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Real world gas mileage for sedans

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Comments

  • jjpcatjjpcat Member Posts: 124
    The car is at 3400 miles. Just came back from a 1800-mile trip to Grand Canyon when I used cruise control most of the time.

    SF area commute (70% city or bumper-2-bumper FWY): 33 mpg
    90mph FWY: 35mpg
    80mph FWY: 37mpg
    65mph FWY: 42mpg
  • ivanapeeivanapee Member Posts: 4
    I have a 160 mile daily commute. Moving is not an option so I am going to buy a better mileage car. But I want to get some use out of it (hauling or fun factor). Any recommendations? Is anyone elese commuting this far?
  • ivanapeeivanapee Member Posts: 4
    I have a 160 mile daily commute. Moving is not an option so I am going to buy a better mileage car. But I want to get some use out of it (hauling or fun factor). Any recommendations? Is anyone else commuting this far?
  • ripinrocketripinrocket Member Posts: 157
    ivanapee,

    Toyota Celica?

    Acura Integra & RSX?

    Honda Civic EX Coupe?

    VW Jetta/Golf 4-cylinders?

    Nissan Sentra SE-R?
  • ripinrocketripinrocket Member Posts: 157
    2000 Honda Accord EX-V6 coupe.

    Average about 21-22MPG in mixed stop-and-go driving.

    On the open highway at a steady 65mph will get about 28MPG.
  • supremesupreme Member Posts: 38
    06-05-2001
    2000 KIA SEPHIA now with 27,000 miles recorded recent interstate highway trip of 3592mi. Paced the traffic for 50% of trip; other 50% my wife added reasonableness. averaged 38.2mpg; consistently 33mpg highway miles around home. 5speed, no air, no power steering. April 2000 investment of $8600 including tax & title.
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    I purchased a 2001 Toyota Echo four door with manual transmission back in late December. It had 55 miles on the odometer when I bought it and now it has around 7500.

    My driving is varied between city and highway and short trips (under 7 miles) and longer. Lately, I have had to use the air conditioning almost constantly.

    I wonder what my gas usage would be if I did not have to use the air conditioning. As it is, I consistently have been getting over 40 miles per gallon.
  • supremesupreme Member Posts: 38
    06-05-2001
    2001 echo @ $12701 + t&t w/air @ 40 mpg
    2000 sephia @$8600 incl t&t wo/air @ 33mpg
    ivanapee check em out!
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    I am not trying to get into a discussion about the Echo versus the Sephia, but I am just curious how and where did you come up with a price of $12,701 for the Echo?

    I thought maybe someone gave that as a price, but I do not see where anyone on this board who has an Echo gave the amount of what they paid. I know I didn't.

    How was the Echo equipped besides the air conditioning? Was it a coupe or a sedan?

    Thanking you in advance for your reply.
  • supremesupreme Member Posts: 38
    06-06-2001
    Majorthomecho:
    Echo pricing obtained from Edmunds new cars
    utilizing the following input. 2001 4dr sedan
    zip code 54914; white; 5spd tranny; air conditioning. These are the features which include what Sephia has and in addition the air which reduced your mpg. Would one pay $4600 for
    air conditioning & +7mpg??
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    Supreme asked if one would purchase a Echo for more money than a Sephia to get extra mileage and air conditioning.

    I guess I did and I am very happy. Glad to see you are evidently enjoying your vehicle too, Supreme.

    By the way, many people with Echos are reporting much better gas mileage than what I got.
  • bhill2bhill2 Member Posts: 2,565
    If I had a 160 mile commute, therefore needing both economy and comfort, I would consider something like a Jetta TDI. This depends, of course, on where you live (they're not available in California for instance) and whether you have a reliable supplier for diesel fuel. The car will give you mileage in the mid 40's. I haven't driven one (I live in California) but I have heard that they are quite lively and remarkably quiet. I have driven Jettas, and consider them great road cars. The other consideration, of course is that they cost about $18K.

    2009 BMW 335i, 2003 Corvette cnv. (RIP 2001 Jaguar XK8 cnv and 1985 MB 380SE [the best of the lot])

  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    Ivanapee,

    If your 160 mile commute is mainly highway, I would not get a Toyota Prius. It returns wonderful figures in city driving, but goes down in highway driving (if there are few starts and stops) which is the opposite of a conventional all gasoline vehicle.
  • elantra00elantra00 Member Posts: 225
    2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS

    I put in one of those K and N air fitlers. Didnt do crap for the acceleration but greatly improved the fuel economy.

    City: 33 mpg
    Highway: 40mpg

    However, I am one of the lucky ones. A lot of Elantras are bad on gas so choose wisely. I think a TDI Jetta or Golf would be up your alley. A guy I work with travels from (if you are in the New Jersey area) Jackson to Bernardsville, which is a good 60 miles each way. Has a TDI Golf. He likes it
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    The EPA has a site about fuel economy. The address is www.fueleconomy.gov. You can do fuel and greenhouse gas emission comparisons between any two vehicles they list. You can compare sedan to sedan or sedan to SUV if you wanted.

    I will not make any editorial comments as to who is the better car, but I wanted you to know what the EPA says about the Sephia as compared to the Echo in terms of fuel efficiency and greenhouse gases.

    The Sephia I used was a 2000 with a manual transmission and the Echo I used was a 2001 with a manual transmission. I customized the highway/city percentages to 75% highway and 25% city. I figured that would be a good split for anyone who has to commute 160 miles. Anyway.

    The Sephia got 23 city/29 highway with 27 miles per gallon combined. The customizer changes the combined driving figure. The Sephia emits 7.1 metric tons per year.

    The Echo got 34 city/41 highway with 39 miles per gallon combined. It emits 4.9 metric tons per year.

    The Echo gets 12 miles per gallon more in combined driving and if gas costs $1.70 per gallon, it would cost you $290.00 less than the Sephia. This is based on driving 15,000 mile per year.

    As a numbers geek, this is a pretty fun site to work with. The site is not as nice and smooth as some in bringing up the information though.

    You have to choose compare side by side and then select the year for the first vehicle. You then have to scroll down to find the button to go to the next screen which is make. You then have to scroll down after each choice to click on the forward button. After you have brought up your first vehicle choice, you have to scroll to the side to hit a button so you can select your 2nd vehicle. Selecting the 2nd vehicle involves selecting the year and scrolling down to push the button, then selecting the make and scrolling down, and so on.

    Like I said, a good site to use, but not easy to use immediately.
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    Just wondered what you were getting in terms of fuel economy before the K&N filter.

    FWIW, the EPA site says the 2000 Elantra with manual transmission will get 24 city and 33 highway while the automatic gets 22 city and 31 highway.
  • supremesupreme Member Posts: 38
    06-07-2001
    2000 Kia Sephia, 5spd, 5/4/01 to 5/12/01 documented 3592miles
    94 gallons ; 38.2mpg. EPA take note.
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    I was not doubting what you were getting. Just saying you were getting a lot better mileage than what the EPA says. I also get better mileage than what the EPA says also. But then again, some cars get worse than what the EPA says, too.

    Again, good job on the fuel mileage.
  • satzsatz Member Posts: 15
    I get around 23 city and 29-30 on the highways[mostly on the hills of maine,new hamphire guess if i stop climbing hills and drive on a flat highway probabily i get more millage].i will try on this trip to new york.i have 80 miles commute on the busy boston traffic and get around 25 mpg.By the way i drive at around 70-75mph consistenly for couple of hrs to get this milages.i always have a/c on ? well i put a car started that guy messed up the wiring i guess it never switches off.
    My car miles now is 18000 miles
  • maltbmaltb Member Posts: 3,572
    3.0L
    M/T

    Last tank with 800 mi on the odo, 19 mpg.

    It seems that with every tank of gas, one being all city, the rest being mixed, mileage has been a consistent 19.

    EPA rating is 17/22

    :)
  • fangio2fangio2 Member Posts: 214
    Last week we had to travel to tenn.1200 miles total-he averaged 32.4. 90% highway at average speed of 75mph.
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    It just dawned on me that in Supreme's comparison between the Echo and the Sephia, he gave the MSRP for the Echo, but used his purchase price for the Sephia. That makes it an apples to oranges comparison and not fair. Who knows how much another person will have to pay for a vehicle? I know I did not pay MSRP for my Echo.
  • supremesupreme Member Posts: 38
    06-11-2001
    majorthomecho:
    $8600 incl t&t 2000 Kia Sephia new, white, 4 dr sedan, 5spd, rear defogger (purchased 4/28/2000)
    ??????? 2001 Toyota Echo new (discount your features above rear defogger & 5spd.)
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    Stating the price I paid for my Echo would not do any good because my Echo came with a lot of stuff. Simply deducting the cost of the individual items that my Echo has, but your Sephia lacks would not be right. It might drop the cost of my Echo way down and that would not be fair to you. About the only things I did not get were ABS, side air bags, alarm system with remote control, and alloy wheels.

    The best thing would be to compare MSRPs with them comparably equipped.

    Also, the fairest thing would be to compare the EPA mileage numbers no matter how badly out of touch with reality we have shown them to be.
  • supremesupreme Member Posts: 38
    06-14-2001
    Majorthomecho:
    REAL WORLD FUEL MILEAGE. Maybe we're straying too far, but 38.2mpg & 33mpg av @ $8600 incl t&t takes the crown for me.
  • schwenk1schwenk1 Member Posts: 4
    2001 Buick PA
    13,602 miles
    24.8 MPG
    mostly semi-highway driving
  • supremesupreme Member Posts: 38
    06-20-2001
    RWFM/REAL WORLD FUEL MILEAGE

    2000 KIA SEPHIA

    6-4-2001 TO 6-20-2001 REPORTING PERIOD
    27,846MILES - 26,777 = 1069 MILES TRAVELLED
    28.3 GALLONS 87 OCTANE
    37.78 MPG now thats real world fuel mileage.
  • mpgmanmpgman Member Posts: 723
    800 miles so far. 33 on first tank of mostly highway. 27 next tank of mixed highway and suburban. 36/37 on third tank of pure highway. All with A/C on virtually all of the time. 27 tank had 2 people in the car most of the time. Holding speed below 65 and varying rpms during break in period. Drive with a light foot. Suspect that when it is all said and done, the 01 EPA numbers for the automatic of 24/33 will be accurate. Anticipate getting lows around 20 and highs in the mid 30s. If this car got 40 mpg on the highway and did a little better in the city, it would blow everything off the road for the money. Then again, it weighs nearly 3,000 pounds and has a DOHC 4 banger. Given the ride and comfort level, really can't complain.
  • ashutoshsmashutoshsm Member Posts: 1,007
    22-24 mpg winter or aggressive short trip city driving. 25-26 when driven more sedately in summer.

    Highway - 30-34mpg at best with 90%+ highway on long trips in summer, averaging 65-80 mph. With AC on about half the time.

    I normally drive with a somewhat heavy foot.

    All with normal gas, 85/86 octane or thereabouts in the Mountain West.
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    I had been getting over 40mpg, but this last time I dipped down to 39.27mpg. I think it is due to the constant use of the air conditioning and the higher percentage of street driving I did this tankful.

    My car is a 2001 Toyota Echo with five speed manual transmission.
  • supremesupreme Member Posts: 38
    07-18-2001
    RWFM/KIA SEPHIA

    2000 KIA SEPHIA

    6-20-01 TO 7-18-01 REPORTING PERIOD
    29,693-27,846 = 1847MILES TRAVELED
    49.9 GALLONS 87 OCTANE
    37.0 MPG now thats real world fuel mileage
    (reference #128)
  • supremesupreme Member Posts: 38
    08-22-2001
    RWFM/KIA SEPHIA

    2000 KIA SEPHIA
    7-18-01 TO 8-19-01 REPORTING PERIOD
    31,767-29,693=2074 MILES TRAVELED
    56.88 GAL/87 OCTANE
    36.46 MPG REAL WORLD FUEL MILEAGE
  • cjaccettacjaccetta Member Posts: 236
    2001.5 Elantra GT automatic with 2.0 litre I4. 3900 miles on odometer.

    Avg. 24.5 - 25.5 in 90% city driving.
    Avg 31.0 mpg highway.

    Figures are from trip computer but are supported by observation. A/C used 65% of the time.

    Found a Gulf station selling 87 octane regular at $1.37 per gallon. Probably full of dirt and water but the Elantra likes it....
  • britton2britton2 Member Posts: 305
    last tank was 50% city, 50% highway driving - got 35 MPG - this is with a 4-speed automatic
  • ata3001ata3001 Member Posts: 30
    My 2001 corolla s 5 speed with 7600 miles on it now has had a low of 34 mpg & a best tankful of 47 mpg with no tankful being strictly hwy driving. My usual weekly average is 38 mpg with it being 50% city/50% hwy driving. On the second tank of gas after purchasing car new & with only 600 miles on it, I got 46 mpg on a mostly thruway type drive. The 47 mpg tank was on a trip with 2 adults & traveling luggage for both. The car had approximately 6000 miles on it at this point. I can live with that!
  • jsylvesterjsylvester Member Posts: 572
    All city driving and cruising, about 13 1/2 mpg. Maybe 2,000 miles a year.

    390 V-8 (6.4 liter) with 2 bbl. carb., 3 speed auto, and 3,800 lbs of road hugging heavy duty steel and glass.

    However, when a tune-up costs $20 for parts, a water pump $22, and fuel filter $3, and a snap to work on yourself, overall it is a cheap ride to own. I'll pay the gas to be able to fix it myself.
  • fjk57702fjk57702 Member Posts: 539
    Supercharged V6
    Overall for 4 years of driving (42000 miles)
    Average mpg = 21.25
    Winter city driving under 20
    Summer city driving over 20
    Highway between 25 and 30 depending on speed

    My driving is to and from work (6 miles one way) in city with a large part at 30+ mph.
  • babywolfbabywolf Member Posts: 20
    My 2001 SL1 (2nd Saturn) averages 33 to 39 miles per gallon on mostly city driving, with some high way. It currently has 6000 miles and counting.

    It has a 1.9, 8 valve four banger with 100 hp) certainly not overpowered, but just enough for most situations with a stick.
  • jenningsmjenningsm Member Posts: 8
    98 Accord EX v-6 auto: 28-30 all highway driving
    98 Duratec Taurus: 22-25 80% highway, 20% city
    00 Nissan Altima: 24-27 80% highway, 20% city (bit of a disappoointment , frankly)
    Recently had a 2 week long rental of a 01 Chevy malibu v-6... got 32 mpg in all highway drive (a portland to spokane round trip run) was pretty impressed with the fuel econ portion, shame the car doesnt light me up
  • fjk57702fjk57702 Member Posts: 539
    4 liter V8 engine
    Overall for 30000 miles: 21.5 mpg
    Trip mileage varies from 25 to 30 mpg
    To and from work (6 miles-city):
    over 20 in summer
    under 20 in winter

    This car has a Driver Information Computer/Trip computer. The DIC will keep track of average MPG but this seems to be based on the last 30 gallons of gas used or so. Also keeps track of gas that goes through the fuel injection system. However, some fuel goes through the evaporative emissions system (charcoal canister) and this fuel is not measured. It amounts to about 1/2 to 1 gallon per tank. More in summer, less in winter.
  • dereklukderekluk Member Posts: 2
    It has 200,100 miles and is still getting 36 to 38 MPG (all highway @ 70 MPH). My commute is 59 miles one way and all New Jersey Turnpike. I have gotten 40 MPG several times by keeping my speed at about 60 MPH.
  • brettski1brettski1 Member Posts: 12
    50/50 mix of hi-way and city, average at 24.5 - 25.5 mpg. Using amoco 87 octane. Moderate driving style
  • shiposhipo Member Posts: 9,148
    On a recent 1,100 mile round trip to West Virginia, averaging about 74 mph with the A/C off, the trip computer showed 35.2 mpg. Normal driving with a mix of city and highway, I average just over 25 mpg.

    Best Regards
    Shipo
  • gerry18gerry18 Member Posts: 39
    1.9L I4
    67,500 miles
    Mixed driving
    Quoted EPA mileage was 23 city/31 highway

    Early on I confirmed the accuracy of the trip computer recording each tank fill and mile driven, including odometer error.

    Combined mileage rarely dips below 31, but always greater than 30, even in Ohio winters.

    Long trips (700 to 3,000 miles round trip)
    vary between 33-36, depending on speed, AC, headwinds, etc. Most recently was 35.8 from Cincinnati, OH to Gettysburg, PA and return traveling 70 - 75 predominantly except on PA winding hills 2 lanes. Highway miles split evenly among strong head winds, strong tail winds, and calm to side winds.
  • gerry18gerry18 Member Posts: 39
    Better than ever anticipated on our BMW 318ti (see earlier post.) But disappointed in our Sable

    127,500 miles
    3.8L V6
    EPA 19/28.

    Have rarely been able to reach the 28 highway when going real world speeds. Usually get something between 26 & 27 mpg highway. Average combined mileage is usually in the range of 20-23. Haven't noticed any change with age. Could be worse!
  • majorthomechomajorthomecho Member Posts: 1,331
    My Echo, now with 16,000 miles after ten months, consistently delivers close to 40mpg with the low having been slightly above 39mpg. The exact figure is mentioned in post #131.

    On my most recent tankful, I got slightly over 41mpg. Predominately more highway than city driving this time, but still using the air conditioning a lot.
  • ghuletghulet Member Posts: 2,564
    1990 Saab 900S (16v, non-turbo), hatch 5 speed:

    21-24 city
    24-28 highway

    This is pretty consistent with other old Saabs I've had, except the automatic 900S (MUCH worse, as are most 3-speed automatics).
  • rajmoranrajmoran Member Posts: 46
    Automatic Tranny, AC, 30K miles

    Averaging 35 MPG in lead-footed, mostly airconditioned commuting.

    43 MPG on my most recent interstate jaunt from northern Virginia to Hilton Head.
  • scottc8scottc8 Member Posts: 617
    3.9L, 5 spd. automatic
    Approx. 3700 lbs.
    31k miles

    23-24 MPG commuting 75% rural highway, a few stop signs & some heavy-footed passing. With or without AC on.

    26-27 MPG interstate cruising at 80-85 mph, also w/ or w/o AC.
  • gasman1gasman1 Member Posts: 321
    Year/Vehicle/Engine/Driving Type/CityMPG/HighwayMPG/Best MPG

    2000/Ford Contour SE Sport/V-6/mostly CITY/18.5/28.0/31.0

    2001/Toyota Highlander/V-6/mixed/18.0/21.0/22.7

    2002/Nissan Altima 2.5S/4-cyl/Highway/to new/32.8/33.8
This discussion has been closed.