SUV gas mileage - Feel free to participate

ateixeira · March 2002

Kris: it would be interesting to see how much the Blazer will cost you over the years, because there's no way to predict what repairs will be required. Subies on average are quite reliable so I wouldn't count on big savings with the Blazer.

Why is truck registration cheaper than cars? An old loop hole for work trucks?

-juice

jaw2000 · March 2002

as it were.

Looked at the aricles from the link you provided, the key (for real current world) is that it suggested different brands were different. I assumed that the diffs were not significant, so are they and if so what is the right one to use and when?

Fair questions I hope.
Regards

dielectric7bb · March 2002

You thought I read that article? That thing is huge. All I can tell is that yes different brands have different additives. As to whether or not they are significant, I doubt it (unless you're buying gas in Mexico).

jaw2000 · March 2002

No seriously, I thought you may have used it or read it for other purposes, and thus had a preference.

Personally, my eyes started to glaze over, and I then just started a massive skimming.

Kinda like our Congress.

dielectric7bb · March 2002

maybe one day...not today.

bjfrank42 · March 2002

it's expensive to replace things on them. According to my mechanic, there is no after market rotor for a Suburu. You have to get one from Suburu which of course is more expensive. I don't own one but I talk to my mechanic about car things just to get information.

bjfrank42 · March 2002

I meant to say no after market brake pads, not rotors.

paisan · March 2002

Haaaaaaaaa

BJFrank your mechanic is full of crap!

You can go into any Pep Boys/Autozone/etc. and buy a whole range of pads, even for my XT6 which only had 4000 of them ever made!

-mike

paisan · March 2002

They were like $15 for the cheap ones and $25 for the semi-metal ones.

ateixeira · March 2002

Brian: your mechanic may be basing his thoughts on old information. You gotta remember, the WRX has opened up a huge aftermarket of parts for Subarus, and most parts are interchangeable with other models.

I can easily find several brake pads alternatives for my Forester, in fact the problem is which to choose!

Also, there are now a few wholesalers for OE Subaru parts in the US. Remember, the Outback and Legacy are built in Indiana, so even the parts are sourced locally.

Parts are much cheaper now, and abundant as well.

-juice

ianshaw · March 2002

As I recently posted on the Chevy Tahoe/GMC Yukon board, I have been getting some impressive gas mileage out of my 2002 4x4 Tahoe (and it has the larger 5.3l engine). It has been averaging between 18-20.5 mpg (with about 30% city, 70% highway driving and using the Auto 4 wheel drive about 25% of the time). However, I not only complied with the manufacturer's suggested break in, I took it a step further. I never drove it above 60 mph for the first 700 miles, constantly varied my speed and, until it had 1500 miles, never gave it more than about 1/2 throttle or drove it constantly above 70 mph. I now have about 3200 miles on the odometer. The dealer indicated that this might improve my fuel economy. He appears to be right!

Does anyone know if a slow break-in really does improve fuel economy? Is anyone else experiencing 18-20 mpg with a 2002 4x4 Chevy Tahoe with the larger engine?

dielectric7bb · March 2002

How is it that you are calculating your MPG. Don't use the on board computer to do this as they are not known to be highly accurate. Did you do the calcs by hand with the gas pump measurement?

ianshaw · March 2002

Dielectric7bb - My Tahoe doesn't have the on-board computer. I have the LS model with very few options (5.3l engine, third-row seats/liftgate, and upgraded tires). I try to fill the gas tank to the same level each time. (I do this by repeatedly pulling the pump lever until it simply will not accept any more fuel.) Then I take the mileage from the trip odometer that I reset ever time I get gas. From there, I figure the mpg by hand. I have had mileage as low as 14.7 when I drove the car home from the dealer in Denver. However, the last 6-10 tanks have been between 17.8 mpg and 20.5 mpg.

I think I may have failed to mention on my last post that my impressive gas mileage has come despite the fact that I have been using the Auto 4 Wheel Drive function about 20-25% of the time. (Which may account for somewhat higher gas mileage because I average only about 50 mph on snow-packed roads.)

britton2 · March 2002

well, obviously it's not very good - usually 13-14 city - about 16-16.5 on the highway -but my husband loves the thing so what can I say?

li_sailor · March 2002

A vehicle getw worse mpg during break-in due to greater friction until the engine "loosens up". I can't imagine what would made a more gradual break-in produce better mpg after break-in...but I would be interested inhearing a theory!

According to EPA estimates, the Tahoe with the 5.3 should get 14/17. At 50/50, that would yield 15.5 mpg...at 30/70, 16.1.

So, you appear to be getting about 19.25 instead of 16.1. That's a significant amount. I would guess that you are doing other things that improve mpg, like gentle acceleration and maintaining constant speed on the hwy.

paisan · March 2002

I got the best milage during break-in period. Because you generall don't floor it so much during city driving this leads to good break-in milage. I got 17mpg in the city during break-in of my trooper, now with my lead-foot I get about 13mpg.

-mike

li_sailor · March 2002

I also did the "babying" thing...I really did that with my PF in the first month or so...I went easy on everything. But...my mileage was horrible! I averaged about 10 mpg the first few weeks...then gradually it came up to 17 or so and has been fairly steady (except for variations for lack of tune-up/seasonal gas oxygenation levels/changes in city/hwy ratio) since then.

khitch710 · April 2002

I have a 2001 Excursion, PSD....I just completed a trip from SW Florida to Orlando and back...400 miles was Interstate at 75 to 80 mph...the other 100 miles was city stop and go....only took 25 gals. of diesel....works out to 20mph...also had Hypertech III computer reprogramer installed...Much better performance and about 3 mph better mileage....also has K&N filter....

navigator3740 · September 2002

My Navigator gets a very consistent 13.7 mpg city,and up to 18 mpg highway, but I push it fast.

li_sailor · September 2002

My 2001 PF has averaged just under 17. I do about 60/40 highway.

beagles3 · September 2002

I am getting between 19-21 mpg on the hwy and 19 in the city with 103,500 on the odometer. Running the upgraded P265 60 16 tire/wheel combo. I usually drive 75 miles r/t a day between home and work.

jameswhite69 · September 2002

I'm doing about 70/30 and get about 17-18 MPG. good drop from the Escape I have that got me 21-22 and a big drop from the 26 I had with my old 89 Accord. The funny thing it I still traval about the same per fill up. 380-410 Miles. If not for the larger fuel tanks in the larger auto's then no onw would buy them.
That soming to look at! On average gow many mile do you drive before you need gas?

nippononly · September 2002

I get about 20 mpg in mixed driving that is a little city, half highway, and some offroad stuff which probably gets the worst mileage!

Shows how much technology has improved over the years that a lot of these new trucks listed here are getting the same or better and they have much bigger more powerful engines than my little V-6!

jaw2000 · September 2002

Lowest 13.4, Highest 19.6. Average for me about 16 to 16.5.

Formerly owned a 2000 Montero Sport (do not buy one of these!), averaged out to 17 -- seemingly no matter what the mix was, short of all highway.

nippononly · September 2002

why should we not buy a Montero Sport? Because it has really bad gas mileage, or some other reason?

cmack4 · September 2002

3/4's City driving and I get a little over 16mpg on average. On long trips, I average about 21mpg. If everyone else in Jersey weren't so impatient I could probably do a little better... but hey, what are you gonna do? You don't "go with the flow" in Jersey, and everyone and their brother will cut you off, pull shady passing maneuvers, etc.

britton2 · September 2002

only gets about 13 MPG city - last tank it got 12.8 MPG city - gets about 16 MPG on the highway - a nice ride, but pretty awful gas mileage

jaw2000 · September 2002

1. underpowered -- can't get out of its own way.
2. front end shake and shimmy, seems about (trying to note exagerate) 25% or more folks have this.
3. not big enough for anyone over about 6ft.

I can list more reasons.

At times this was a great vehicle. But it never had enough space for stuff, it never had enough space for me as driver, and the times I needed to carry 5 people (two being kids), downright tight.

The front end shake, can be dangerous-I got rid of mine as it was beginning to develop, after numerous tire rotations, balancings and finally replacing those tires.

It never want completely away.

Such is life, I am certain you will find many others who swear by theirs, unfortunately I'm not one of them.

My Suburban though is all that the MS was not, and my main sacrifice is 1 to 1.5 MPG. By the way, the steering ratio is almost the same (actual testing vice any posted numbers), should not a mid size SUV have a reasonable turning radius, should it be as big as a SUburban?

There is a lot out there, if you have not already look around.

ywilson · September 2002

I get 15 in the city and when driving conservatively on the highway, I get about 20. I have the 4.7 liter motor and I like it. When buying my truck I knew that I wanted a truck and also I was willing to accept what comes with it. This includes the gas mileage. If you want something that sips gas you should not look this way.

cufishn1 · September 2002

gets 24MPG with 60-70% around town/short trip diving. Have yet to take a long highway trip with it.

nippononly · September 2002

you really can do about 4 mpg better than in the V-6, huh? Good to know...

grunt03 · September 2002

What's gas mileage? New H2 getting 10.5 city and 13mpg highway. But, then again I didn't buy it for gas mileage. To think about it, I don't know why I bought it. It would be nice to see 15-16 mpg.

When I bought my ZO6 it wasn't for gas mileage either, but it gets 28-30mpg on the highway.

paisan · September 2002

You bought it for image obviously!

At least of the 4-5 H2 owners I've come across zero of them take em off road or tow anything with them and when pressed admit it's for image. Very sad IMHO.

-mike

paisan · September 2002

10.5mpg on my Trooper @ 60mph towing ~7000lbs.

-mike

grunt03 · September 2002

Mike,

You're right it will probably never go far off road. It's a company vehicle and lettered up fully. We have 5 S-10's driven on service routes daily. We hope the H2 will increase our exposure. It's just a big yellow page going down the road.

I still use my '95 Z-71 for off-road and towing.Wish I had more time to do both.

best to you,

buddy
usmc0311

navigator3740 · September 2002

My wife drives it. She is averaging over 18 MPG in town. I think it's underpowered, but she loves it.

ateixeira · September 2002

Hmm, a PT Cruiser painted yellow or purple might be just as effective, and a lot cheaper.

Nice company car, though!

Still averaging 25mpg in my Forester. Low was 20.7 and high was 30.4 mpg.

-juice

navigator3740 · September 2002

She'd rather have the New Beetle in blue.

ateixeira · September 2002

A local grocery store has a green one with their logo painted on, to draw attention. I think it's getting less and less attention now that they've been out for a while.

-juice

nippononly · October 2002

from an all-highway trip in my 4Runner, and got 25 mpg in highway miles! A new record for my truck, and only about 5 less than the outback sport I used to have.

cb70 · October 2002

with just me in the vehicle or 8 mpg while pulling a tractor, LOL.

goldston · November 2002

We own two H/L's. My wife drives the 2001 and I get the 2002. They are both 2WD, V6 Limited although different colors (we had to tell them apart somehow..

We also live in Phoenix Az, so just flatland driving, good weather and we drive conservatively.
Both vehicle consistently get high 22's in town. Once we got just over 23, but that only happened the one time. We have made a couple highway trips and that mileage was high 25's.

ateixeira · November 2002

Why do you get the newer one? ;-)

That's great mileage. CR's new issues has several big SUVs, and their Expedition got just 12mpg. 13mpg for their Tahoe.

-juice

goldston · November 2002

on how come I get to drive the 2002?
The 2001 H/L has the little between the seats console and she likes that better than the full console that comes with the 2002. Go figure??

Best regards, Philip

ateixeira · November 2002

Cool. I was just teasin'.

We test drove one and I liked it, but my wife didn't. Too big for her tastes.

-juice

denali856 · December 2002

Overall average 14.8 through about 22k miles. In all highway driving around 16-18.

molliedollie · January 2003

Can anyone share their actual gas mileage in a Sequoia? I'm considering one of these and would like some real figures.

Thanks!

tidester · January 2003

Glad to see you found your way here!

tidester, host

ekunst · January 2003

i own a 03 sr-5. i currently have 3k miles. i drive a 50% hwy, 50% city. i have been getting a consistant 16.8 mpg per my trip computer. as with any v8 though, the gas guzzle factor is proportional to the angle of the accelerator pedal. i drive 70+ hwy and at that rate the computer reads 15-19 mpg depending on the road grade. i try to go easy with the gas pedal, but if your punching it all the time you are going to suck that gas down real quick!. i expect the mileage to increase in the spring when they stop putting the mtb stuff in the gas(live in the n.east). overall i am satisfied with the economy. my mazda b2600i 4x4 got worse mileage and didnt weight 5000+ lb or have a 240 hp v8. good luck

stevation · January 2003

I'm thinking of getting a used (probably '99 or so) mini-suv, but I want something with decent gas mileage. We have a new 2002 Pathfinder that gets about 16-17 mpg. On a long road trip at New Year's it only got 18 max on the highway. Anyway, we're keeping that car and I want the other car to have better mileage. Can any of you recommend what you think is the best, most reliable mini-SUV that will be useful for fishing and light backcountry trips but also get better than 25 mpg on my daily 25-mile commute? Honda CR-V? Toyota RAV-4? I don't know if the little Suzukis, Hyundais, Kias, etc are reliable enough, but I'd like your opinions. Thanks!

SUV gas mileage - Feel free to participate

Comments

Helpful Tools

Most popular vehicles

Your Privacy