like you do your Civic, and see how it does? Then you'd have a direct comparison.
But expecting 46 mpg on the highway, regularly? That's hybrid territory. I suppose if you bought a Prius, you'd expect nearly 60 mpg in the city on a regular basis because the EPA rating is 51. Not likely, unless you're a hypermiler.
Also, the EPA dictates test methodology--not the automaker.
Fuelly as well as other mileage calculator apps/sites tracks the highs and average mpg and other things. I thought using their stats would be a solid gauge (80 cars for 2011 model) than asking a few owners their best hwy mpg. In the 2011 Elantra's case, I do see a number of
" best 40mpg highs" but then again, the 2010 Civic also has a number of "best 40mpg highs" and its rated at 36mpg/hwy.
To be fair to the Elantra, my wife's 2010 Mazda 3 with 25/33 rating only got 31mpg when I drove it for a few weeks (I usually drive 80% hwy/20% city). Our previous Subaru was also the same with not being able to meet the EPA hwy rating. Maybe its only Honda that is generous.
Trust me, I've tried to rent an Elantra. Ever tried to rent a specific car only to be given "whats available" when you get to the counter?
But expecting 46 mpg on the highway, regularly?
I was just using the Civic's 36mpg hwy rating that delivers an extra 6mpg for me on a number of occasions (I did not say regularly) as a "best hwy mpg". If the Elantra was the same, its 40mpg hwy rating would be the "constant" and "best hwy mpg" would be 46mpg.
I thought the automaker performs the mpg tests using the EPA guidelines but either way, this is irrelevant. As a consumer who is concerned about fuel costs, all I care about is the EPA sticker on the car and just wished that the hwy mpg rating is actually achievable on a consistent basis for all automakers.
I say Hyundai needs to do better with their ratings. I did shop for a Sonata before too and did not really see a lot of people hitting the 35mpg consistently either unless you buy stick and hypermile. No need to do that with my Civic.
It's not rocket science. And it's not a failing of the Elantra or Hyundais in general, in my experience. No problem getting EPA rating on the 2011 Elantra even in tough conditions. No problem exceeding the EPA ratings on the two Elantras I've owned. No problem exceeding the EPA rating on my wife's 2007 Sonata. But SHE has a problem... has a tough time getting over 22 mpg on it. But she drives almost all short distances, lots of stops/idling, and has a lead foot.
"YMMV".
If you were to drop your top speed down to no more than 60 mph, you would likely see a much more favorable number, in my opinion, and the government's, which actually does the economy testing, not Hyundai.
1.5 miles 50 MPH speed limit
6 miles 40 MPH speed limit
4 miles 45 MPH speed limit
8 miles 65 - 55 MPH speed limit expressway
1 mile city streets then up to 3rd floor in parking garage
I usually don't hit too much traffic, had to slow way down one time on the expressway. I did get it up to 70 when I first got on the expressway for a minute. I drove pretty easy on the throttle today with ECO mode on.
39.3 indicated by the time I parked in the garage. first 19.5 miles until I got off the expressway I was indicating 40.4 MPG. NO A/C this morning. I will not reset until I get home to see what the round trip holds.
I think this is about best case. I think the average would drop down to around 35 if I do a week long test. Startup and initial run up to speed will drop it down some, plus every stop light I have to slow down or stop for will drop it some.
I'm happy with mine so far.
I've been driving this car to and from school via Highway. Average speed around 70 mph. I ve yet to get ANYWHERE near 40 mpg. More like 30 mpg. This car is a total sham!!!!! My first and last Hyundai!
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litesong wrote:
Leadfooters have lead poisoning in their brain, throwing fuel away while traveling 110 feet per second. They complain their fuel costs are outrageous, & think they can turn the lead in their feet into gold MPG. Leadfooters must be sucking....... leaded gasoline.
Also, on a "huge downhill slope" you will get much better than 40 mpg, on instantaneous readout. Even on larger, thirstier cars I get 60+ mpg on huge downhill slopes. The trick is to shout "Whoo-hoo!" as you coast down (in gear) enjoying that super-high mpg.
If you are depending on 40 mpg for your budget, I recommend you start driving with a focus on fuel economy. Then if your daily commute is highway and not too many stops, and you stick to the speed limit and use a light foot, you should get real close to that 40 mpg. But it's not a "gimme", that will happen no matter how you drive.
Now, let's say I had just half a tank of gas and at the time just averaged around 26 MPG. Even if I jumped on the interstate and still drove 70-80MPH, I would probably not see 41MPG.
There are so many factors that come into play with this MPG nonsense. Sure, sometimes it's lower then what I want...sometimes, like now, it's much higher (32 MPG, but spent a lot of time on the highway). All I know is that it makes a lot of my friends incredibly jealous when I tell them my average MPG, and the fact that I only fill up once every 8 or 9 days, and when I do...it costs me just $35. I have a fantastic car...if some of you guys want to constantly complain because you aren't getting the EXACT MPG that you were expecting, then fine, so be it. Trade in your Elantra for something else, quit whining, and move on.