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Honda Accord Real World MPG

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  • packer3packer3 Member Posts: 277
    Thanks for the info.
  • packer3packer3 Member Posts: 277
    You got that right however it was for highway miles only.

    My 04 Malibu V6 200 hp sticker read 23 mpg city - 19-27 mpg average
    Highway 32 mpg - 27-37 mpg average. Got between 14/16 mpg straight city driving, 28/37mpg straight highway driving. This of course was based on the old system. It was weird that it hit the highway numbers, but it never acheived the city numbers established on the sticker and the city numbers were more important to me than the highway numbers. Not many hills what so ever.
  • 96gc1owner96gc1owner Member Posts: 54
    We have about 25K on the car now running Mobil 1. 20% City/80% Hwy w/AC on and 4 pax (outside air temp 90F) = 28.7 mpg calculated
    Next tank all same (avg speed 75-80 mph) 100% Hwy = 35.6 mpg
  • mazda6dudemazda6dude Member Posts: 283
    I have 6,300 miles on my 2008 Honda Accord LX automatic. Avg. MPG has been 30.125MPG.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    4 or 6? I forget. Otherwise that's fantastic in my book. Keep up the awesome work.

    On my 03 I've managed 29 mpg a couple of times. My overall MPG since I bought it a year ago is around 25. I have the 4.

    The other day I had somebody try to convince me that my car was somehow inferior to hers because it wasn't as fast. She has an 01 Cavalier Z24. What a crock. Mines bigger and I still get better mileage. Just a funny side-note.
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    I agree with tallman. I have always exceeded the EPA for every car I have owned.

    Many people don't realize that the EPA numbers had already been dumbed down once back in the 80's. If you have a 2007 vehicle as I do, and you multiply the highway number by 1.28 you will get the non dumbed down version of the mileage. In my case 34 x 1.28 = 43.5 mpg. This is the actual number that the EPA achieves, and anybody who drive a warm car carefully and consistantly without the A/C on level ground can achieve this number.

    To make up for peoples erratic driving habits they took 22% off their numbers to bring them to more real world conditions hence the rating of 34. Why on earth they felt the need to further drop the numbers is beyond me. 31 mpg for highway (the new number for my car) is 2 mpg less than my lifetime average including all my city driving.

    Actually it is not beyond me - the reason people do poorly is poor driving habits. My wife gets much worse mileage than I do when she drives my car. If I get 40 mpg on a trip she will get 32 on the same trip. She drives much faster and is constantly flooring it to pass and braking at the last second instead of coasting.

    I see people waiting to pick kids up from school with the engine running for 10 minutes, people waiting in drive through lines, even people watching little league games with the engine running the whole time. They probably all complain about how poorly their cars do for mileage.

    Unfortunately it is politically incorrect to tell someone they don't know how to drive, so you just lower the standards so they think they are doing well.

    More on topic. Fresh tank mostly highway at a little under 65 mph very little a/c - 44.2 mpg so far (339 miles and the needle is right at half a tank). Had a few nice tail winds.
  • ezshift5ezshift5 Member Posts: 858
    ...really informative post, Dud.

    I had forgotten EPA's adjusting down the highway figure circa 20 per cent.

    Ergo my 6M coupe's 30 HWY works out to just under 38 1/2 MPG. Bein' as I've calc'd about 39 on two differing occaisions, it's starting to come back more clearly now.

    Again, good work.

    best, ez....
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    Hey I filled up today, rather I topped off. I put 6.488 gallons in and went 192 miles for a sum total mileage of 29.532. Overall I'm very pleased considering a good bit of my driving is city. Granted my stop and go segments are fairly brief. I kept my car between 55 and 65 as much as was humanly and legally possible. I think between 55 and 65 is the best for this car.

    Does anybody else have a speed they like to stick to?

    On a side note, is it me or does the cruise control match your rate of acceleration if you engage it while manually accelerating or am I drunk?
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    My cruise control always tries to outrun anything it can when I hit resume, say, from an interchange ramp. It drops to third and takes off. This is in my '06 2.4L 5AT Accord EX.

    I never accelerate that quickly.
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    The slower you go in top gear, the greater the mpg. The problem is that you cannot safely go slow enough to maximize your mpg on most highways.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    I mean 55-65 is the best safe speed. I have the advantage of having a morning "commute" where I only hit about 4 lights and I can coast pretty much from one light to the next because one invariably goes red just as I'm coming up to the one in front of it. Sometimes by slowing down right before the light I am able to start accelerating again with having to come to a full stop. It's awesome.

    I'm still happy that I'm getting close to the revised highway number. This is the most mpg I've managed to get on multiple occasions. Until now it's been 26-27. I keep trying to eek the most out of a gallon, but I think I'm at a stalemate.

    Part of it is my mom drives my car periodically and she is more rapid than I am. Oh well factors beyond my control. She has every right to drive it, she co-signed for it.
  • boatingboating Member Posts: 17
    This past weekend we traveled from RI to New Hampshire with our 08 EXL 4 cyl. auto trans. 415 total miles round trip, through high hills with a/c on. Speeds were highway 65-70 and short bursts of passing to 75. Averaged 30 MPG with about 95% highway and 5% back roads/stop & go.

    Very happy at this point, since car only has 1,800 miles and would not be considered "broken in". Average daily economy is 23-23.8 MPG since new with routine daily driving. I could have achieved better mileage on the trip staying with cruise control at 65.
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    Yeah,It's just not safe to go slower than the "flow". One night I was coming back from the lake on a deserted state highway and cruised at about 50 mph. I got 26 mpg in my 02 Accord V6 and I was towing my 700# bass boat! Tries the patience, going that slow.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    Of who, you or the poor guy behind you? ;)

    I know one time I attempted to go for 6 miles only at 55 mph on a freeway marked 70 during the beginning of afternoon rush hour. It was A boring and B people were whizzing past and giving me the old hairy eyeball. Unfortunately we live in a society where we want our cake and we want to eat it too. The people who are going like bats out of H-E-double hockey sticks are the same ones who are complaining about gas prices. Instead of doing something to improve their situation, like slowing down, they instead do whatever they want and complain. Sorry I started to ramble.
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    It was about 3 am and no traffic behind me so it was safe but slow. I drive in the right lane when I'm towing my boat and take routes that have lower speed limits like 55 or 60. I'm not going to risk getting hit by going slower than traffic flow just to save a little gas. .02.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    I'm with you on that one. The long term cost of that maneuver far outweighs the short term benefit. I like to stay at 65 though. It seems to be working. My overall mpg, combined, as gone from 25 about 3 weeks ago. To just above 29. Not a big improvement I know, but considering I've only decreased my speed by 5 mph, well not counting the fact that I've stopped hot-footing it up to 85 :blush: just to pass a complete moron. Instead now I just drop back and let them get as far ahead of me as possible.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    My overall mpg, combined, as gone from 25 about 3 weeks ago. To just above 29. Not a big improvement I know

    I'd consider a 15-20% improvement pretty big!
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    I agree with Grad. That's quite an improvement in mileage. The smoother you are the better it gets.
  • scz3838scz3838 Member Posts: 8
    Just filled up my 08 Accord 4-cyl today. It was the first tank the car has been driven on, "fully filled up" from the dealership. I have a feeling it might just be the original fill-up from November 07 or whenever they got the car to their lot. I got pretty disappointing results... 289 miles on 17.2 gallons for 16.8 MPG. My driving has been about 90% city, however. I feel I am a pretty conservative driver, no flooring, I brake early, etc. Is this normal? Will my gas mileage get better as the engine breaks in some more?

    Hoping the next cycle fares better..
  • blufz1blufz1 Member Posts: 2,045
    Your city mpg is all about the route you drive. Don't be too dissapointed; you can get that low depending on your driving route. The tank may not have been as full from the dealer as you filled it when you checked your mileage. Check it again filling up at the same pump and letting the pump turn itself off each fill.
  • olemedolemed Member Posts: 27
    On a recent trip to Bar Harbor Maine from I averaged 34 mpg going up Route 1 (minimal stop and go, it was amazingly smooth for Sunday traffic); 30 mpg cruising around Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park (lots of hills and valleys) and 36 mpg coming home on I-95, going no more than 65 mph. The average was 33 mpg on the entire trip, very happy about that. This is the I-4 sedan.

    In April I went to Portsmouth, NH I averaged 38 mpg on that trip, all highway, going 55-65 mph. My tires are inflated to 40psi, car is empty of junk and that does help. Good mileage is possible in this car if your mindful of your driving style.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    Let me ask; what was your previous car, and what mileage did you get in it given the same commute?

    "City" has many meanings for different people. Just remember, every second you sit stopped, you are throwing a 0 MPG into your average.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    LX, LX-P, EX, EX-L? Manual or Automatic? Sounds good either way. :)
  • dlongoddlongod Member Posts: 5
    Bought it new last week and have already filled up twice...lots of driving! Combined Hwy (80%) and City driving yielded 27 mpg and 28 mpg, both starting from full tanks. I always go 8-9 mph over the speed limit so I averaged 79 on hwy. I also had a full load including wife (not to say she is a load!!! :), 2 full suitcases, and 2 passengers. I had the A/C on full blast the whole time and put 87 grade fuel in. I feel this mpg is acceptable, especially compared to the 18 mpg I was getting in my 06 Xterra SE 4X4.
  • scz3838scz3838 Member Posts: 8
    Used to drive a 99' Altima that got about 25 MPG. However I have not really measured the MPG in that one for a while, I think I am only being overly paranoid about the Accord's MPG because it's new and I'm trying to see if it's up to par.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    Hi-

    Just filled today. 26.602 mpg. :( Then again I only put 5.977 gallons after having gone only 159.9 miles. Maybe I'll try it again once I get down to 1/4 tank.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    That's not necessarily BAD mileage, but I think you can do better. :)

    Filling up before using more than 7-8 gallons makes your margin for error pretty large.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    I know it's not bad, but after my run with over 29 I'm sad. Oh well. Better luck next time. The only reason I fill up after about 6 gallons, usually, is because I get paid every friday and it's easier to just fill up then it is to wait. I know I could never be the person who consistently only puts $10-15 in. That seems like a waste of time.

    I do find it funny that a girl I work with insists that I should get a better car because my car isn't as fast as hers. Meanwhile her car ways about 5 pounds and is rated for about the same horsepower, and she's already had it rebuilt once. What do you think is my car "bad" because it's not fast. ;)
  • heidmanrheidmanr Member Posts: 8
    Filled up my second tank today. First one was 26.65 MPG, today was 29.35 MPG. Mostly highway driving in Metro Atlanta and also back and forth between Atlanta and Augusta, GA (approx. 130 miles). On the highway I keep cruise at 70, in town I try to be light on the gas and coast up to the lights. Thus far am pleased, traded an 07 Civic where I could get as high as 40MPG, but love the Accord's roominess and smooth drive.
  • dpmeersmandpmeersman Member Posts: 275
    Just curious, manual or automatic? Do many owners have manual trannys?
  • heidmanrheidmanr Member Posts: 8
    Automatic, the wife cannot drive a stick.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    you mean my wife can't drive a stick. ;)

    That term bothers my mom. I know it's off topic. I'm in the same boat. I'd love to be able to drive a manual, but I'm just skilled enough to get the vehicle down the road in one piece, and you can forget about hills.

    I've been trying to get someone to teach me.

    Aren't most car manufacturers phasing out manuals anyway?

    Sorry if I offended you.
  • dudleyrdudleyr Member Posts: 3,469
    There are still plenty of manuals out there. Gas prices will help keep them around.
  • tallman1tallman1 Member Posts: 1,874
    You'd be surprised how easy it is to get comfortable with a manual. And once you are there, you'll hate driving an automatic. :shades:
  • heidmanrheidmanr Member Posts: 8
    No offense taken, MY wife cannot drive a stick. I have had many over the years and loved them. They give you a much better feeling that you are actually driving the car, more interactive. My wife took the Accord out yesterday for a trip to Atlanta (120 miles) and enjoyed the ride, she LOVES the XM radio, so think I will be signing up for a subscription (if that is what you call it?).
  • ljgbjgljgbjg Member Posts: 374
    This weekend we checked our '08 Sedan EXL V6 mileage twice - 156 miles from NYC to Clark's Summit, PA on I-80, 380, and 81 at about 80 MPH w/AC on - 6 gallons = 26 MPG. Then 138 ,miles to Syracuse, NY on I-81 at 70-75 - 4.6 gallons = 30 MPG!!!!! VERY pleased. 4500 miles on the car.
  • ljgbjgljgbjg Member Posts: 374
  • zachtopzachtop Member Posts: 2
    2000 Honda Accord Coup EX, 71400 miles, automatic, car maintained on regular basis.
    Consistent numbers:
    35 mpg hwy, infrequent braking, good road conditions, speed varies between 60-90 mph, 130-350 miles each way.
    25 mpg city, frequent stop/go, good road conditions.
    I'm the original owner and this has been a great, reliable vehicle. I intend to keep it for another 8 years if possible.
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    6 or 4? Keep up the good work anyhow.
  • zachtopzachtop Member Posts: 2
    4
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    If you'll cap those speeds at 75mph, you'll do oh-so-much better!!!
  • ezshift5ezshift5 Member Posts: 858
    6 or 4? Keep up the good work anyhow

    ......with those kinds of numbers, I'd bet a case of Crown Royal it was the square root of 16 (for those in Rio Linda, that would be an I-4).

    No one (except - very rarely - me) gets those kinds of numbers with the V-6.

    Last tank: 80% highway....trips to Redding and then Lodi.....31.52. I've done better. Maybe it's the ethanol still lurking from wintertime................

    best, ez....
  • tankbeanstankbeans Member Posts: 585
    Stranger things have happened. ;) I have to ask because you never know if people are doing weird tricks to get better mileage even when going like a rpd ape. ;)
  • slingshot80slingshot80 Member Posts: 55
    Just filled gas tank for the first time. Went 319 miles mostly highway and it took 12.6 gallons. That equals 25.3 mpg. Was hoping for a higher amount but as it isn't broken in yet, its not too shabby. ;)
  • ljgbjgljgbjg Member Posts: 374
    Speed seems to be a HUGE factor - and topography. Certainly someone driving 300 miles across West Texas is going to get better mileage than someone driving across Western Colorado.

    In our case the topography of both routes was roughly the same - so I can only attribute the improvement from 26 - 30 MPG with our '08 V6 to the change in speed from 80 down to 70-75. :)
  • 42624262 Member Posts: 4
    I've had it less than 2 weeks and I have already put 1K miles on it. I travel a lot and I look forward to driving it every day. After the first 1000 miles on the Accord, I am averaging 27.4 mixed. I would say I drive about 20% city and 80% highway. That number feels about right considering the EPA average is 21 city and 31 highway. Hopefully it'll continue to improve as the car breaks in a little more. I'll post an update after a couple more thousand miles. :)
  • bndiebndie Member Posts: 12
    First tank put 16.25 gallons , 421 miles. 25.9 mpgs .
    Mostly city + rural roads, Central Fl(at)rida , with heavy A/C use.
    Maybe will get better as engine breaks in.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    First tank put 16.25 gallons , 421 miles. 25.9 mpgs .
    Mostly city + rural roads, Central Fl(at)rida , with heavy A/C use.
    Maybe will get better as engine breaks in.


    Sounds really good for mostly city-type driving. Congrats on the new car.

    Also, remember dealers are notorious for not filling COMPLETELY full on your first tank, so your mileage may have actually been slightly better.
  • bndiebndie Member Posts: 12
    Thanks thegraduate,
    Dealers are interesting .... to say the least.
    I have mostly avoided the interstates , maybe when i do it will give me a full picture of the mpg.
  • thegraduatethegraduate Member Posts: 9,731
    It really will; it's the purest way to gauge mileage. Pick a speed and go that for a long period of time. It's easy on the engine since it stays warmed up and running at a low RPM (assuming you don't drive 110 mph!). It should yield top mileage. I'd think you should easily, easily see low 30s on a 70 mph pure highway trip, if not better.
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