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The key phrase is "earlier separate test". Since the manual and DCT cars were tested separately, we don't know how conditions and driving behavior compare between the two tests. What would be interesting is a comparison of the manual and DCT under exactly the same conditions--as close as is possible anyway.
Oddly, the test results reported across many magazines and tests are showing Hyundais that are coming in at or below their city ratings.
The test reports from car mags like C/D almost always have low fuel economy numbers, based on how they drive the cars. CR tends to drive cars more like normal people would, and they've reported:
Accent: 31 overall (above city rating)
Elantra: 29 overall (at city rating)
Elantra Touring: 26 overall (above city rating... actually at the EPA combined rating)
Sonata GLS: 27 overall (above city rating... actually above the EPA combined rating)
Tucson: 22 overall (at city rating)
Santa Fe: 20 overall (at city rating)
So from CR's tests at least, all the Hyundais they've recently tested at least hit the EPA city rating, and 50% exceeded the city rating.
Drive about 100 miles/day to work and have averaged about 32 mpg on winter gas in Northeast corridor.
ECO on, cruise control sometimes, other times around 80 to blend with the flow of traffic.
Based on what I've been reading here I think 40 may be possible in warmer temps, all highway etc., but I'm pretty sure it won't be happening anytime soon for me.
I took my daughter back to campus yesterday. I decided to drive on interstate at 62 mph with active ECO and cruise control. Only 90 miles roundtrip. The other 18 miles were city/suburb driving. But the computer mpg reading was at 42 mpg and rising. When I filled her up, I achieved 37.62 mpg (107.6 miles and 2.860 gals). Once again the computer reading higher than actual result achieved. Used 87 oct unleaded (non-ethanol). Was about 40-45 deg F. Two adults and 60 pounds luggage on way up; only 1 adult on way back.
Drove it 80 miles highway and 180 non highway and I averaged 24.8mpg - computer had it at 25.8.
Only got 258 miles on a tank and took 10.4 to fill up.
This past weekend when the car was averaging approx, 22.5 mpg as per the car's readout, she had to take it on a 90 mile drive that was mostly (95%) highway. The speed limit on the highway is mostly 65, and she most always did just that. (She's a very conservative driver.) She had 2 passengers for the entire trip (approx 275 lbs in addition to her weight), and the hills were minor on the first part of her trip, but there were some average to above average hills on the 2nd part of the trip. Thankfully, the FE went up to 33 mpg after she calculated it at a fill up. It seems to me that the FE is about as good as it is going to get because the breakin period is just about done. Although, I would expect, and I would hope, that it got better FE during the warmer months especially with non-ethanol gas, I rather doubt that it is going to get much better than 35-36. All in all, that's not too bad, but it remains to be seen.
We'll be taking it in to the dealer for it's 1st service soon, and we'll be asking for a fuel consumption test. I doubt that anything will be found, and if not, I, too, will be contacting Hyundai for what it is worth, if nothing changes after the car gets more tank fulls after this 1st oil change and after the warmer weather arrives. I still remain to be impressed.
The non highway miles my spouse drove over the course of a week or 2 back and forth to work and errands.
Avg temps was about 40.
The avg computed speed was 27 but I have my doubts about that being accurate.
I took the avg from 25 to 30 during my highway miles but the avg speed only went from 27 to 31. Considering there weren't many miles on the tank at that point, I thought if should have went much higher.
Not sure what the tire pressures were.
Second tank is averaging 24.0 per the computer. Coast for a half mile and it goes up .1 then lightly step on the gas and it drops .2. lol
Nothing even close to 29.
I see similar behavior on my Sentra when it hasn't been long since I reset the mpg meter. When coasting, FE is likely over 100 mpg. One key to high FE is to keep one's foot off the accelerator as much as possible.
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml
Incorrect. Read the test criteria: "Beginning with 2008 models, three additional tests will be used to adjust the city and highway estimates to account for higher speeds, air conditioning use, and colder temperatures."
It was 2007 and earlier EPA estimates (which were generally reported higher MPG) that did not exceed 60mph. High speeds, A/C, and cold weather driving were incorporated in 2008.
P.S. Steady speed driving at 70mph or more will rarely yield EPA Hwy numbers in any car. It is aimed more at what you SHOULD achieve at 65mph with a warm engine, level terrain, appropriate tire pressure, fuel, cruise on etc.
My bet is I could get 40mpg out of a new Elantra if I tried, but I don't own one. Driving 75mph I wouldn't expect more than 35mpg.
That is incorrect. It goes to 80mph and the high-speed cycle includes several starts from a complete stop running to high speeds. The parameters are changed dramatically.
Telling people they have a 60mph top speed on the 40mpg hwy test? Simply not true.
Telling people they have a 60mph top speed on the 40mpg hwy test? Simply not true.
Actually it is true. The highway test top speed is 60 mph. The high speed test has a spike to 80 mph for a short time but is not a highway only test as it is designed to also include some city-style stop and go driving during its 9.9 minute/8 mile in length test cycle!
The highway test and the high speed test both have an overall average speed of just over 48 mph. And the high speed test along with the two other new tests are used to "to adjust the city and highway estimates to account for higher speeds, air conditioning use, and colder temperatures" per the EPA.
The point I am trying to bring out is that given these EPA testing parameters, it is unlikely for anyone to expect their Elantra, or any car for that matter, to get the EPA highway mileage figure when they are driving for an extended highway stretch at speeds in excess of posted speed limits. If their average speed (not top speed) for their commute exceeds the EPA average of 48 mph by a significant amount, say by averaging 70-80 mph for 10, 20, 30 miles or more due to traffic, their fuel mileage will suffer. It's just simple physics.
What I would really like the EPA to do is come up with a testing methodology closer to what Backy usually advocates for people to try. Do an extended drive at a steady state in two directions and then check mileage. It might surprise many a person!
You need to re-read the EPA test critieria. The new EPA (in 2008) hwy numbers don't only include the hwy portion of the test. That's why they are (usually) much lower than the pre-2008 numbers that ONLY included the Hwy test you cite. The testing takes into account various factors to allow for high speed driving over long distances. That's what EPA Hwy numbers are supposed to reflect, not short commutes under 10 miles.
Most people can easily hit the EPA Hwy numbers driving 65 to 70mph on the highway. I'm basing this on actual drivers and actual cars; me, friends, family, acquaintances, etc. The EPA Hwy numbers were revised (usually 10% or more downward) after the Hwy only portion you cite was modified to reflect the other test critieria.
Again, most drivers easily hit the EPA Hwy numbers these days if driving 70 mph or less on over-the-road type driving. I'll quit beating the dead horse now. If you still think the Elantra's EPA 40 mpg Hwy estimate was obtained at under 60 mph, so be it. You're wrong.
"Typically, what we find is these are urban drivers who have a lot of time, much more time than they realize, just sitting and idling at a stop sign,” Krafcik says. “When we show them that’s much more severe than the EPA city-cycle, and that here are some tips on how you can drive the car, the light bulb goes off.”
Interesting. I suspect people do seriously underestimate the time spent at stop lights and stop signs which is why the Europeans are making a big deal about the auto stop/start feature, which I believe they include in their FE calculations but which our EPA may not? Hyundai may explore that feature in near future, esp. if other car makers add to their small fuel efficient vehicles? Guess only time will tell.
It would be interesting I think for Hyundai to offer a "high FE" version of the Elantra with the 1.6L GDI engine with auto stop/start--which is what the Rio has now. IMO 138 hp is plenty for a car of the Elantra's size and weight--it's the same or a little more than the Elantra has offered prior to the 2011 MY, and I think the 2011-12 Elantra is a little lighter than the previous two generations (mostly because the cast iron block Beta engine is gone).
Then they could also offer a sport version of the Elantra (maybe in the new coupe) with the new ~200 hp 1.6L turbo that's going into the Veloster, for those who want to go fast in their Elantras.
I used cruise at 65.
There is no way this car can even sniff 40. It was a struggle to get 30.
It looks like for every 1 person able to get 40 there are 4 other that don't come close. I'd say there is a manufacturing issue or just false claims.
I will be probably be filing a complaint soon.
Can you tell us more about how you did the test, e.g.:
* How did you measure fuel economy?
* If you used the trip computer, when did you reset the Average readout?
* What was the terrain?
* What was weather like, esp. temperature and wind?
* Did you stay at a constant 65 for both legs of the trip, or were there stops or passing?
* What were tire pressures?
* Any other passengers and/or cargo?
I started the trip computer after I had the cruise control set at 65. The stated mpg was strictly highway. I reset it in the same manner on the return trip.
The terrain was not flat. Slight grades throughout.
No wind, temps 35.
Constant 65. I had to get off the cruise just once on the return trip.
Not sure what the tire pressures are, but the car has less than 1000 miles and the tires all look fine.
2 adults and 1 child round trip. Half tank of fuel.
I made the same trip today with the same conditions and got 31.2 strictly on the highway. after this trip I had to fill up and averaged 24.5 mpg on the tank - taking miles driven / gallons pumped.
Disappointing to say the least. 22% under the highway rating.
Try using a brand name gas (I was filling up at a Giant grocery store).
My best gas mileage should start at 2500 miles or so.
I doubt I will see much improvement but I will have to wait since I just filled up yesterday.
Are the EPA ratings done with non ethanol gas - which is just about impossible to buy any more?
I love everything else about the car but I will pursue this if things don't get better. I could live with 27/36 but 50/50 driving and 24.5 - I don't think so.
I think there's merit to the comment about the FE improving as you put more miles on the car.
Do you ever drive with the instantaneous mpg readout on? You might try that (keep your eyes moving of course) and see if you can find out the sweet spots for the car. It's also instructive to see how bad FE is when starting out on a cold morning, when accelerating and using a heavy foot vs. light foot, and especially when stopped--when the readout says "0.0".
Resent the trip meter for mpg and odo before I left. Tire pressure monitor was illuminated when I got the car and stayed lit the entire trip but the tires looked and felt fine. Gas tank was full at pick-up. Driving was 90% hwy and 10% city and I covered 194 miles getting here (near Evanston, IL). Car was a 2012 Elantra GLS with 23,398 on the clock and a 6-sp auto. Typical fleet car with no additional options. In the car was me (215lbs) and about 35lbs of luggage.
I drove between 55 and 75mph the entire trip and averaged about 65mph (almost exactly 3 hours). And the answer is: 37.5 mpg. I realize I didn't calculate manually, and can't because Enterprise filled the tank previously, but I burned a little over 1/3 of a tank according to the fuel gauge, so I feel 37mpg is pretty darn close. That included a couple WOT starts around the city here. RPMs were 2,300 at 75mph and 1,800 at 55mph. 6th is geared very high (low numerically) and 40mpg is very possible if I tried at all (and I didn't).
We'll see how the road trip home goes on Thursday.
I just had the vehicle in today for it's 1st service at just over 5K miles. I must say that the service reps were very friendly at both times - dropping the car off and picking up the car. I had asked them to do a fuel consumption test, and when I picked up the car they told me that they could not find anything wrong. All settings were correct and that the car was functioning normally. This is what I expected. And I guess the service rep didn't seem at all surprised that I have had significantly lower gas mileage than expected because they told me that 3 other customers have already come in this week with the same complaint. The rep told me the usual line about waiting until Spring to see if things change, because the car is still has low miles and that it is expected that one would normally get lower gas mileage due to the colder temps and the oxygenated (10% ethanol) gas. I told them that I expected the lower FE in the winter, but I didn't expect it to be significantly different. They also mentioned, as I told them that I knew to do these things, to 1) keep the tires inflated to the recommended pressures or slightly higher, 2) get gas a top tier gas station using the same pump all the time and stopping the pump when it clicks off, and 3) calculate the FE manually and do not rely on the car's computer readout.
Anyway, the rep asked me to give them a good rating on the survey, and that I will do, but they also mentioned that I should write in the comment section to Hyundai about my disappointment. It did seem a bit odd though that when I mentioned that I had been reading about this issue with the FE of the Elantra, and they told me that up until this week that they hadn't heard a thing. This dealer is not a new dealer, and I know last year when I was picking out my car that they were selling Elantras like hotcakes, so I wonder what is going on? They said it wasn't a mechanical issue with my car and that all codes were up to date, so could it really then be a factory issue? Could it be a programming issue with the ECM? Please do not go to the "how do you drive the car" point. I think that I have stated how I drive with many details in previous posts, so I don't want to go there again. I wish that we all knew something about what was wrong with some of these cars, and that Hyundai would own up to this. I guess time will tell, but more people have to call them or write them or complain to the dealer/service department where they got the car. I do not know how much good that will do, but the more people who complain, the better for all of us. In these days with Twitter and Facebook, social media is a big concern of companies these days. One bad word about anything about a company can go a long way. I, for one, am hoping that it does as I will be contacting Hyundai shortly.
Happy New Year, and
Best Regards to all!!!
I'll run a few more tanks and document my issues before I start causing havoc.
I am not in the business of getting screwed as a consumer. If the dealership is worth anything they'll work with me.
24.5 mpg split driving is not right. One reason I bought this car was to save $100/month in gas. (old vehicle averaged 13)
For example, at 12k miles per year (1k / month) and 87 octane at $3.40 (heard that's where national avg is at now), that saves you over $120 / month in gas compared to your old vehicle.
I would think the Elantra would get a few more miles per year but at 10k miles a year and 15mpg vs 25mpg and an average price of 3.40, I'm looking at a $75 monthly savings.
If the Elantra got 32mpg the savings would be an even $100 per month.
I don't want to wait to long to push this up the chain as I know people are real good at giving you the run around and playing the blame game.
So in one day the FE for the old car went from 13 to 15? :confuse: At 13 mpg, you ARE saving over $100 a month. Maybe at this time of year, the old car averaged closer to 13 mpg than 15?
Also consider, if we use the higher figure for the old car (15 mpg), and your wife is driving more miles per year in the Elantra, it doesn't take many more miles @ 25 mpg to hit your magic $100 mark.
Isn't this a lot of angst over what amounts to less than a dollar a day?
It's not like I bought a $300 TV and the picture sucks.
First week 800 miles - 24.6 combined
This week... 28.9
Hope the trend continues!
Woohoo.
I only put about 20 chilly miles on the car in the north suburbs of Chicago. Total for the trip was 90% hwy and 10% city. The tire pressure light was on the entire trip. My guess is the pressure was down a few pounds from recommended levels.
The drive home offered a slight elevation increase, 10-15 mph headwinds, single digit temps, and the tire pressure issue. After a 37.5 mpg effort going east, the trip home was metered at 32 mpg. For the trip I averaged just under 35 mpg. Not bad at all. I filled up with 10.8 gallons of fuel just before turning her in. The car was "full" at pick-up so the trip meter was within a reasonable margin of error.
The fixation with the 40 mpg hwy rating hurts this car. Sure it COULD achieve 40 mpg at 65 mph on level roads with good fuel and a well-maintained vehicle, but the 33 mpg combined number is the realistic figure to work from. After my trip I can say that if I owned the car, I could easily hit the 33 mpg EPA combined number with my current driving style (average and 50/50 city/hwy). I also buy ethanol-free fuel here in the Dubuque, Iowa area and that helps a bit.
Nice car Hyundai! You've come a long way since my test drive of the last-gen Sonata in 2006.
Car gets the advertised 35 on the highway under varying conditions. 36-38 on trip computer 35-36 manual calc.
In town MPG is all over the board (20-28) due to mix of sitting in traffic, some freeway, some 30-45 MPH when possible. Point is that the overall MPG is driven by the city driving and the type of conditions. Highway is more consistent in MPG and conditions.
All cars use more gas idling and starting up to get the mass moving - more mass more gas. Even the smaller cars like Elantra feel the effects. EPA figures are misleading in that conditions are same for all cars tested.
good luck - maybe we all can change our driving route to max MPG.
Current Odometer Reading: around 7000
Last calculated mpg: 19.8
Average calculated mpg (both by hand and by the dash indicator): 20
Average miles driven per day: 30
# of people in the car other than the driver: 0
tow package: no
any other additional weight in the car: Just the stuff I carry to work, so maybe a couple pounds
driving trips: commuter - 90% city / 10% Hwy
air pressure in tires: Recommended, verified twice since I bought it
Fuel: Various tried with no difference, from Arco and Safeway (cheap) to Mobile, Exxon, Shell, and 76 (expensive)
A/C use: Used for a month or so after buying the car, but not since. Didn’t seem to make a difference.
ECO: Always On
Maintenance done so far: Dealer recommended per book, done by dealer
I took it in at around 3500 miles and had the dealer check it out. They said everything came up perfectly within spec.
Every time I’ve spoken to the dealer about it they tell me it needs more time to break in. When I complained at 3500 miles, they said wait until 5000. When I complained at 6000, they told me wait until 10,000. They told me to use better gas, so I switched from Arco to Shell and Exxon for a few months with no change at all. I tried buying higher octane gas and got another few miles out of that tank, but I only did it once.
I do almost all city driving, but it’s the same route 5 days of the week. There are plenty of lights along the way, but traffic isn’t heavy, so I rarely stop except at a light or a sign.
Dealer says no break in needed, but can't explain how ECO works, never mentioned the 7% improvement when ON, says everything checks out OK. Dealer hands me instruction sheet on how to compute MPG manually (tank to tank) as if you needed a PHD to figure that out. This was after they were given a detailed spreadsheet showing every tank of gas, with ECO On and Off.
Calling Hyundai USA, asking same questions, getting multiple case #'s, and have never heard a word from them either.
Never used Forums, found this hoping someone out there can help me set actual expectations.
I would love to get those numbers especially at 70mph.
Update on 3rd tank @ 140 miles - computer says 24.3. It was at 23.3 and then I took it on a 24 mile round trip of 90% highway. Again this is computer reading so it's probably a bit lower.
I have never got less than 30 in city driving.
Let me give you my secret: USE CRUISE CONTROL AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
I did my own little test and found, especially in city driving, cruise easily gave me 2-3 mpg extra. It's amazing, but true; at least for my car.
So... give it a try. When I leave my garage in the morning, the first button I hit, even before the radio, is the cruise enabler switch. I use it from 30mph up to highway cruising speeds.
Simply amazing difference. Gas brand makes no difference.
2011 Elantra GLS Auto with 10,000 miles.
Traffic is difficult to say the least.
I can engage my cruise at about 27 mph.
I find cruise monitors my speed better than I do, thus making me a safer driver by concentrating on the outside threats verses monitoring my speed.
If I need to disengage my cruise, I either deselect it on the steering wheel or depress the brake pedal.
What part of keeping your eyes on the road and slowing down by depressing the brake pedal is unsafe?
Not being argumentative, but if you would like to increase your mpg on an Elantra and still be a safe driver, cruise is the way to go, IMHO.
If someone feels it is unsafe to use cruise in city driving, they should not use it.
I have been getting 29mpg to 32 mpg consistently with mixed driving, and I've also noticed how it really drops off in the city. Within a day of taking delivery of my car, I took a hwy trip and I was able to get about 35 mpg, driving about 75 mpg on the interstate. That was my first tank, and I am easy on the car, so I was disappointed. I wasn't paying attention to the the mileage meter, and the eco mode was on. The next tank I filled up right on the interstate and immediately got back on and decided to leave the mpg meter on and try to feather it to see where the sweet spot was to max the mileage. I found that if I ran it between 65-72 mph max with eco mode on and really paid attention to feathering the gas, keeping the rpm around 2250, I was able to max out the mpg meter at 42 mpg consistently. Once I actually got it to read 43.7 mpg briefly before pulling off the interstate. The outside temp was in the 50's and driving was on I-85 in N.C., mostly flat with mild inclines across the state, so I know it can achieve the ballpark 40 mph.
That being said, I would have been pissed to be only getting low 30's with mixed driving if I hadn't done a road trip as soon as I got it! I still feel like this car should get bettter mileage around town. I had a 1991 Accord that I drove for 20+ years, and I mean drove the hell out of it, pushing it hard every single day, and it got 32 mpg with the same driving terrain, plus it was a 2.2 lt. engine. It was also a manual shift, and I would agree with another post seen here that I would get better mpg if I had gotten a manual shift. I'm going to look into using the "manual mode" shift feature (whatever you call it) on the automatic and perhaps tweek the mileage some, but I'll have to read the owners manual on proper use of that feature before doing it...just a thought.
I think when you say mixed driving you have to use time as your measurement as opposed to miles driven to have a true reflection of what real "mixed" driving constitutes. Mileage wise, I would consider my ratio 75/25 hwy/city, but time wise it would be more like 40/60 or 50/50 at best. This is where I believe a lot of folks underestimate the amount of actual city driving they do, using mileage instead of time. I looked at the forums for the Honda Civic and the Ford Focus, and reading some of the comments over there make me feel like I am still pretty well off with the Hyundai. The Honda doesn't have anywhere near the features but you'll get a few more mpg consistently, but component quailty has gone down on the Honda. I saw a number of folks on the Focus forum with crazy electronic and mechanical malfunctions, so overall I'm pretty happy with the total package of the Elantra. Everything is working fine on my car! Exterior styling and interior layout is by far the best IMHO, the breaking is very responsive, I love the sound system and I'm totally hooked on XM radio! I'm loving the heated leather seats and sunroof, as well as the ease of plug and play hand held devices. The ride is pretty quiet for a small car. I just wish the steering was a little more "crisp", as it has a ways to go to get to the level of the Honda I was driving. It took me a few days to get use to the "loose" feel of the steering, but it wasn't a deal breaker for me.
Also, after I worked my price with the dealer, I insisted on the dealer throwing in the "spare tire kit" at no cast to me, and the dealer hooked me up. It took two weeks for the parts dept. to get it from the warehouse. There is a place for the tire under the trunk, but no place to secure the jack, so you just have to fit it in there. I dont want to be at the mercy of roadside assistance and have to wait hours when I can change a tire and be on my way in 10 minutes, but I understand that it's cost effective for Hyundai to skip the tire.
Overall, I think I got a well balanced automobile for the price, and will live with the lower than anticipated mixed driving mileage performance.