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If the new gas was 100% gas vs. E10, that could explain part of it. As could the additional miles on the engine.
But at least it looks like there's nothing wrong with your car!
Here are some of my observations.
Yesterday I believe I finally figured out why I am not seeing the MPG ratings I expected on my 2012 Hyundai Elantra. Some of you will probably say that you’ve known this all along while others will imply that I must be stupid for not figuring it out sooner.
All I can say is that I have not seen a post that clarified things for me in this manner. Also, I am slow sometimes so bear with me.
I left the office yesterday afternoon at about 3PM. It was sunny and 53. Just as I got on the highway I reset the MPG and drove the 23 mile Inter-county Connector home. My home is just off the ICC, one mile and 2 lights.
While on the ICC I put the cruise control on and set it for 59. Low and behold, I finally saw that elusive 40ish MPG. It ranged from 38.7 to 40.2 and rose and fell with the ups and downs of the highway ( it’s not a level drive at times ).
As soon as I got off the ICC, on that final 1 mile to my house, the MPG immediately fell and by the time I parked I was in the 36 range.
The following morning (very early) I reversed the trip. It was 35 degrees outside. By the time I reached the ICC (again only a mile away) my MPG was 34.6. I set my cruise control to 59 and on this 23 mile drive reached a 35.1 MPG.
After thinking about these results I have concluded the following:
1. 40 MPG is possible in fact you’re likely getting it on your highway drives. Unfortunately, it is being obscured by the absolutely horrible city/local MPG
2. The city/local MPG is likely WAY under the conservative 29 estimate and could be as low as 18 to 20 MPG. That’s right a tiny car like this may only be getting 18 to 20 in the city how is that possible?
3. Every organization that is testing the car, as well as many posters here, is focused on the wrong MPG rating. It’s the city/local driving MPG that is causing your overall MPG to look so bad. There is also to much focus on point in time trips instead of everyday commutes
4. It does not take much city/local driving to completely trash your overall MPG. Just look at the impact from that 1 mile drive from the ICC to my home. Or look at the impact from minor hills on the ICC (a brand new and relatively flat highway)
5. The colder the weather the worse the MPG seems to be. Why didn’t my MPG recover to 40ish the following morning? Clearly there was more highway MPG to offset the city/local MPG, right? I conclude that the highway and city/local MPGs must be lower when it’s cold. Perhaps significantly
6. The car appears to have no intelligence when it comes to creating or maintaining MPG. If it did, I believe I would not see such a dramatic fluctuations from hills or from one mile of local driving
7. The ECO mode should do a better job of offsetting the “Lead” foot syndrome. Does not take much of a press of the pedal to achieve a big reaction in RPM
Now this is by no means a scientific test but it does help me to rationalize my results. At this point I guess have to accept that my average MPG will not be as high as expected for my driving situation. I do, however, remain hopeful that MPG will improve as we move into the warmer sprint/summer/fall.
I also hope this information forces the conversation to focus more city/local MPG and why is it so bad for a tiny lightweight car.
I will always feel that Hyundai, and other companies are using puffery and misinformation to mislead consumers by emphasizing unrealistic MPG ratings that are not consistently achievable by most drivers unless they are at the 100% highway level.
Plus, as a consumer, if the suit were settled in the consumers' favor, you'd be looking at something like $200 three years from now, or a $500 coupon off the purchase of your next Hyundai. That's how these things tend to go.
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The big difference is the highway MPG. Speed also is the biggest factor on the highway but the Buick is 28-29 and the Sonata is 35-38 totally dependent upon speed if no big hills. The 20% difference is totally driven by weight & speed IMO.
So we agree with your conclusion. The EPA #'s must be some freeway or not stop and go that affects all cars except the hybrids that are also lower weight across the board.
Changing your driving route to include more freeway (if available to you)will do more to increase mileage. The averages posted are driven by the specific conditions mainly in city driving that affects the actual versus EPA.
4. It does not take much city/local driving to completely trash your overall MPG.
5. The colder the weather the worse the MPG seems to be.
And yes, these points have been brought up here before.
I get to experience these first-hand all the time, because I live where it can be 50 one day and below zero a couple of days later. FE does really suffer in cold weather. Also, it's real easy for city driving to ruin FE. It's possible to adjust for it to some extent, but it takes some attention. The keys are to keep your foot off the accelerator as much as possible by anticipating stops and coasting (in gear) as much as possible, e.g. on downgrades. Also shut off the engine if you'll be stopped for more than a couple of minutes, e.g. waiting for someone. Using basic techniques like that I routinely get 25%+ better FE on my wife's Hyundai than she does. (She doesn't use ANY fuel-saving techniques.)
But if you have to make lots of stops and are stuck in heavy traffic (meaning a low average speed) a lot of the time... your mpg will suck with a non-hybrid. Weight has little to do with it. The mpg of any car when it's stopped is zero.
There is a recent court case by a women who took Honda to small claims court over exaggerated MPG claims. She won nearly 10K in damages.
I believe the basis of her win was tied to her ability to prove, via documentation, that mileage decreased following the software update provided by Honda (which is what's happening with these vehicles). She may have "won," technically, but she won't get anything yet. The case was immediately appealed. It is widely believed that anything tied to "false advertising" won't be upheld, though the post-software update reduction in MPG probably will.
Don't get me wrong - I am not disputing anyone's claim that they're not getting expected MPGs, and I don't ride with anyone so I can't say whether it's a vehicle issue or a driving issue. Some people have reported getting close to the EPA numbers, others haven't. I can't tell you why that is.
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My last trip to Chicago (from Dubuque, Iowa) in January was in a Hyundai Elantra GLS (6-sp auto) and I averaged just under 35 mpg for the trip. 380 miles total which were mixed at about 90% Hwy and 10% City driving. I averaged around 68 mph on the Hwy.
This trip was on the same route with a bit less city driving in a Toyota Camry LE (6-sp auto) and I totaled 360 miles. My driving style was very similar. Both cars were full of fuel (within 1/2 gallon or so) at pick-up. Upon returning to the Dubuque area, I was running on fumes in the Elantra last month but the Camry had 1/4 tank left!
I'm sitting there thinking how great the Camry mileage was right? Well the Camry has an 18.5 gallon fuel tank and an EPA Hwy Rating of 32mpg. I burned about 13 gallons going 360 miles so: my estimated mileage was 27.7mpg! I burned about 11 gallons out of the Elantra's 12.8 gallon tank for 34.5 mpg. What a difference perception makes!
Maybe if the Elantra had a 20 gallon tank we wouldn't have so many complaints! But seriously folks, look at the percentage under EPA Hwy mileage I got in both vehicles. Even I'm surprised....
I'll report back after my March trip.
I've little doubt that if we were to knock 5 MPH off our speed we'd get better economy.
My point about the class action suit isn't really about the money...it's about exposing the scam that Hyundai is running, first with the limited production of this car, where they don't seem to have any in stock, driving up the price where people are actually paying sticker or more. I feel like I've been had...only 34 mths left on the lease.
I am the Cruise Control proponent person and thought I would update my latest tank.
Miles: 248.3
Computer MPG: 35.7
Gas added: 7.8
Average MPH on Computer: 33 mph
I filled the tank up until I could not cram anymore gas in. I don't think I filled it up as much last tank, but it's always hard to tell. I have found my computer mileage is about 2-3 mpg too high.
I probably added about half a gallon after the pump clicked off; also, I filled it up EXTREMELY slowly so as to get all the gas in I could.
I estimated about 50/50 city/highway and with an average speed of 33 mph, I would say that is about right on the guess.
So... I came up with just short of 32 mpg, but once again, it all depends on how much "cramming" I do from tank to tank.
Needless to say I am very happy with the mileage. Cruise Control seems to make about 1-2 mpg difference. I have gotten 43 before on the HWY at 65 mph over almost 60 miles of travel.
I am quite happy with my mileage and trying to inform others that the mileage numbers listed on the Monroney is not only realistic, but also attainable.
If I really, really tried, I think I could beat the highway mileage easily; I just don't want to get run over by trucks, so I cruise at 65 in the right lane.
Best wishes and I hope those with serious mileage concerns get the paperwork started with the dealer. Lemon Laws are very powerful in most states, but you must get started early and be persistent.
Anyway I now enjoy 50mpg with the Toyota Prius that I bought
Still 50 is nothing to laugh at...
In any case, you sold at a loss, and repurchased at a much higher level. I would say, it will be a little while before you recoupe the added costs in gas savings.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
I just feel like in a year or 2 the elantras resales value is going to be defined by the wave of upset consumers voicing their experience on the internet.
Also, I was in no way trying compare a Prius to an Elantra, apples and oranges.
I think the non highway mileage is really bad - like most people are mentioning.
Also, the wife told me she used 89 octane for that last tank. It would seem like with the type of driving she does, 30 is going to be tops.
I will continue to monitor it through the summer.
I travel approximately .2 of a mile from my house to the highway and then it's a 55MPH highway that I'm on approximately 15 miles before leaving the highway for .1 of a mile to work. I've made several 30 mile trips each way and just got back from a 400 mile round trip where I could not get above 33.5
Cruise control has been set between 55 and 65 dependent of the local speed limit.
What I have noticed is that almost any acceleration causes the transmission to downshift. In order to keep this from happening I have to barely touch the pedal to get to merging speed and avoid the MPG from dropping .1 to .2 just going up the ramp which I can only get back .1 of that on the 15 mile trip back to the house.
It seems to be a great car but my city driving which is more suburban driving is getting between 22-28mpg. I'm not sure what the problem is but I do know there is one
Unless...
What is your actual speed on that 15 mile highway run? Is it a steady 55 or does it fluctuate, e.g. do you pass people? Is it nonstop or are there any stops? Are there any significant grades on the trip? What are the temperatures lately where you live? With only .2 miles before you hit the freeway, it could take several miles on the freeway before it reaches optimal operating temperature, which means FE will not be optimal during that time.
Have you tried looking at the instantaneous mpg readout during your trip to see how it does at different speeds, what it is early in your trip (before warm-up) and later (after warm-up)? If for example you are driving on level ground at 55-65 mph and the instantaneous readout is not near or above 40, after the engine is warmed up, I'd wonder if there's something wrong with the car.
Unfortunately, most of these private tests dont focus on what's really going on.
First, these tests rarely represent typical drives. Second, they are almost always done on sunny days in warm climates, and on ideal terrian. In case of the Elantra, the local MPG can range from 18 to 29 and more often its at the low end. That can totally destroy your overall MPG.
So if you drive where it's cold or where your driving is mostly city you should not expect to see your cars MPG readout in the 30's or 40's.
Hyundai can do much better than 18 city and should. Its deceptive to say city rating is 29 when the overwhelming majority of people do get anywhere near that number.
I had my brother up here in and he owns a Sonata and gets better gas mileage than I do. He was with me during these road trips and he thinks there has to be something wrong too. Hard to believe it would be that messed up without any stalling, stuttering, smoking etc. going on.
In cold or cooler weather it can take 5 miles or more, depending on how cold, for the car to get at optimal operating temp. You might be shocked at the low MPG any gasoline engine get in cold weather for the first several miles.
In the end I just wish that the MPG ratings were better explained to those who are basing their buying decisions with this as the top priority. I wasn't ever expecting to get 40MPG but I wasn't expecting to get 33 while driving like a 95 year old on Sunday after church.
The 2012 Sonata GLS we have delivers BETTER than EPA highway (36-37.5 MPG) at 65-70 MPH. At greater speeds the MPG drops off somewhat less than the percentage speed increase. In the city the mileage is totally driven by the type of driving. All stop and go results in 10% less than EPA and "freeway" or limited access roads lends to 10-20% better. When the mix of driving is weighted towards the worst case stop & go driving the average is much worse than when all driving is highway. The 2010 Buick Lacrosse experienced very similar results.
The point of all this rambling is that with both cars the type of driving had much more to do with actual MPG than any other factor. The mix of stop and go vs. highway was the most significant variable in the results. The various posters all have different mixes of driving and therefore highly variable results with the same cars. Forgive the statement of the obvious, however it does not appear that all posters are getting the message, or they just can not change their driving routes to get MPG closer to the EPA driving pattern and results.
Thanks for taking the time to post your analysis. A lot of variables affect fuel economy. I drive a lot of uphill on the way home every day and my FE on Veloster has been around 33. Downhill I easily go past 42. The car is rated at 40. In traffic my FE decreases below average while in smooth conditions it's right on the mark. Same road, same time. The difference is in the variables.
As I said before, if someone feels there is an issue with the vehicle they should visit their dealership to be certain. Our mileage figures adhere to EPA standards and we have internal data showing the numbers are indeed attainable and even higher based on driving conditions. We want everyone to have a great experience with their Hyundai. Fudging those numbers detracts from that mission and hurts us all.
Rob L, Hyundai Product PR Manager
WSJ has separate story about new EPA window stickers coming out for MY2013. Stickers to have a lot more information.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/label/
Please excuse the typing. Im on my phone
What was your speed to (and from) Philly? What was the traffic like--did you have to stop or slow down/speed up much? Weather? Did you do any passing or maintain a steady speed? Any differences between trip to Philly, and from Philly?
I see this kind of thing a lot.. I'll drive on the freeway to a city, get really good mpg on the highway (if I watch my speed, traffic is flowing, weather is OK), then hit my destination and drive around town for awhile and I watch the average mpg drop. Then I get back on the highway to go home and it recovers somewhat, but not completely.
2021 Kia Soul LX 6-speed stick
If this flash update was done very recently, and if the results are true, why doesn't Hyundai roll this flash out to all the cars that are on the road?
I just want some answers.
Also was the 42 mpg on the computer or calculated ? I find that my computer is normally off by about 3 mpg.
What kind of driving was on this tank of gas? Mostly highway, mix, ect...?