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www.fueleconomy.gov - the official government source for fuel economy information.
This caught my eye seems impressive for a midsize hybrid
2015 Honda Accord Hybrid 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Automatic (variable gear ratios), Regular Gasoline
City...................................50
Combined...........................47
Highway..............................45
Invoice price w/ dest charge included is......... 27,594 for lowest model.
..........................................................................30,102 for EXL model
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/displayPage.action?pageParameter=modelsSpecs&vehicleCode=M6G
You'll notice that the EPA ratings are in fact as high as 28/40, as I noted. If you want the most accurate EPA FE specs for a car, it's best to check what the manufacturer says about it, or go to fueleconomy.gov, e.g.:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2014_Mazda_6.shtml
Compare2015 Mazda 6 26
City................26
30
Combined
38
The 2015 Mazda6 models mpg on this site is listed at 26/ 38. Actually they have 2 different mpg's. The mpg's were downgraded from the previous year. Car manufacturer probably had inflated numbers. Car companies will lie/ twist the truth . . Hyundai and a few others were sued for posting wrong mpg info just recently. That's probably why every car site I looked at has 25/26/38 on the 2015 model.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
No, Brian125, Mazda didn't have inflated numbers. Mazda has a pkg that increases mpg over and above the standard model. A little research goes a long way and adds to one's credibility.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
Its called E-loop. Funny thing about e-loop if you look at Mazda's mpg numbers posted by owners the past 2 years with and without e-loop you will see the real mpg's. Not many are getting close to 36 highway. Why is that? Isn't Mazda's pck. increaser suppose to get you 40 mpg/ 38 non e-loop
Don't believe everything you read from Car Companies. EPA and real world MPG's are 2 different tales.
Some of my vehicles never met the EPA standards posted. My last 2 did not. V-6 Accord and BMW both below EPA standards
So to echo your last line . A little research goes a long way and adds to one credibility.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
I always like how people resort to "real world" argument when faced with actual documented by EPA numbers. One can read all sorts of real world stories both pro and con on every car out there. Easy to use selected one's to bolster argument. That's why most of us stick with EPA numbers for comparison. My RDX has averaged over 25 mpg over the last 3000 miles. It's supposed to get 22 avg. Would I use 25 for comparison.......no. That's just my experience. But I think it's pretty well known that if one drives easy the EPA 's numbers are attainable.
Also remember that in the old days of 12-18 mpg vehicles a 15% difference was only a couple of miles per gallon - hardly noticeable. Nowadays a 15% difference could be 4-6 mpg.
And the actual difference in fuel usage is much less. e.g. driving 300 miles per week and going from 12 mpg to 15 mpg saves 5 gallons per week ($15-$20). Going from 30 to 35 only saves 1.6 gallons ($5-$6).
And don't forget - the EPA fuel economy testing really has nothing whatsoever to do with generating the window stickers - it's done for CAFE compliance and the numbers that are used for that are not what goes on the window sticker. The window sticker mpg is an afterthought created from the CAFE tests plus other tests and mathematical formulas.
As such there is no such thing as a "real world" number. Everybody will get different results because there are far too many variables.
Excellent point about the ethanol testing . They should start testing new vehicle's with E-10.
Some vehicle can't meet EPA testing some will meet/ exceed.
In the wake of the revelations that Hyundai's and Kia's EPA mileage ratings were overstated, got sued and lost its case it's more important than ever for consumers to understand that mileage ratings are not always what they seem. last year Ford's c-max model was overstated by 5/6 mpg's.
On every new-car window sticker, shoppers will see in the same fine print: "Actual results will vary for many reasons, including driving conditions and how you drive and maintain your vehicle." Mazda6's fine print says the MPG's numbers are achievable at 45% city and 55 hwy.
That makes it sound like your gas mileage is solely your fault, and often, it is. But there's at least one other factor: The particular version of the car you buy and the features that come with it will affect the mileage of your new car no matter how passively you drive it.
Last time I read up on gas testing and I'm no expert here. Automakers determine gas-mileage ratings based on tailpipe-emissions tests, The EPA has admitted it audits only about 15% of automakers' claims for accuracy. Not every variation of every car model is tested by automakers. You could easily wind up with a version that gets significantly worse mileage than what its Monroney sticker claims. Those claims take into account the engine, transmission and drivetrain, but there are many more variables.
How about sport trim levels, gigantic sunroofs, larger wheels, different seating configurations in large crossovers, optional storage panels ... you name it. They can all affect your gas mileage.
@m6user if you drive like the manufacture has posted you should come close to that EPA number and a lot of times you will. I looked at over 40 vehicles posted mpg numbers From folks driven there 2014 / 15 Mazda6. Owners that drove at 45/55 city / hwy did not get close to that 38 or 40 mpg number nor did the drivers that drove 70hwy/ 30 city. The I-eloop is a very ingenious concept that probably adds some MPG but the big picture tells a different mpg story.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
And city is not downtown NYC or LA. More like small town mixed I think. So toss out extended stop and go!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
There are specific rules on which options are included. They don't include options if the take rate is too low - 19" or 20" wheels, expensive heavy moonroofs, etc. That's why you sometimes see strange combinations of features - the mfr is trying to limit the sales of certain options so they don't have to be included.
They also use formulas to simulate certain things which is where Ford and Hyundai got into trouble because their formula was wrong. At least Ford found their mistake and self-corrected it.
In the end, there is too much variability in the real world with the same vehicle being driven in different climates and traffic conditions by different people to come up with a single number. And if you put the true range on the window sticker it would be so wide (15-25 mpg e.g.) that it's useless. There is no good answer.
I think a lot of people that drive in very heavy stop and go traffic or they jackrabbit drive can't get the EPA avg. They complain about how unreasonable the EPA numbers are. IMO most people that drive fairly conservative and aren't in major metro type traffic don't have a problem reaching them.
Relying on people that post in forums can be problematic as it common knowledge that a lot more people post with complaints versus those that are satisfied or get the mpg they thought the would get.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
You're not supposed to achieve their numbers...they are just pretend numbers.
The EPA mileage numbers are just used to compare against other vehicles.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
I didn't use ECO mode on the trip, I just prefer the more responsive throttle and stronger AC in normal. But, I got a warning (39 in a 30, which really should be a 45 but I digress) from a friendly officer yesterday, and decided to drive like a grandpa in ECO mode for a while, both to slow myself down and to see what the car is really capable of in my daily 50/50 commute. I have noticed that, in ECO mode, the cruise control will not apply as much throttle to maintain speed on inclines. Which is a nuisance to other drivers, but the instant mpg indicator doesn't dip near as much.
I fully expect to be bored with this test shortly, and to run the numbers at next fill-up and realize I've saved no more than $1 per tank versus my usual "safe-but-spirited" driving style. But I'll let it go for a week or two if I can stand it, just to see.
When you 'guess' how much gas is used by analyzing the exhaust...and then have the results actually come close to real-world is pretty magical.
That's why the EPA gives a range. You're not "supposed" to get their listed mileage, you're supposed to compare their listed mileage to another vehicle they ran the identical test on.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
http://www.autoblog.com/2014/10/21/epa-revised-fuel-mileage-rating-guidelines/
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2015 Subaru Outback 3.6R / 2024 Kia Sportage Hybrid SX Prestige
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Then I got that Grand Cherokee and the whole sunroof assembly leaked in heavy rain and dumped it's contents on me- or my wife, around any hard turn, So now, windows down is all I need on a nice day.
However, I do love convertibles...all or nothing
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
On fuel economy, my '10 AWD V6 crossover is rated 17/20/24. I typically average 19/21/24. Lifetime average is 21.01 (I've tracked every expense & fill-up). Worst mileage for a tank was 13MPG during February's deep freeze with nothing but short (sub-2 mile) trips. Best was, strangely, this past summer fully loaded with 7 passengers (5 adults/2 kids) & AC on for a highway road trip to a zoo where it got 28.5.
But fuel economy is a secondary or even tertiary concern. When my 5 years of ownership hits in December I'll have 41K miles on the odo. At a hair over 8K a year I simply don't drive enough for gas to be a significant expense.
My wife's '12 Elantra does poorly in city driving (around 19MPG) but she also does nothing but very short trips and favors a stronger off the line push. It easily gets 38-40 highway @ 70MPH with AC on so EPA numbers are there despite the Hyundai misreporting issue. She averages about 8500 miles/year.
My sister bought a '13 Elantra MT; her commute is about 120 miles round trip. She reports getting about 45MPG highway which includes dealing with Indy's rush hour traffic.
But a highway trip with no stops is pretty easy to compare to other highway trips, weather and terrain being equal. But those vary a lot too. I drive in the Midwest with no mountains, and with large variations in temperature, from -25 F to 100 F. My FE suffers a lot in cold winter weather. In temperate weather, at 70 mph or below on the highway, I have no problem exceeding EPA numbers, like your sister with her Elantra.
On another topic re mid-sizers... I took my Mazda6i hatchback in today for an oil change, and while I was waiting sat in a base Mazda6i with no options except pearl white paint. I don't know why people complain about the quality of interior materials on that car. I thought they were quite good. Nicely padded and grained dash, cushy armrests, padded/upholstered door panels, smooth HVAC rotary controls, leather covered wheel, cloth headliner, solid-feeling vents, etc. The dash and center console have a simple design, and maybe some people equate that with "cheap". I think it's ergonomic, even Germanic in appearance. I prefer it over the interior of cars like the Accord LX, Camry LE, and Altima S.
I'm looking at new Camrys & Accords. I'm a bit leery of the CVT in the Accord, because I keep my cars for 10+ years. Do you all think the Camry is a better long term bet because of the conventional tranny? I like the Accord better overall, but not the CVT. Any thoughts?
I think you're focusing too much on this one detail. Consider that you need to drive the car every day of those 10+ years. Would you rather that car be the Camry, or the Accord?
Interesting article on CVT 's.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/cars/your-next-vehicle-is-more-likely-to-have-a-cvt-heres-why/2014/05/27/76abd984-e5b4-11e3-a70e-ea1863229397_story.html
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
Rather than sets of gears, CVTs use a belt that runs between two variable-diameter pulleys to give a wide range of ratios and a smooth transition between them. Some CVTs use a fluid-filled torque converter (as with a conventional automatic) to transfer power from the engine to the transmission, others a clutch similar to that used for a manual transmission, but with automatic activation (there is no clutch pedal).
The advantage of a CVT is that the engine can be kept at its most efficient speed while the transmission adjusts to changes in load or road speed. Under brisk acceleration, for example, the engine revs up to where it produces the most power and is held there as the transmission constantly adjusts to the increasing speed of the car. Under cruise conditions, the transmission can adjust for small changes in road speed while the engine is kept at a consistent rpm for best fuel economy. A limiting factor is that because CVTs rely on friction between the belt and the pulleys, they haven’t yet been designed to handle a lot of power. Currently, the highest-horsepower CVT application is in the Nissan Maxima, where it’s paired with a 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V6.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
I don't think I have a real strong preference between the Camry and Accord. I want something reliable and comfortable and I would be happy with either one if they are relatively trouble free.
Bean
Bean
Bean
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
In this class, I don't think there are any bad options. So try them all, and decide what you like the best, and want to "marry" to the next 10 years!
The Camry though, while not exciting, was a very nice drive. And certainly has that bullet proof reputation.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
@backy and @stickguy summed it up best. Just to chime in
I think all car companies should adopt a warranty program like these 2 companies. Stand behind your product bumper to bumper for atleast 5 years and 10yr on powertrain. This is one good reason 2 buy either a Kia or Hyundai. . The other is both are making much better vehicles today.
23 Telluride SX-P X-Line, 23 Camry XSE