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Last post on Apr 21, 2013 at 3:12 PM
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Hyundai Sonata Forum.
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Hyundai Sonata, Fuel Efficiency (MPG)
#855 of 922 Re: My new 2013 Sonata Limited [samiam_68]
by longo2
Sep 14, 2012 (3:38 pm)
I heard there is a class action lawsuit against Hyundai for the Elantra posted MPG's.
Some car mag' took a new Hyundai Elantra and tested the highway mpgs and got more than the OEM window sticker. I seem to remember they got in the mid to high 40's in their highway test.
"You mileage may vary" covers a lot of different driving and driver conditions, but this test proved that posted highway mpg's on a new Elantra can be close to 10% BETTER than the window sticker.
Not sure if the lawsuit has any traction, but if it were me paying the legal bills, I would bail on this project ASAP!
And BTW. it's not just Hyundai that is careful to fully optimise the testing conditions, they all do.
I saw an interview with a Chrysler rep years ago that said they fully prep each vehicle for the mpg testing.
I don't know if the testing units use ethanol gas mix or pure gas, but even that factor alone could skew the results 5 to 10% +/-.
Here's a quote from Popular Mechanics regarding the posted Elantra 40 MPG claim after their test.
" Not only is it easy to achieve, it's easy to surpass, even under less than ideal conditions. If you choose a car with a high-economy claim and drive within reason, you should be able to match those window-sticker figures. Considering that these cars are also decent performers on the road, the benefit of this high-efficiency engineering really goes to consumers, who are apparently getting more than they've bargained for."
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#856 of 922 2009 Hyundai Sonata 4 cyl.
by 1wayne1
Oct 04, 2012 (5:20 pm)
I traded my 2006 Honda Civic LX in for my Sonata due to having a newborn back in 2010. The civic was said to get 40 mpg on highway but it never did seem that way. When I bought my Hyundai Sonata they said I would get 21 city and 32 highway. I tested it by driving to work and back and I would use a quarter of a tank for driving 148 miles. I commute from Hagerstown, MD to D.C. and back. So im filling up every 4 days. If my math is right im getting around 37 mpg. My driving is about 65 mph on the highway til I get to in town or the parkway and the speed drops down to anywhere between 45 mpg to 55 mpg. So far I have no issues with this car and I have racked up about 62K miles on it. I use full synthetic blend oil and I get my gas from Sheetz.
#857 of 922 Instant Fuel Consumption
by mpgcrazy
Oct 26, 2012 (4:12 pm)
My 2012 Sonata Hybrid averaged 7.2 l/100km but 8.5 l/100km when the weather turns cold. I understand I will never get what the published numbers even I tried my very best to pickup slowly and drive not more than 90km/h. But I don't understand why the Instant Fuel Consumption indicator never point at 0? It is always at about 6 l/100km even when the car is at rest or when it is cruising in EV mode (air is off). Did I turn on something which not suppose to? Or are all Sonata Hybrids the same?
#859 of 922 Re: Kia/Hyundai MPG Lies Exposed [samiam_68]
by nymatt
Nov 02, 2012 (1:48 pm)
unfortunately, the Sonata is not one of the models.
#860 of 922 Why Wasn't Sonata Included - It should have been
by tomjc2
Nov 05, 2012 (6:01 pm)
I was relieved when I saw the initial press releases about Hyundia/Kia MPG but that was dashed when I checked the Hyundai site to find that only the Sonata Hybrid and not the Sonata was included. My in town gas mileage has been under 20mpg in a region that is fairly flat (Northern VA). That is with tires overinflated, running with ECO and driving gently. News reports on the EPA findings said the differences were 1 MPG and up. (my combined mileage, since purchase in April is 22.8). This is a 4 mpg difference. What did EPA find for the Sonata?
I got rid of a 2000 Dodge Intrepid 6 cylinder that got 20 mpg in town (The Sonata blows it away on the highway - but I don't do that much highway anymore). While the overall engineering of the car is very nice, every time I fill up I am reminded of how misleading the MPG rating is and definitely have a lower opinion of Hyundai
#861 of 922 Re: Why Wasn't Sonata Included - It should have been [tomjc2]
by larrys1352
Nov 06, 2012 (10:41 am)
I agree 100%. My city MPG is 19MPG after 7,000 miles. I also have over inflated tires, use ECO and use mid grade gas. The car is 12 months old now and should be broken-in. Highway mileage is about 32 on my drives from San Diego to Las Vegas...300 miles one way.
I am a very conservative drive, age 65 retired. This is the first car I regret buying. Yes it runs great but I bought it for the MPG ratings. The sticker said 24 MPG and I get 19...over 20% less. No excuse!!!!
#862 of 922 Re: Why Wasn't Sonata Included - It should have been [larrys1352]
by bpe383
Nov 06, 2012 (11:41 am)
There has to be something we can do. I've yet to meet someone who has gotten the claimed 35MPG out of a sanata. I got mine back in 2011 when the new model came out. I started off at 32mpg running 98% highway. It only got worse as the miles got put on. When I sold it I was only getting 29mpg. As most people on here, I had over inflated tires, mobile 1 OIL, and shifted into N, when braking or down hill. That is the only way I could get 32MPG. Seems that if no one I know of has gotten the 35 MPG there needs to be an investigation. I, nor all these other people should have to go through the trouble we do just to get 32 MPG which is still less than quoted. Hyundai needs to own up to the fact they did this as a marking scam to sell cars, and they were hoping to just pass it off as well not all cars are the same. They will never get my biz. again.
#863 of 922 Re: Why Wasn't Sonata Included - It should have been [bpe383]
by crankeee
Nov 06, 2012 (12:32 pm)
Guess we got lucky with our 2012 GLS. Highway MPG is outstanding at 33-36 MPG at 75-80 MPH. Dropping down to 65-70 up the MPG to 37 consistently on the highway only. ANY city driving drops the average dramatically. 22-24 MPG in all city, so that has areal impact. Surprising fact is that hte use of A/C has minimal effect on city and highway MPG whereas in the past 2-3 MPG on GM cars. We do inflate tires to 36# and have a garage located air compressor. I bought this one for gas savings and so far so good. I am laso retired but do drive the speed limit and lots of highway miles, so a good road car was what we wanted. My wife is very happy leaving her newer Lacrosse in the barn and wearing out the Hyunda- which is fine for me. We save 25-30% on gas with the Sonata and it is comfortable enough even without the heated leather and all the other upscale features. We feel lucky to have both since we keep cars 10+ years depending on durability and service.
#864 of 922 GLS vs. SE vs. 2.0T MPG models
by crankeee
Nov 06, 2012 (1:26 pm)
Please post the model that you have when commenting on MPG experience. The GLS has 16" 65 series tires and the SE has larger/wider low profile tires that are for handling, looks, bigger wheels (looks again), fatter appearance (looks again). Sometimes the different setups make for different results in actual driving. we have found on another car we have that the low profile tires also cost 2 to 2 1/2 times as much as the old style, usually with a lower tread wear rating.