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Hyundai Elantra Real World MPG 2011 MY and earlier

655 messages,  Last post on Nov 25, 2012 at 6:27 PM

You are in the Hyundai Elantra Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Elantra, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Sedan

    

Messages Page 42 of 66

#405 of 655 Re: 40 MPG A Lie 2011 Elantra by mb21784

Oct 13, 2011 (4:10 pm)

Replying to: sarah2175 (Oct 10, 2011 6:48 pm)
Just finished my first tank in a brand new 2012 Elantra GLS. This is the fourth Hyundai I have owned and I still of a 2005 Elantra GLS. I have stuck with Hyundai because they make decent commuters and I get a lot of miles out out them. My 2005 Elantra has more than 150K and is still going strong, not a single problem so far.
 
However, my first impression with the new Elantra is that gas milage is nowhere near that advertised. I commute 70 miles a day back and forth to work. 75% of that is highway. First tank averaged 28MPG. That is worse than my 2005 Elantra which averages 30. I babied the throttle the entire tank all because I was expecting to see great numbers. It didn't happen.
 
Given that it was the first tank, I expect there may be some small improvement. However, initial break in does not typically return more than another 10% in mileage. As a loyal Hyundai owner, it is sad to say that peoples concerns about the vehicle performing well below the advertised MPG are well founded. It is even sadder to think that after all the hype about mileage, the vehicle performs no better than the 2005 model which gets the same or better mileage when driven much more agressively.

#406 of 655 Re: 40 MPG A Lie 2011 Elantra [mb21784] by pbhatt

Oct 13, 2011 (7:30 pm)

Replying to: mb21784 (Oct 13, 2011 4:10 pm)
Don't worry as this is with first tank. You'll definitely see improvement in this figure. I own 2011 Elantra and I have now 7500 miles. I got 26 miles per gallon on my first tank. I was getting 28-30 within first 1500 miles. I am currently averaging around 32-33 miles per gallon with 45 miles everyday commute back and forth (60% highway). Best I have got 36.5 while I was commuting 120 miles everyday (Through Manhattan Traffic) initially. The only thing I didn't like about this car is "Suspension". I drive 2005 corolla too and which has far better suspension than this. Best of luck ahead.....

#407 of 655 Real world observations by drew11m

Oct 14, 2011 (4:38 am)

Bought in January of 11. Elantra 2011 limited
 
Over 12k miles in winter and summer conditions. Majority of driving is 75% highway.
 
Average over life so far is 30.2mpg. Worst tank 26mpg in snowy conditions. Best tank 37 on a long highway stretch of 325 miles, and that was going 75.
 
Average gas cost in Missouri has been 3.33$
 
Mpg drops dramatically in typical city driving. Average for city for me is maybe 26
 
Anything over 65 impacts highway mileage. I could have probably gotten 2mpg better on that highway stretch 37mpg mentioned above
 
So far only saved 200$ in fuel costs over my 2001 Passat
 
EPA estimates are wildly inflated for the typical driver. I know some hyper miler types have done that but everyday drivers will not.
 
Trip computer estimates are always off by 1-2 mpg. Always calculate actual mpg
 
Would I buy another? Not sure. The car is great but Hyundai is selling it on the fact it has great mileage. I averaged more with the Ford Focus hatch which was a rental car we had for 2k miles this summer

#408 of 655 In search of the holy grail of Elantra's promised 40mpg by roadscholar3

Oct 14, 2011 (9:19 am)

I purchased a 2012 Elantra Limited about 3 weeks ago. I had been car shopping for a high mileage car because I do a lot of highway driving. I've driven just under 500 miles so far and have yet to come anywhere near the promised 40mpg. At least according to the car's own mpg indicator. I haven't yet actually done the manual mpg test one does when measuring between fillups.
 
I'm not a heavy-footed or aggressive driver.
Most of the highway mileage is over flat roads and I generally set the cruise at 65 - 70 mph.
With the Eco-button engaged, the highest mileage I've gotten so far is 31mpg and it usually hovers around 27-8mpg. So what gives? What is the magical forumula to get 40mpg? Does one have to be coasting down hill the whole way?
 
It seems to me to be a HUGE issue if there is so little consistency. And I'm thinking perhaps this advertised 40mpg amounts to a false claim. I'm really upset because I could have purchased a car like a Honda or a hybrid that actually gets the mpg they claim. On the MPG promise I'm feeling duped and upset.

#409 of 655 Why isn't this mpg issue reported on in car reviews? by roadscholar3

Oct 14, 2011 (2:07 pm)

There seems to be a lot of contention on Hyundai's mpg rating, so why isn't this being tested and reported on in the professional car reviews? It is, afterall, Hyundai's primary selling point, so why not look at it?
If most owners on average are actually getting closer to 30mpg from their Elantras, then it sure seems that when considering a new car purchase, they might have considered a whole lot of other cars in that 30 mpg category that would be competitive with this car.

#410 of 655 Re: In search of the holy grail of Elantra's promised 40mpg [roadscholar3] by oldburbnewcx9

Oct 14, 2011 (3:14 pm)

Replying to: roadscholar3 (Oct 14, 2011 9:19 am)
You are thinking that the advertized 40 mog is a false claim. Hyundai is only reporting the results of an EPA test. How can this be a false claim? Your gripe is with the EPA not Hyundai.

#411 of 655 Re: In search of the holy grail of Elantra's promised 40mpg [roadscholar3] by backy

Oct 14, 2011 (7:54 pm)

Replying to: roadscholar3 (Oct 14, 2011 9:19 am)
You are setting cruise control on a flat highway (no stops, right?) at 65-70 mph and usually get 27-28 mpg? I'd take the car back to the dealer if I were you because there's something wrong with it. I used to get 25 mpg in my 4000 lb. V6 minivan at 65 mph cruise, and have gotten around 30 mpg in a V6 sedan like the Sonata or Impala under such conditions. In the 2011 Elantra, I got 40 mpg in those conditions, and 33 mpg in mixed driving in urban conditions.
 
Since the cruise is on, it's not the driver. The road is flat, so it's not hills or mountains. It's not winter yet. There can't be a really strong headwind all the time. I'll assume you took care in measuring the fuel you put into the car. So 27-28 mpg as a usual circumstance is really odd. You should probably run a few tankfuls to make sure, but if mpg continues to hover around 27-28 under the conditions you described, that's just not right and not anything like I have experienced with this car.

#412 of 655 Re: In search of the holy grail of Elantra's promised 40mpg [oldburbnewcx9] by roadscholar3

Oct 15, 2011 (3:47 am)

Replying to: oldburbnewcx9 (Oct 14, 2011 3:14 pm)
If the EPA is, in fact, allowing these discrepancies in real vs. reported mpg then that undermines the whole system. There IS a discrepancy as more and more new car owners seem to be discovering and the differences are far too large to be explained away by driving/terrain variations alone.
I can only speculate why the EPA would do this, but maybe they are being lenient to sweeten the current trade deal with S.Korea, just announced yesterday.
 
 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204774604576631372347566258.html?m- - od=WSJ_business_whatsNews

#413 of 655 Re: In search of the holy grail of Elantra's promised 40mpg [backy] by roadscholar3

Oct 15, 2011 (3:51 am)

Replying to: backy (Oct 14, 2011 7:54 pm)
The highway/cruise control driving situation is around 32mpg. The 27-28 was the average for a more mixed driving situation (highway 70%, in town 30% approx). This is according to the car's digital mpg indicator. I will have to do the fillup to fillup real test as well to get a completely accurate number. That will also tell me if the car's digital system is on the mark or is lower or higher than my findings.
 
Yes I will definitely take the car back if this continues to be the case. However, from what I've read here I'm not alone.

#414 of 655 Re: In search of the holy grail of Elantra's promised 40mpg [roadscholar3] by oldburbnewcx9

Oct 15, 2011 (3:55 am)

Replying to: roadscholar3 (Oct 15, 2011 3:47 am)
I can only speculate why the EPA would do this, but maybe they are being lenient to sweeten the current trade deal with S.Korea, just announced yesterday.
 
Wow! Now we are headed down the conspiracy trail.
 
Please read carefully from the EPA fuel economy website. Their fuel economy test is not a guarauntee of results merely a means of comparison.

Messages Page 42 of 66

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