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Toyota Yaris Real-World MPG

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Comments

  • fastrunnerfastrunner Member Posts: 38
    That is an excellent piece of writing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    On my first 6 fillups in my Yaris Hatchback, my average is 41 mpg, with no highway driving. What a great car made in Japan, not America.
  • forrestshalomforrestshalom Member Posts: 26
    yeah,

    i would prefer "supporting my country" and buying american, but who is going to pay for my repair bills and for poor gas mileage? in my research, the yaris wins hands down oveir its competitors with its high tech engine, design and real world gas mileage and at a cheap (comparitive) price.

    direct ignition on the yaris is cool! just barely turn the ignition key, release and it starts right up!

    in my area, i am amazed at the junk many people still drive:
    suv's pickup trucks and older american cars that stink (from the exhaust)... who can afford to drive them?

    the japanese and now the koreans are poised to really deal a death blow to the american auto industry once gas goes over $3.00 buks a gallon. my guess is that won't be too far off.
  • boris13boris13 Member Posts: 80
    Look for gas to top $3.00 per gallon sometime this summer. I would bet on it.
  • walterquintwalterquint Member Posts: 89
    Actually, coasting by holding in the clutch for extended periods does wear out the clutch. A clutch "wears" every time the clutch pedal is depressed. The longer it is depressed, the more wear. That's called "riding the clutch". And one causes even more wear when the car slams itself back into gear at the end of the coasting. Better to depress clutch and throw it into neutral. (However, I don't recommend this, it's dangerous.)...........stick to 4th or 5th gear in the Yaris going downhill, you'll still save gas.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    However, I don't recommend this, it's dangerous

    Also illegal to coast downhill in neutral, at least in some states. Just keep it in gear and take your foot off the gas as much as is practical--that saves a lot right there. And when your foot is on the gas, use a very light touch--especially important with automatics to keep the gear as high as possible. It helps to blip the gas enough to get the car to up-shift, then lighten the pedal pressure so that the revs go down but it stays in the higher gear. Watching the tach (or listening to the engine noise if you don't have a tach) is useful here.
  • fastrunnerfastrunner Member Posts: 38
    I still plan on coasting in neutral, as I have been for years. My last 5 speed was a Honda CRX, with 152,000 miles, and the original clutch. I am age 57, and have never replaced a clutch.
    My last car was a Toyota Corolla, with an automatic, 174,000 miles, and no problems with the transmission, after coasting many miles.
    I like to coast.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    You don't coast with the clutch on the floor, you put the gearbox in neutral.

    You don't "slam it" back into gear, you match the revs to the speed and slip it back into gear without a quiver.

    As you say, coasting downhill is not the greatest idea unless it is a very slight grade, and coasting in gear in that case will give you engine braking and still save you gas.

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • akin242002akin242002 Member Posts: 30
    In the owner's manual that Toyota gives you there are lots of tips on how to maximize your MPG. I followed all the tips and I am getting 41 to 42 MPG on the highway (With the automatic sedan and smooth flowing traffic). In the city (San Francisco) I was getting 29 MPG with jackrabbit starts and stops. Once I stopped all the jackrabbit starts and stops, my city MPG rose to 33 MPG. Just follow the advice in the owner's manual and stay away from mixed gasoline, and you should maximize your miles per gallon.
  • codlotcodlot Member Posts: 5
    My 07 Yaris sedan is almost 4 mos. old with 16 miles. So far I have NOT gone beyond 29mpg. I went to an on-line chat with Toyota and a Yaris specialist. Everything she mentioned regarding fuel efficiency is being done....EXCEPT....she mentioned about getting a couple of tank fulls of high octane and then go back to 87 octane. I'm very surprised at this suggestion and I certainly cannot affort the price of high test gasoline.
    Is anyone having the same questions about fuel economy? I am very disappointed. My salesman told me to bring it in and have the mechanics look at it, but I'm so reluctant to have someone start guessing and fooling around with it. I don't want this to escalate into something else.
  • dtownfbdtownfb Member Posts: 2,918
    A couple of questions for you codlot.

    1) How many miles do you have on the vehicle? In your post you state 16 miles. that can't be right after 4 mo. of ownership.

    2) how are you measuring your gas mileage? I would suggest that you keep a small notepad/notebook in the glove compartmnet to accurately track your gas mileage. make columns: date, odometer reading (current miles at fillup), miles (the difference between last odometer reading at fillup and current reading at fillup), gallons (gas pumped at fill up), MPG (miles divided by gallons of gas)

    What this does is allow you to track each individual tank of gas and analyze your driving habits. I also use it as a way of tracking maintenance like changing the air filter or fuel filter.

    3)What is your typical driving pattern each day? I commute 86 miles a day. All but 4 miles is highway but I also have to deal with rolling hills and some congestion so my gas mileage normally comes in just a hair under the sticker for highway mpg. Also i do mostly city driving (very short trips) on the weekends. Oh yeah, my vehicle has 131k miles.

    it takes several thousand miles for a engine to break-in so I wouldn't panic too much.
  • codlotcodlot Member Posts: 5
    Sorry for the typo. I have 1687 miles on the Yaris. How I measure my mileage is that I wait until the "low fuel" light blinks and drive a few miles and each and every time I fill up the tank,it has taken exactly 10 gallons. So I write down the mileage at that very moment on a 10 gallon fill-up. Each time I have averaged 290-309 for each 10 gallons. I keep a pad in the glove compartment for this reason.

    It's true that I do not put many miles on the car, however, even the salesman said I should be getting better mileage then that.

    During the hot weather I thought it was air conditioning usage that hampered the mpg. Now that I no longer use the air conditioning, the mpg remains the same.

    Thank you so much for your reply.
  • bamacarbamacar Member Posts: 749
    automatic or manual transmission? As asked before what percentage is highway and city?
  • codlotcodlot Member Posts: 5
    Automatic transmission and I've only gone on back country roads with very little stops. I only average about 50 miles per hour.

    Taken once on an 80 mile trip on Garden State Pkwy. and still had the same mpg.
  • akin242002akin242002 Member Posts: 30
    Do you drive with the windows open on the highway and make jerky starts and stops? Because driving a Yaris with the windows open causes great friction on the car. Which in turn causes the car to use more gallons of gas.
  • codlotcodlot Member Posts: 5
    I do not drive with the windows open and I actually stop rather smoothly and never accelerate quickly.

    I want to add that I think the car drives beautifully and has good pickup, more than I expected.

    Thank you for your response.
  • dtownfbdtownfb Member Posts: 2,918
    Even for 4 months that is very low mileage. I wouldn't be overly concerned about your mileage just yet. If the mileage doesn't improve once you reach 5000 miles, then I would get concerned. You are not far off from what Consumer Reports got in mixed drivng (32-33 mpg). I think they do the best in determining real world gas mileage.

    Keep track of the mileage and try not to be too overly obsessed. the more you worry, the less you will enjoy your new car.
  • lhansonlhanson Member Posts: 268
    Do you have ethanol in your gasoline? On a recent trip that I made to Minnesota, I had to fill up with 10% ethanol and lost 4 MPG (about 10%).
  • want_a_yariswant_a_yaris Member Posts: 8
    Does the sedan get as good mpg as the liftback?
  • nukepooch1nukepooch1 Member Posts: 35
    Having the clutch completely released causes no wear. Having the clutch completely depressed causes no wear (Because the clutch disc is completely released from the flywheel/pressure plate). Having the clutch pushed part way causes immense wear, as the clutch is slipping. "Riding the clutch" refers to keeping your foot on the clutch pedal when not shifting or coasting...the vehicle is still moving (i.e. NOT coasting) but the clutch is slipping badly...similarly, "Riding the brakes" comes from having your foot on the brake pedal when not stopping...the car is not slowing down, but the brakes are dragging and wearing.

    Pushing in the clutch to coast only causes the tiny bit of wear when the pressure plate releases the clutch and it starts to slip, but it is no more than shifting.

    However, when slowing to a stop in gear, the momentum of the vehicle keeps the motor running, and thus uses no fuel (the injectors cut back and/or turn off). When you push in the clutch, the motor has to burn fuel to keep idling. A lot of times, you are using more fuel by coasting (though a negligible amount) than if you were to keep it in gear, foot off the gas, and coast to a stop.
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    riding the clutch pedal, even if you aren't pushing it hard enough to cause the clutch plate to slip, DOES wear the hydraulic clutch system, just the teensiest bit each time you do it. Over time, you could find yourself replacing the master and/or slave cylinders earlier than you would otherwise have had to, because of this practice.

    Of course, you can coast in neutral with your foot off the clutch pedal, and avoid this issue entirely. And in the end, no car lasts forever, just as all wear parts in any car will eventually wear out, so none of these choices leads to the end of the world anyway. :-P

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • akin242002akin242002 Member Posts: 30
    Yes the sedan gets as good gas mileage as the Liftback.

    I drive mostly in the city and I have consistently got 33.5 miles per gallon. I have drove the sedan on one long highway trip from San Francisco to Chico to visit my brother, and I got 40 miles per gallon!! I was driving between 70 and 80 MPH on mostly open highways.
  • bamacarbamacar Member Posts: 749
    Just picked up my base Yaris Sedan with manual transmission yesterday. Like it so far. I drove it about 400 miles and varied speed to break it in gently. Although mileage will vary during break in, I got 41.5 miles per gallon for my trip. Anything around 40 for a highway trip will keep me happy.
  • akin242002akin242002 Member Posts: 30
    From what most Yaris owners are saying, including myself, the Yaris is getting 39 MPG or more with mostly highway driving (which is great :shades: ). These numbers are at or above the EPA milage for the automatic.

    City driving on the other hand, I have not heard many people getting at or above the EPA MPG (34 MPG). I think that the Yaris may be getting below the EPA MPG, somewhere between 28 and 31 MPG.

    Is anyone who mostly drives in the city getting silimar results?
  • lhansonlhanson Member Posts: 268
    No, I am getting at least 36 mpg in the city, but only 2-3 more mpg on the highway with a manual hatchback. I do at least 80% of my driving in the city. When I have used 10% ethanol, I got about 4 mpg less.
  • wave54wave54 Member Posts: 211
    No, I am getting at least 36 mpg in the city, but only 2-3 more mpg on the highway with a manual hatchback.

    With a spread between city and highway that narrow, your city miles are more likely suburban than congested inner-city with a stop at every block and a lot of idling.

    Most of the subcompacts can have a range so severe that highway mileage is double hard city mileage. Every one of these small cars has an owner that gets teens for gas mileage in true city, but mid-thirties or better on a long highway trip.
  • lhansonlhanson Member Posts: 268
    I have 6 stop lights, 1 four way stop sign and another two other stops in my 7.5 mile commute that usually takes 15-20 minutes. How would you classify that?
  • micwebmicweb Member Posts: 1,617
    It's pretty close to the EPA "city" cycle (which is more of a suburban cycle).
  • wave54wave54 Member Posts: 211
    How would you classify that?

    Sounds more like suburban miles rather than city. Problem is, "city" is a broad term than can vary widely and affect mileage just as much.

    A congested, downtown drive where you wait 2 or 3 cycles to get through stoplights every block or two isn't what the EPA had in mind with their estimates.
  • want_a_yariswant_a_yaris Member Posts: 8
    So is it safe to say that the Yaris is getting better "real world mpg" than the other subcompacts, e.g Fit, Versa, etc ... ?

    Seems to be my observation from the forums.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Definitely better than the Versa, which is a significantly heavier and more powerful car than the Yaris. Fit mpg seems pretty close to that of the Yaris, based on published tests and real-world reports. They are similar in weight and power. The Fit has an advantage over the Yaris in automatic trim, i.e. 5-speed vs. 4-speed, that helps the Fit AT do particularly well in comparison to the Yaris AT.
  • robertknrobertkn Member Posts: 94
    Anyone else experiencing this? I've had my liftback since November. I live in NW Ohio. Up until about the past month I had been getting 33 city/37 highway. Now that winter is finally here it has dropped to 29-31 (mostly city). Seems like quite a dropoff to me. I'm still under 3,000 miles so haven't done me first oil change yet. I think I might switch to synthetic oil at that time which should help a little.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Yep... happens every winter (when it gets cold, which it is now). :(
  • robertknrobertkn Member Posts: 94
    Backy, you don't even own a Yaris. Please don't reply to my posts with your unqualified comments.

    I am interested in hearing from fellow Yaris and Echo owners on this question. Others need not apply.

    Thank you.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    The question didn't specify whether others were experiencing this with a Yaris. After all, you include the ECHO--which the last time I checked isn't a Yaris. But maybe the Yaris (and ECHO) act differently in this regard than every other car on the road today.

    As Steve Martin used to say,

    "Well, ex-CUUUUUUUUUUUUSE-ME!"
  • robertknrobertkn Member Posts: 94
    This is the Toyota Yaris forum and you know that. People have been through this with you before. Go back to your Playstation.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    Here is some SPECIFIC information about warm weather vs. cold weather fuel economy on a Corolla. Not a Yaris or ECHO, but it's another small-engined Toyota so it might be relevant. I'm sure you'll let me know if it's not or if it's not specific enough for you. Or if it's not what you're looking for you could just use the Page Down key, it would be faster and friendlier than picking on someone's post because it's not specific enough for you.

    lakesguy, "Toyota Corolla Real World MPG Numbers" #123, 30 Jan 2007 1:16 pm
  • micwebmicweb Member Posts: 1,617
    Although Backy is (seemingly) incorrigibly dedicated to singing the praises of Hyundais, there are a couple of things to keep in mind before taking pot shots at him:

    1. He is very well informed, as evidenced by his insightful economy car test drives/comparisons here on Edmunds;

    2. He's usually, although not always, right.

    In this case I vote with Backy. Your lower gas mileage is probably due to the onset of winter.

    The EPA has acknowledged, in coming out with its revised 2008 criteria for gas mileage reports, that one of the major factors decreasing gas mileage is cold weather. This is for several reasons: the engine has to run richer, hence less fuel efficiently, while warming up; the engine has a deeper hole out of which it has to warm up, so warm up takes longer; it's colder outside, so warm up takes longer; a 5W-30 or 5W-20 conventional motor oil is thicker and less fuel efficient at freezing temperatures (a synthetic, especially a 0-30, can help in this regard); using the cabin heater slows down the warm up process; and there is more road friction on a wet/snowy road than on a dry road. Until the car warms up, it needs a richer fuel mixture just to keep running, and friction is higher than at full operating temperature. And the tires are stiffer, and hence less fuel efficient while warming up. Finally, most people take short trips (5 miles or less) which amplifies the "hit" taken from the cold weather.

    This affects ALL cars, not just Yarii, so Backy was right to chime in; although the difference in mpg, in absolute numbers, appears greater because 15% of 37 mpg is a bigger number than 15% of 14 mpg.

    Finally, many states switch to "winter blends" of fuels which are also less energy rich and further affect mileage adversely.
  • robertknrobertkn Member Posts: 94
    I'm not looking for votes, pal. This is the Yaris Forum and I'm looking for qualified input from actual grown up owners like myself. I'm not looking for "probably" or "revised 2008 criteria." If you do not have actual experience to respond with, but are lonesome, please phone a friend.
  • dkarschdkarsch Member Posts: 72
    You have a lot of hostility bottled up there. Did a bully steal your lunch money when you were a little kid?

    Winter driving and its associated fuel mixture will affect ALL cars, including your Yaris. There is no need to be acting like a spoiled little kid....
  • lucynethellucynethel Member Posts: 81
    God you are SUCH A SAVAGE! I'm getting all excited now....HOW impressive. :P
  • nippononlynippononly Member Posts: 12,555
    In my Echo, which has essentially the identical powertrain to the new Yaris, winter has had virtually ZERO effect on my fuel economy. However, I live in California, where we don't get much of a winter (except for that CRAZY cold snap that lasted about a month). It DOES take longer for the little blue light to go out in the mornings this last month or two, and I have noticed that I have gone from a running average of about 41 mpg to about 39.5 for the last several tanks.

    Not sure if that helps, or if I'm qualified to answer...

    :-)

    2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)

  • robertknrobertkn Member Posts: 94
    I'm acting like a "spoiled little kid" because I request some qualified input as opposed to irrelevant drivel from people who feel the just have to say something but have nothing of value to say? How would you say you are acting dkarsch by jumping into a thread to attack me when you have nothing to offer either? Maybe I'm not the only one with something "bottled up"?

    You needn't get too "EXCITED" lucy. Trust me, it will NEVER matter. And what's your excuse? No more spaghetti in the house? You don't own a Yaris either. All you do is make disparaging comments about them. Thanks for dropping by to leave another "DEPOSIT."

    Nippononly--at least you actually drive one of the cars I requested input about. Thank you for your input. (See, I can be perfectly civil.) As to your crack regarding whether you are "qualified," the weather in NW Ohio (per the post where I proposed the question) has been below freezing since the first of January. You must be pretty smart if you live in California. You figure it out...
  • dkarschdkarsch Member Posts: 72
    When you act like an [non-permissible content removed] and are rude to people who are trying to answer your question, then you shouldn't be surprised when you are called on the carpet.

    As I stated before, and you should know this if you live in Ohio, winter fuel mixtures and the cold weather will have a negative affect on a vehicles milage. It doesn't matter if the car is a Corolla (which I drive), a Ford, a Nissan, or a Yaris.
  • robertknrobertkn Member Posts: 94
    Called on the carpet?? I have news for you...I don't work for you, butchey boy. The closest thing to a qualified answer so far was from nipponoly who drives an Echo. When you drive a Yaris or Echo feel free to share a real life experience. In the meantime go check the beagle for fleas and mosey over to the Corolla forum with the rest of the librarians and bean counters. And watch your language, too, there preacher.
  • lucynethellucynethel Member Posts: 81
    Anyone ELSE hear the "PLONK" of a TROLL? :P
  • robertknrobertkn Member Posts: 94
    Oh, we hear YOU there, "LUCY." Now GO on and see HOW many CATS can fit in your "ACCENT."
  • fastrunnerfastrunner Member Posts: 38
    I am very happy with my Yaris 5 speed 90 day average mpg.
    The average is 42.6 mpg. I live in Pennsylvania, and winter is a factor, but not as much as I expected. This car is excellent for fuel economy when driven correctly. I expect to get to an average of 44 mpg in the spring. :)

    date filled miles gals cost mpg
    02/07/2007 297.7 6.98 2.199 42.65
    01/31/2007 297.5 6.923 2.219 42.97
    01/22/2007 260.8 6.205 2.279 42.03
    01/15/2007 169.7 3.857 2.319 43.99
    01/09/2007 316.6 7.331 2.359 43.18
    12/28/2006 307.8 7.23 2.399 42.57
    12/21/2006 206.6 4.632 2.379 44.60
    12/15/2006 117.0 2.814 2.319 41.57
    12/12/2006 279.1 6.82 2.339 40.92
    12/01/2006 258.6 6.01 2.259 43.02
    11/20/2006 309.0 7.403 2.179 41.73
    11/09/2006 285.7 6.85 2.159 41.70
  • robertknrobertkn Member Posts: 94
    Wow, you're doing great fastrunner. I started driving mine (automatic trans) the 1st of November. I had initially been getting about 32.5 when mostly around town, as high as 37 when mostly highway. The weather was pretty mild here until early-January when it really plunged. We've been below freezing for weeks now; at times single digits (F) and below zero at night. My mpg has dropped below 30 now. I thought the weather might be a factor, especially on a new motor. But, I guess I didn't know whether losing 3-4 mpg on this vehicle would be normal, or not.
  • masterp003masterp003 Member Posts: 22
    Wow ! Looks like you haven't dipped below 40 mpg ! Is this mostly city , or all highway? Very nice, are you coasting a lot ?
  • lhansonlhanson Member Posts: 268
    Here are my records going back to when I first purchased my 5 speed manual hatchback Yaris that I have lifted from my Fueleconomy.gov website:


    Fuel Purchase Records

    Date, Miles Traveled, Gallons, Total Fuel Cost, Driving Conditions: City, Hwy, MPG



    05/13/2006 212.70 5.776 15.30 90% 10% 36.8

    06/06/2006 359.60 9.650 25.27 100% 0% 37.3

    07/01/2006 372.50 9.987 26.86 100% 0% 37.3

    07/14/2006 134.20 3.493 9.43 100% 0% 38.4

    08/09/2006 392.30 10.212 28.38 90% 10% 38.4

    08/28/2006 230.30 6.048 14.57 100% 0% 38.1

    08/28/2006 209.00 5.530 14.15 0% 100% 37.8

    08/30/2006 396.20 10.109 26.58 0% 100% 39.2

    08/30/2006 403.10 9.974 24.13 0% 100% 40.4

    09/30/2006 297.80 7.960 15.99 100% 0% 37.4

    10/25/2006 373.70 10.159 19.80 100% 0% 36.8

    11/21/2006 316.30 8.534 17.14 100% 0% 37.1

    11/22/2006 390.60 10.311 21.75 0% 100% 37.9

    11/25/2006 400.40 10.198 22.22 20% 80% 39.3

    11/26/2006 280.90 8.058 16.75 0% 100% 34.9

    11/26/2006 301.90 8.772 17.54 0% 100% 34.4

    12/09/2006 363.10 10.249 21.51 70% 30% 35.4

    12/27/2006 328.30 8.994 18.97 100% 0% 36.5

    01/17/2007 354.10 9.856 19.41 100% 0% 35.9

    02/11/2007 360.10 10.181 19.94 100% 0% 35.4
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