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We have filled up three times, driving more than 300 miles each time, filling up only when the tank is close to empty. Here are the results:
25.35 MPG
25.72 MPG
26.22 MPG
This is mostly highway/suburban/rural driving, although it includes a daily commute into downtown Cincinnati.
I would also caution people on gauging fuel economy based on a limited number of miles driven per tank. The margin of error can be substantial if you're determining MPG from only a few gallons of gas. It is more accurate if you can provide MPG numbers when using 12/13/14 gallons.
You state that you haven't seen anyone come close to 29MPG. Apparently you must have missed my post just a few days earlier!!!
I got just over 26MPG...in mixed driving (with speed over 80MPH at times)...with a V6!!!
Therefore, if I were to drive pure flat highways at 65MPH, I would certainly pick up another 2-3MPG. Which put me right at the 29MPG...with a V6!!!
I have no doubt the previous poster managed 29MPG in an I-4. It can be done without much effort.
However, gas mileage is HUGELY dependant on driving style, as well as type of driving (city/hwy), and other factors (hills, # of stoplights, traffic, ect). Two people, driving the exact same vehicle, can get wildly different MPG numbers.
We're over 1000 miles on our V6 4WD and on our 4th tank of gas. Just filled up yesterday and got 25.?? MPG. Keep in mind, this is mixed driving with a daily commute into downtown Cincinnati.
When I drive, I always accelerate easy from a stop and anticipate stops by getting off the gas and coasting, which I think has a huge effect on mileage.
On a regular basis, I find myself next to someone at a light. When the light turns green, they accelerate like a mad man, while I gently get up to speed (and eventually pass them). Then at the next red light, they wait until about 50 feet from the intersection before they mash on the brakes, while I've noticed the red light and coast to a stop.
Also, I average about 70-75MPH on the highway, but I'll drive much faster if need be. On the last tank of gas, I had it up to 90+MPG to get around a goofball driver, yet I still managed over 25MPG.
The point is, you can achieve good fuel economy by just driving sensibly, although you definitely don't have to baby it to average 25+MPG.
Also, I have been trying different brands of gas to see if my RAV4 will get better mileage. The only tank of Shell gas resulted in under 20 mpg, and it wasn't much better with Marathon. Speedway gas returned decent highway mpg but fair city mpg. I seem to get the best city mpg with BP. For those who average good or excellent mpg, do you have a preferred brand of gas? I only use 87 octane or regular unleaded gas.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
I will check tire pressure...again! Also, I will change the oil to OW-20 if I don't already have it in there. Any tips or comments would be appreciated. Thanks.
In essences you must do the pre-wire yourself (or dealer) with an OEM wiring harness from the fuse box down through the tunnel to the receiver. This is a rip-off!
Thanks, Nitecap in Arizona
The reason, I chose this car was because it seemed to offer more benefits in the long run for the money... My honda civic hatchback rarely needed any extra maintenance and lasted 16 years with over 130, 000 miles... and still I got better gas mileage than my Toyota RAV 4... GAS is outrageously priced today...
Consistently, I am paying over $40 to fill my tank... the gas mileage advertised at 25- 30 mpg...With that thought in mind, I decided to give it a shot... Instead of purchasing a SCION or another smaller car...
Boy, did I make a mistake...
It is a JOKE driving this car... and believing the so called experts who rated this car, they should be embarrassed... But, of course.... all they want to do is SELL cars...
Well...I THOUGHT WRONG... Although, I baby this car and love it...Unfortunately, I have never gotten over 21 mpg... Which is disgusting... Since, I cannot afford to DRIVE it now... Because, I cannot afford the GAS... I expected at least 25 mpg... The very least... I may have to sell this car and take a LOSS now... that sucks royally... Not to mention, I had to take back to the dealer 4 times to repair the steering column... They broke that when they installed an alarm system...Oh, also, if you hear buzzing in your MP3 player, they are willing to install a filter... The dealership just realized that the music WINDS when you accelerate....
You know, when I bought my HONDA....I got the mileage that they said, "I would".... I don't get it...
Really, I should have stayed with HONDA... they have never failed me yet..AGAIN...WHAT WAS I THINKING...
When you find something great, you should stay with it...
LOYALTY...pays off.....
This is an example of how Toyota's "infallibility" is working against it.
As far as a Honda - I think if you check the CRV forum you will find about the same #'s as folks reporting on the RAV4 forum. I have seen some 07 CRVers claiming 17-18 in stop and go, and as high as 29-30 on the highway. CRV EPA is 20/26.
One final thought, at $3.00 per gallon gas, the difference between 21 vs 25 mpg over 100,000 miles is $2, 285 dollars. Selling your RAV and losing the initial depreciation is probably not financially sound.
Anyone out there i can compare MPG with? Would appreciate the response. Thanks!!
BTW 300 pounds would cost you 1 mpg at most...even for a 3rd "roll".
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating -- GVWR (lb.) (2WD/4WD)
4-cylinder models 4430/4535
with third-row seats 4730/4865
That's 330lbs extra for a V4 AWD with 3rd roll. Back to my question of loosing 2MPG because this. Anybody out there that can confirm this?
Chuck
The 2008 V6 AWD EPA rating is 19 city, 26 highway. One more reason I could not resist the V6...
Nothing wrong with pushrod engines, a big 'ol Buick LeSabre gets 29-30 highway with a 3.8 liter pushrod engine.
I had to take it back Wednesday, when the Washer fluid wouldn't squirt. (It was about minus 15 Celsius overnight).
Sure enough, someone (the Japanese, the service manager was quick to say) had added water to the bottle!
I had to leave the RAV overnight so that it would thaw, and the dealership rented a car for me (2008 Camry - nice, but I wouldn't trade!). I got the phone call at 9:00 a.m. this morning, and picked up my RAV.
Lovely! Everything worked!
I'll put some kilometres/miles on it and then do some careful checking for gas consumption, before I post. My wife and daughter are taking a trip to the East coast in the summer, so the results of that should be interesting, although they will drive in Toronto, Montreal (shudder) and Quebec City.
This is an excellent thread. Here's my two-cents: I've been driving since 1959, and I've always believed that the way you drive is the biggest factor in mpg.