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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 57 of 67

#552 of 655 Re: Pretty close [backy] by m6user

Dec 02, 2011 (10:39 pm)

Replying to: backy (Dec 02, 2011 9:20 pm)
"Right when it looks like Hyundai can do no wrong, we have this: A consumer protection group is asking the United States Environmental Protection Agency to look into claims that the Elantra has exaggerated fuel economy numbers.
  
Consumer Watchdog sent the EPA a letter citing a litany of public criticism of the compact Elantra's real-world fuel economy, and asking the EPA to "re-test the 2011 and 2012 Elantra models in its own facility, to seek an explanation for the MPG disappointments of so many Elantra buyers."
 
Above from autoblog.com. Seems like while most get expected mpg, many are not and the numbers are such that it's generating attention. Haven't seen many other new "40 mpg compacts" getting anywhere near this amount of people complaining about their mpg.

#553 of 655 Re: Pretty close [m6user] by backy

Dec 03, 2011 (6:19 am)

Replying to: m6user (Dec 02, 2011 10:39 pm)
Good. What will be interesting to see is what will happen if the EPA re-test comes up with the same results. How much do you want to bet we'll see posts about an EPA/Hyundai Conspiracy?
 
Also... how many other non-hybrid compacts advertise 40 mpg EPA ratings for all trims? None that I know of. IMO that is one reason people are especially perturbed when their new Elantras don't achieve the EPA ratings... that rating is high relative to other cars, and is likely a main reason why the car was purchased: "I want to get 40 mpg on my next car!" So when it doesn't meet expectations, it's a big disappointment.
 
BTW... that was kind of an odd response to my post. Aren't you in favor of someone who is experiencing lower mpg than expected to rule out a problem with the car as a cause, using controlled tests?

#554 of 655 2011 Elantra Mileage by mike1052

Dec 03, 2011 (2:26 pm)

A friend sent me a link to the same article that m6user referred to. The last comment made by Jim Trainor, Hyundai representative, was, "The numbers are the numbers and the tests are the tests," he said. He says the mileage ratings are achievable unless "you drive like a maniac."
 
I take issue with that comment because I have found the same lack of claimed mileage results as others in this forum. If you drive with full intent of achieving the numbers claimed, you WILL be killed on the highway.
My Korean-built 2011 Hyundai Elantra GLS has 8,200 miles on it. Around town, stop and go traffic, I get 20 to 22 mpg. I've done road tests during my frequent travels to the Eastern Shore of Virginia. I've found I can get 43 to 44 mpg with slow acceleration and traveling at 55 to 60 mph. That's about the first hour of my trip. Then the stop and go starts, along with the 4 lane free-for-all beyond that, and I end up with 35 mpg by the time I get home. I used to get that kind of mileage with my 2006 Nissan Sentra.
I also tested the "ECO" mode. I see the same RPM's at 60 mph with it on or off......it's nothing more than a reminder light, unlike the 2012 Soul my son has which allows you to turn it off and on.
I use an app on my iphone called "Vehical" to track my mileage. At 8,261 miles, I've averaged 28.78 mpg, which is nothing to write home about.
I still would have bought the car, but the 40 mpg carrot was definitely not true!

#555 of 655 Re: 2011 Elantra Mileage [mike1052] by backy

Dec 03, 2011 (2:29 pm)

Replying to: mike1052 (Dec 03, 2011 2:26 pm)
He says the mileage ratings are achievable unless "you drive like a maniac."
 
People say some pretty stupid things sometimes.
 
Driving like a maniac sure won't help get close to those EPA numbers, but there's many other factors that reduce fuel economy that have nothing to do with driving like a maniac.

#556 of 655 Re: Pretty close [backy] by m6user

Dec 03, 2011 (6:56 pm)

Replying to: backy (Dec 03, 2011 6:19 am)
BTW... that was kind of an odd response to my post. Aren't you in favor of someone who is experiencing lower mpg than expected to rule out a problem with the car as a cause, using controlled tests?
 
Of course I am. My response wasn't meant to negate your suggestion as I didn't reference it at all. I was just pointing out further information in the discussion.
 
If I remember correctly, I think this poster mentioned that he had driven his new Elantra even more conservatively than he did a previous car and couldn't achieve the mpg he had previously with the new Elantra that's rated substantially higher mpg. I have a 2007 Mazda6 2.3l auto which my wife drives about 52 miles round trip daily with a mixture of about 30city/70 hwy. She averages 28 mpg tank in tank out. She drives fast too(proven by a recent speeding ticket I may add). That avg is above what the EPA estimates the avg to be. If I bought an Elantra and I did not even average the city rating on the car I would be PO'd too. Especially if I knew of others that were getting a lot better mpg with their Elantras. You know what the dealers tell these people which just probably makes it worse.
 
It seems to be clear that a small percentage of people are having problems getting close to estimates no matter how hard they try. I just think we should keep an open mind and consider there may be a problem with some of the cars and not the owners.

#557 of 655 Re: Pretty close [m6user] by backy

Dec 03, 2011 (8:45 pm)

Replying to: m6user (Dec 03, 2011 6:56 pm)
That is exactly what my suggestion was about: rule out a mechanical problem with the car first. Then look at other factors than can impact FE, e.g. temperature, wind speed, number of stops, speed (top speed and average speed), hills, weight of cargo/passengers, gas pedal pressure (light vs. heavy), tire pressure, miles on the car/break-in, driving habits (e.g. coasting as much as possible), etc. etc.
 
My wife would tell you she drives very "conservatively", and from what I've observed that's true in general. Although she occasionally runs up the speed without thinking and has had a couple speeding tickets. And for some reason she can't master using a light touch on the gas. Also, she drives a lot of short trips and likes to keep the engine running while she's waiting for our daughter at school etc. So while she believes she drives conservatively, she gets very poor FE while driving.
 
I think someone could make a very good business for himself/herself if they could teach people how to drive for high fuel economy. There's driving classes for safety, for handling emergency conditions... why not for fuel economy?

#558 of 655 EPA uses ethanol-free gasoline by litesong2

Dec 03, 2011 (9:52 pm)

The EPA runs their mpg ratings tests on 100% gasoline without any ethanol blended into it. The ethanol industry admits that their 10% ethanol blend will cause 2% decrease in mpg. The EPA admits that mpg is reduced 3% to 4%. However, many many people determine the mpg has been reduced to a much greater extent. My three cars with mpg line graphs listed at fueleconomy.gov have mpg reductions of 4% to 7%. Seems that the 10% ethanol, which loses ~ 3% btus in the blend compared to 100% gasoline, also must lose the 'sweet spot' of which vehicles were manufactured to run best on 100% gasoline. Go to pure-gas.org for listings & maps of gas stations in your area selling ethanol-free gasoline.
 
Also, some feather-foot training is due for many complainers who don't know how to drive efficiently. Funny how so many complainers expect they can match or excel the professionals driving the EPA mpg tests.

#559 of 655 Re: Pretty close [backy] by m6user

Dec 03, 2011 (10:33 pm)

Replying to: backy (Dec 03, 2011 8:45 pm)
Then look at other factors than can impact FE, e.g. temperature, wind speed, number of stops, speed (top speed and average speed), hills, weight of cargo/passengers, gas pedal pressure (light vs. heavy), tire pressure, miles on the car/break-in, driving habits (e.g. coasting as much as possible), etc. etc.
 
Yes, that's true but most of those things will average out over time and affect all drivers and vehicles pretty much equally. I have to assume that these unsatisfied owners are driving in a similar manner to which they drove their previous vehicles. If they bought the Elantra to save fuel they may even be driving more conservatively.....who knows?
 
By the way, my wife is the opposite. She does not say she drives conservatively and from what I've observed she is right. Neither of us are in any shape or form hypermilers. I probably drive like I always have as I would guess that to really affect my mpg a whole lot I would really have to baby it and that would take out a lot of the fun of driving for me.

#560 of 655 Re: EPA uses ethanol-free gasoline [litesong2] by m6user

Dec 03, 2011 (10:30 pm)

Replying to: litesong2 (Dec 03, 2011 9:52 pm)
Also, some feather-foot training is due for many complainers who don't know how to drive efficiently
 
I guess you are assuming that all the people that are complaining about their FE with the new Elantra are just stupid then. Driving to save gas in not brain surgery and the information is out there and easily attainable. I doubt if you asked any driver how they could save gas that they wouldn't know most of the methods. They just don't practise them. Kind of like leading a horse to water so to speak.
 
I have ethanol mix year round here in Chicagoland and I alway meet or beat the EPA numbers. And I don't drive with a feather under my foot. Since 2008 when the EPA revised their numbers it has been pretty easy to meet or surpass their estimates unless you drive really hard in most cars. So when I read a lot of reports of people not even getting close to the EPA numbers even when they seem to be trying very hard, I'm not quick to assign labels to them like "complainers". That is a little condescending IMO.

#561 of 655 Re: EPA uses ethanol-free gasoline [m6user] by litesong2

Dec 04, 2011 (11:03 pm)

Replying to: m6user (Dec 03, 2011 10:30 pm)
m6user 'guesses' that I assume ALL people complaining about Elantra FE are stupid, tho m6user even quoted my term, "many complainers'. Obviously, m6user doesn't translate my quote properly, that HE emphasized. Also, his 'stupid' comment, referring to my belief, is assumed & also in error.
 
Looking at the extensive & accurate map of ethanol-free gas stations listed at pure-gas.org, I see that m6user is correct & I'm sorry no ethanol-free gas stations are in the Chicago area. But for those who do have ethanol-free gas stations, near you, I urge you to extensively test ethanol-free gasoline. Ethanol-free gas is NOT higher octane gas, but is gasoline without ethanol, & which is getting rare & even non-existent in many areas. In my own town, ethanol-free is unavailable, & I must go to the next town to purchase it. & a station with a good price on ethanol-free is in the next town, yet further from me.
 
As stated in another post previously, tho the ethanol industry & Federal government admit to only a 2% to 4% loss in mpg from the use of 10% ethanol blend, my 3 cars show a 4% to 7% mpg difference. Many, many other people voice even greater losses from the use of 10% ethanol blends. Tho actual lost btus of energy are about 3% from the use of 10% ethanol blends, seems like many cars may be losing the sweet spot of efficient combustion from their individual cars which were designed to be at their best with 100% gasoline AND AS THE EPA TESTS ALL MANUFACTURERS VEHICLES FOR MPG.
 
Along with urging people to use ethanol-free gasoline, make sure your tires are at proper pressures, specially in these times of cooling weather which may lower tire pressures. Studies have indicated millions of people have lost billions of gallons of fuel due to underinflated tires. Without regular monitoring of tire pressures, I've even found my tires underinflated at times. In my northern region of the country, I normally drive with a few extra pounds of tire pressure.

Messages Page 57 of 67

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