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Honda Ridgeline Real World MPG Numbers

95 messages,  Last post on Sep 20, 2011 at 8:03 AM

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What is this discussion about? Honda Ridgeline, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Truck

Messages Page 9 of 10

#76 of 95 Ridgeline Mileage Testing. by eddiem

Apr 10, 2009 (6:31 am)

The testing data documented may be true on that stretch of road, but I can tell you that "real world" driving will yield very different and varied results. I was considering the Ridgeline, but bought a Dakota. It has a digital mpg readout, and I can tell you that reaching 20, 21 or 22 mpg is relatively easy, but only on a flat stretch, without acceleration. Try this. Reset your mpg meter to zero, and take your vehicle out for a drive. If the engine is cold, and you take off from a dead start, climbing a slight hill, you may see 9, 10, 11 & 12's in the readout. It is very easy to decrease your actual mpg with something as simple as slowing down and accelerating in traffic. As mileage (on the tank, which is when I reset the display after refueling) accumulates, that has a smaller affect on the "tank mileage", but it still affects it. Reseting the display on the highway will show you your "instantaneous" mpg, not your average over that tank or over several tankfuls.
I have 20,000 miles on my 07 4x4 3.7l / 6 spd manual Dakota Quad Cab, and I drive like an old lady, trying to maximize my mpg's. It's a game, but it is much easier to drop your mileage than it is to increase it on any given tank. FYI, my readout is about 95% accurate when compared to the fill and record mileage data method, so I know it's accurate. These numbers may only be "snapshot", not what you are going to get unless you take it out and empty a tank on a long (highway) run at conservative (less than 70 mph) speeds.

#77 of 95 re: Ridgeline graph by MetroMPG

Apr 10, 2009 (9:03 am)

The figures in the graph are meant primarily to show the impact of speed VS fuel consumption.

#78 of 95 Re: Ridgeline speed VS mpg graph [bolivar] by sbackart

Apr 10, 2009 (3:28 pm)

Replying to: bolivar (Apr 10, 2009 2:40 am)
My '06 Ridgeline with 60,000 miles gets about 21 MPG (US) HWY at this speed. The graph is about right for my experiences if I'm careful in acceleration. Keep in mind I have no roof rack and a tonneau cover on the bed. Tires are filled to max recommended pressure (checked and rotated regularly).
 
Driven hard the Ridgeline sucks significantly more fuel. Its all in my driving habits. As some indication of my conservative driving, I still have plenty of tread left on my OEM tires and "just" had the rear brake pads replaced.

#79 of 95 Re: Ridgeline speed VS mpg graph [bolivar] by stevedebi

Apr 15, 2009 (4:30 pm)

Replying to: bolivar (Apr 10, 2009 2:40 am)
"Your graph indicates at 74mph you achieved 24.7mpg.
  
I'm sorry, but I just don't believe this is 'real world'. "
 
That was imperial MPG, not US MPG. The imperial gallon is larger.

#80 of 95 Re: Ridgeline speed VS mpg graph [stevedebi] by bdyment

Apr 16, 2009 (7:24 am)

Replying to: stevedebi (Apr 15, 2009 4:30 pm)
That is about 20.6 mpg to the US gallon.

#81 of 95 Re: Ridgeline speed VS mpg graph [stevedebi] by bolivar

Apr 20, 2009 (12:12 am)

Replying to: stevedebi (Apr 15, 2009 4:30 pm)
You are right. I apologize. I read the wrong entry in the data.
 
And, 20.6 mpg to US gallon I would agree is an attainable figure for a steady, level 74mph (I think this was the speed in the graph.)

#82 of 95 Somewhat disappointed so far. by kipk

Jan 03, 2010 (5:56 am)

Comparing our 09 Ridgeline mileage to our 03 Pilot mileage is a little disappointing.
 
I don't recall what the Pilot's window sticker EPA Mileage was, but it got way better than advertised by the time the odometer hit the 1,000 mile mark.
 
Local driving, the Pilot returned 17-19 mpg. Highway mileage at 60 MPH would be 26-28 mpg depending on use of the AC. Increasing the speed to 70 would drop the mileage to the 22-24 mpg area. Again depending on use of the AC.
 
Ridgeline mileage in local driving is more in the 15-16 mpg range and highway mileage is a very disappointing 22+/- at 60 mph. with the AC OFF. I expect it would drop to 20 or less at 70 mph.
 
Realizing the window sticker is 15-20 and are grateful we are doing a bit better than that, I'm still in wonderment as to why it is so much worse than the Pilot.
 
Weight of the 2 vehicles is virtually the same, same engine displacement, similar frontal area, both AWD, same driver, same driving techniques, same fuel at the same pumps.
 
Must have something to do with the open bed at highway speeds, and transmission shifting preferences in local driving.
 
Other than that we really like the Ridgeline.
 
Kip

#83 of 95 Re: Somewhat disappointed so far. [kipk] by cyclone6

Jan 26, 2010 (2:00 pm)

Replying to: kipk (Jan 03, 2010 5:56 am)
Don't forget that even though the Pilot has the same engine, it has the VCM (variable cylinder management) feature that causes the engine to only run with 3 cylinders when cruising or otherwise not under stress. I don't think the Ridgeline has this. My 2007 Pilot has gotten over 28 mpg's on a couple of different trips which is far more than it is rated.

#84 of 95 Re: Somewhat disappointed so far. [kipk] by bolivar

Jan 27, 2010 (3:25 am)

Replying to: kipk (Jan 03, 2010 5:56 am)
As I've probably stated in this segment before, I feel since ethanol has been introduced in the gasoline in my area a couple of years ago, I feel all 3 of my vehicles has lost about 2mpg. This includes my Ridgeline.
 
Ethanol is a huge failure because of its milage reductions and diversion of livestock food grain to a different purpose.

#85 of 95 Re: Somewhat disappointed so far. [cyclone6] by ridgeline1959

Jan 27, 2010 (6:21 am)

Replying to: cyclone6 (Jan 26, 2010 2:00 pm)
I have a 2008 best I've done on the HWY 23.5 73 MPH on a 400 mile trip. That was getting gas the highway and pulling off and getting gas again. City driving around the twin cities which is about 50/50 hwy/suburban driving the top I get is 19.5 in the summer about 17.5 winter. I'm a conservative driver and I do shut my car off intersections when the light will stay red longer than a minute.(about 2 times a day) Pulling a boat about 13 MPG. Now when my wife drives the Ridge she gets about 14 MPG, ie jack rabbit starts and race to the red line!!

Messages Page 9 of 10

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