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Mazda5 Owners MPG-Real World Numbers

437 messages,  Last post on Dec 07, 2011 at 2:17 PM

You are in the Mazda Mazda5 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Mazda MAZDA5, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Van

Messages Page 6 of 44

#49 of 437 Re: mileage vs 2006 Volvo V50 [bdclary] by smaria

Sep 27, 2005 (9:24 am)

Replying to: bdclary (Sep 27, 2005 7:32 am)
Here's my analysis:
 
Mazda5, 5-speed manual: 22/27 MPG EPA
 
Volvo V50, 5-speed auto: 22/30 MPG EPA
               (w/ T5 engine): 22/31 MPG EPA
 
So, they all perform identically in the city, but the Volvo does better on the highway.
 
Mazda5 Weight: 3333
Volvo V50 Weight: 3058
 
The Mazda5 is almost 300 pounds heavier than the Volvo V50, partly because the Mazda5 has a third row of seats (no third row in the Volvo V50).
 
As for the drag, a rough estimate can be made by multiplying the car's width by its height (assuming the car has a square frontal area...not true but the best I can do for now):
 
Mazda5: 64.2 high x 69.1 wide = 4436 square inches
Volvo V50: 57.2 high x 69.7 wide = 3987 square inches
 
Multiply by the drag coefficients (0.32 for the Volvo, 0.31 for the Mazda), and we get drag values of 1375 for the Mazda5 and 1275 for the Volvo V50. That's 7.8% more drag on the Mazda5. The extra 7 inches of height in the Mazda5 increases its drag, decreasing its highway EPA rating. You really feel those 7 inches though...I bet it's a noticable difference if you sit in the 2 cars. I love feeling high off the ground in the Mazda5.
 
As for Volvo's 200-hp engine getting better gas mileage than the 160-hp engines, I guess that's just a very efficient engine.

#50 of 437 Milage by roverton

Oct 01, 2005 (8:09 pm)

30 highway
22.5 city
25 mixed.
 
I still cannot figure out why the mazda3 rental is getting 25mpg on the highway.

#51 of 437 Re: Milage [roverton] by sandiegoguy

Oct 02, 2005 (4:06 pm)

Replying to: roverton (Oct 01, 2005 8:09 pm)
Maybe it's the 3 extra horsepower?
 
Or the drag of the AVAILABLE roofrack
 
Or the extra weight of the fire resistant exhaust heatshield

#52 of 437 Re: Milage [roverton] by bwaters

Oct 02, 2005 (7:29 pm)

Replying to: roverton (Oct 01, 2005 8:09 pm)
My automatic 2004 Mazda3 loaner averaged only 19.5 mpg on the second tank, all in city. I've been a little heavy on the peddle so I could have done better.

#53 of 437 MPG after 4024 miles MZ5 5 Speed by mrgary

Oct 02, 2005 (7:58 pm)

Well we took our MZ5 on vacation just before the recall.
We put 1389 miles on it and averaged 30.5 MPG.
For the entire 4024 miles of owner ship averaging 28.9 MPG but I am not a race type driver.
Can't wait to get it back. The MPV is ok but not so much fun to drive.
Although it is keeping the miles off my car..

#54 of 437 Re: MPG after 4024 miles MZ5 5 Speed [mrgary] by pir8matt

Oct 03, 2005 (10:53 am)

Replying to: mrgary (Oct 02, 2005 7:58 pm)
I imagine the 5-speed would put up numbers like that.
 
I have to admit, I was surprised the automatic was a 4 speed. When I test drove it, I noticed it was only going up to 4, but we were just driving in a small neighborhood behind the dealership and never really got above 35 MPH. The saleperson said he thought it was a 5-speed, so I bought it thinking that it was.
 
But my sport automatic had about 212 miles on it when I took it to the dealer for the recall, and it was just about out of gas. That means I was barely getting 20MPG. That sucks.

#55 of 437 Driving Style by bobw3

Oct 03, 2005 (11:41 am)

Driving style makes a huge impact on mpg, so depending on when you shift or in an automatic, how hard you push the pedal down after stoplights, can add/subtract 5-10mpg. Try it yourself. Go for a week starting off more gradually, keeping the rpms down and manually calculate the mpg, and then go the next week racing around.

#56 of 437 Re: Driving Style [bobw3] by pir8matt

Oct 03, 2005 (11:46 am)

Replying to: bobw3 (Oct 03, 2005 11:41 am)
Well, I pretty much have a leadfooted driving style, but I was hoping it would get good mileage in spite of my driving style.
 
Zoom-zoom, and all that, right?

#57 of 437 Re: Driving Style [pir8matt] by bobw3

Oct 03, 2005 (7:28 pm)

Replying to: pir8matt (Oct 03, 2005 11:46 am)
Then you should expect to get a lot less mpg than what's posted on the car, since thats calculated by a non zoom zoom driver!

#58 of 437 Re: 29mpg [perfectofc] by vinnyfast

Oct 07, 2005 (3:26 pm)

Replying to: perfectofc (Jul 25, 2005 1:35 pm)
I got 34.5 mpg after calculating the first couple of fillups, now have 1500km....only had it 2 weeks though, sitting in the shop for 2 months or so because of the recall.....now driving a Charger SXT with about half that gas milage....if I'm lucky!!

Messages Page 6 of 44

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