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Sedans Hyundai Elantra Hyundai Elantra Real World MPG
295 messages, Last post on Aug 14, 2008 at 3:30 AM
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Replying to: fargond (May 22, 2008 9:18 am) |
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I read the July Consumer Reports writeup on small cars, where they once again give the Elantra top billing. As I was looking at the test data and ratings they have on all the different cars (not just the 5 in the article), I noticed something that caught my interest. They do their own testing, and have their own gas mileage test results. There were 3 or 4 cars (don't have the article in front of me, and can't remember them all; the 3i and the Civic EX were two of them, if I recall correctly) in the list where CR tested both auto and manual versions of the same car. In all the cases, CR reported 2-3 mpg difference in overall mpg, each time to the benefit of the manual. This kind of fits with my sense of what 'makes sense' (straight line power to wheels through a hard clutch should be intrinsically more efficient than the torque converter arrangement, at least a bit so), and also fits with the surprisingly good mileage I've been seeing from my 08 SE 5-speed. It doesn't, however, fit with the official EPA mileage figures. For most cars I was looking at when buying my Elantra, the EPA estimates were virtually identical between manual and auto versions of a given car. On the Elantra, the official estimates actually penalize (however slightly) the manual. Does anyone with any knowledge of the EPA test cycles know why the seeming disconnect? Does the test spec for a manual car assume/require some sort of aggressive (or maybe just crappy) gear selection and/or shift timing?  I didn't get the manual for mileage - I assumed, based on the new EPA numbers, that there was no mileage benefit. (But if there is one, and I'm starting to suspect there is, I'll certainly take it!) I just wanted it because I like driving them; it's a more active, participatory experience, and I like it better that way. |
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I have been keeping track of my MPG's by entering my odometer and fill-up data on fueleconomy.gov. There are about 18 '07 Elantra automatics who have also signed up to do this. Here is the average MPG's these people have gotten... I am #18 http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=mpgData&vehicleID=23572&browser=tru- e&details=on Here is my data over 4 fill ups.  - I compute gas mileage using the how much the odometer changes and divide that by how many gallons I can fill it to (to reflect how much fuel was used) - I reset the trip meter at each fill up, so I can use its mpg number as a 2nd opinion. (the trip meter has never matched my manual calculations) - I determine stop and go / hwy driving percentage via time spent in the car, not via mileage. - My weekday drive is mainly through city streets about 7 - 9 (15 minutes a day?) miles round trip. - Weekends is when I do the most hwy driving, but heck that could be only 14 minutes (to go 15 miles) total with at least 1 hour of varied city driving. So I am easily 90% stop/go driving most of the time, which surprised me. - I drive consciously to save gas except when on the fwy I do hit 75 sometimes. - Trip computer usually says my avg speed is 25mph (this counts idling and stops where my speed is zero) - Variables: I don't always use the same gas stations. I would guess not all gas stations are calibrated the same so fill-up numbers can vary...though I have no idea how much. I did expect this car--maybe naively-- to get better MPG's than my Geo Prizm, but I guess that is a pretty tall order for a 2.0 liter PZEV engine even with CVVT. The Prizm was 1.6 liter 112hp. I got 300 miles between fill-ups for most of its life and it only has a 12.5 gallon tank. |
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Yes the EPA test favors automatics. Years ago Honda had 2 identical cars one with an upshift light and one without. the one with the light was rated 4 or 5 mpg better. If you are good with a manual you will crush the EPA estimates. I am looking at an Elantra for my mother, but my Accord is EPA 34/26 (old testing) and 31/22 (new testing) my lifetime average is 33 mpg including lots of small town driving. I have several tankfulls at 600 miles that were over 40 mpg and the average of my last 10 tanks (of typical driving) is 36 mpg. You cannot beat a manual for mpg. The only exception is (as suggested) if the gears are not tall enough, then the automatic will eventually "catch up" if the speeds get high enough.
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A 100 mile (50 each way) trip plus a couple weeks of to work driving (on the same tank I filled to the brim the one time to know the max storage it had). I suspect the first tank from the dealer was 89 octane, 10% ethanol which usually is the same price or a penny or so cheaper and the most "common" around here. I was seeing 27 MPG from the computer for my in-town driving. On my fillup, I chose 87 octane, 0% ethanol, knowing it should give slightly better MPG without the alcohol in it. And guess what--it does. Same driving habits, same trip, and I'm seeing it around 29.5 MPG for in-town driving vs. 27 before. My wife drives it harder than I about 3 times a week for only a couple mile trip to the store.. not coasting to stops, above the speed limit and the MPG drops by 0.3 each time she uses it, but then I can bring it right back up by my more careful drive to work to the 29.5 area again. A 100 (50 each way) mile trip on open access road resulted in appx 35 MPG with a strong cross wind. That included multiple slowdowns for small towns (30 mph vs crusing of 60 ish). So only half-way through my second tank, I'm very happy with a ~29 city and ~35 MPG, at least what the computer is reporting. We'll see what a hand calculated amount is on the next fillup. Will take it on a longer trip in a month that will really help show/isolate highway milage.
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Replying to: dudleyr (Jun 05, 2008 5:34 am) Yeah, I'm finding that out.  It seems to me that the EPA numbers do a disservice to people (and to their intended mission of reducing fuel usage/emissions) by not letting them know they might get better mileage. I realize that not too many people would buy a manual anyway, but some who might buy one if they knew the mileage difference might not if they thought there was no point. Heck, the one salesman I worked with practically tried to talk me out of getting a manual (I think because they didn't have but one of them in inventory). I told him what I was looking for (SE, manual, X, Y or Z color) and literally the first words out of his mouth were "you know the manual doesn't do any better on gas, right?". lol I say, "Yeah, I know, I just want one." Undeterred, he next tells me how I'm killing my resale options by getting the manual. Yeah, I know...I just want one.  So, I didn't know I was going to do better mileage-wise, but I'll sure take it. Getting ready to fill up later today, and the puter shows 38.2 on this tank (no trip longer than my 25 mile commute to work). It has been pretty much spot-on so far, so I bet it's pretty close this time too. |
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Replying to: fargond (Jun 05, 2008 7:58 am) The type of gas does make a difference, like staying away from ethanol is a good idea if the price is similar. I recorded 37-39 mpg on the hwy doing 70mph using full synthetic oil and 33 lb of tire pressure with my 5 spd. Using reg oil and factory tire pressure I got 34-35 mpg at 70 mph. On my next 800 mile round trip I'll try using premium gas as long as it's not more than 15 cents above reg to check the improvement. It should do better as the eng has a 10.3:1 compression ratio. Might even slow down to 65 to get firmly into the 40+ mpg area....lol I wonder what the compression ratio is on the new Genesis coupe V-6 eng. Runs on reg or prem, with a slight HP boost on premium. On another note. I just read the Car & Driver long term 40K mile test of the 07 Nissan Altima. The xenon headlamp replacement costs $656.....ouch Oil filter $9.00 Wheel $478 Tire $104 Note to self, never buy a car with xenon headlights...lol PS, the a/c compressor went out at a cost of $937 after the 36K mile warranty expired..... |
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I just did an 800+ mile trip at 65 MPH (except for letting it go to 85 a few times for brief periods) on a new SE starting at about 875 total miles on the odometer: 38.3 MPG per the computer. The previous tank was almost all in town on 4-10 mile trips. Staying at the speed limit (25, 30, & 40, depending on the street), the computer reported 24.7 MPG. Not many data points, but encouraging. |
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Off late I ahve been "tweaking" my driving style and have started being soft on the pedal. And it really has given me good results. 699 miles off approx 23.3 gallons on my last 2 fills. Thats a MPG of straight 30.0. Wow much better than the 24's I was getting. I live in South CA so its pretty warm throughout the day. But also what helped was coasting to the red signals and being soft on pedal within the city. For both my last fills highway was around 70% and city 30%. Looking forward to break the 30.0 barrier now. |
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Also I dont keep my car idlying for long. I just start it up and drive; no waiting. Same when I park, I shut off the engine immediately.
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