Ask the Car People.SM


Honda Element Real World MPG

117 messages,  Last post on Aug 10, 2009 at 5:17 PM

You are in the Honda Element Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Element, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), SUV

Messages Page 9 of 12

#78 of 117 Re: New Element EX AWD [steve_] by ccirelli

Jul 31, 2008 (11:36 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jul 24, 2008 10:52 pm)
FIRST MILEAGE REPORT
 
So I clocked my mileage for my first tank of gas. Now I have to say the dealer is the one that filled it - so whether it was truly full, that is unknown. If it was not full, this works in my favor.
 
My driving consisted of roughly:
 
- 10% highway
- 10% city (stop & go)
- 80% suburban / rural roads (40 to 50 mph, but plenty of hills here in PA)
- Additional notes: AC was on for maybe 1/2 hour, passengers ranged from 1 to 4 (mostly 1)
 
MPG: 25.81
 
Total miles on tank: 345
Refill: 13.367 gallons X 3.81 = ~$50
 
My driving style: For this tank I would rate it as slow & steady. I only really get on the gas when I have to pull hills, and even then I am as light as possible on the accelerator.
 
Not bad! Will report stats back on tank #2 this week.
 
EDIT: Oops, forgot: 2008 Element EX AWD Auto

#79 of 117 Re: New Element EX AWD [ccirelli] by 0311vn

Aug 01, 2008 (7:18 am)

Replying to: ccirelli (Jul 31, 2008 11:36 am)
I've never driven a AWD vehicle. Does AWD reduced mpg all that much? How much extra weight does AWD add on to an Element? I'm guessing AWD must be a real asset when driving in snow. Does it improve handling a lot in rain? Is there a noticeable difference when braking with AWD, especially when braking hard?
 
Can an Element hit 30 mpg on all highway driving if you keep her at 65ish?
 
Is there storage in an Element for bags to keep them from shifting around when driving?

#80 of 117 Re: New Element EX AWD [0311vn] by ccirelli

Aug 01, 2008 (9:06 am)

Replying to: 0311vn (Aug 01, 2008 7:18 am)
Does AWD reduced mpg all that much?
 
Depends - not really as far as the Element is concerned. The FWD models are only rated 1 mpg higher on both sides (city & hwy).
 
Can an Element hit 30 mpg on all highway driving if you keep her at 65ish?
  
Probably not maybe 30 with the wind at your back - but I think someone here reported 32 mpg after installing fuel saving "plates"? I asked for a link to more info but never heard back.
 
Is there storage in an Element for bags to keep them from shifting around when driving?
 
Yup - bungees. Plenty of little rings and hooks to tie down to. Plus the driver's side seats both have kind of a net behind them, good for smaller bags & things.
 
hth,
craig

#81 of 117 Re: New Element EX AWD [0311vn] by pepsicolacat

Aug 03, 2008 (8:43 am)

Replying to: 0311vn (Aug 01, 2008 7:18 am)
you probablly can't get 30 mpg. I have 05 element ex awd and 08 ex awd 05 best is 24 and 08 is 27 . I got 24.5 all freeway on 08 but i hit 95 mph several time. Shell gas is better than discount gas like bp, walmart. You can test this theory. Empty your tank and fill up with bp or any store gas.make sure you reset mileage reader. Drive a normal route and when your gas light comes on you have 3.9 gallons left. When you fill up right down how many gallons you used to fill up and divid it by how many miles you went. Fill up with shell gas and do the same thing. Remember to do it when your just driving your normal route for both fill ups. My 05 had 24mpg combined city/highway 30%/70%highway on shell 10.3 gallons/ 244 miles and when I drove out of town all freeway with bp gas and filled up as soon as i got of the freeway. 10.6 gallons 221 miles. bp gas was literally 99.9% all free way. I didn't even drive a whole mile from the gas station to the freeway and when i filled up i costed down. I did hit traffic for about 8 miles.

#82 of 117 Re: New Element EX AWD [ccirelli] by pepsicolacat

Aug 03, 2008 (8:52 am)

Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 01, 2008 9:06 am)
the 2008 honda element awdex automatic gets the same gas mileage as a fwdex auto and the auto awd gets better than a fwd stick shift. the sc gets better mileage than the ex because it's lower. I have the 05 and 08 brochure. The awd drive is lite compared to other awd systems. when you use awd it well affect the mpg. i drove 100 miles around 270 with my friend to compare mpg. He used 4.26 gallons and I used 4.4 gallons but he followed behind me so who knows for sure. The difference is to small for me to give up safety feature like awd.

#83 of 117 Does the Element have a compartment that can be locked... by 0311vn

Aug 03, 2008 (9:50 am)

Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 01, 2008 9:06 am)
...to store valuables such as cameras and a hand gun? Is there such a compartment built into the floor that can be secured?

#84 of 117 Re: New Element EX AWD [pepsicolacat] by ccirelli

Aug 03, 2008 (3:04 pm)

Replying to: pepsicolacat (Aug 03, 2008 8:52 am)
the 2008 honda element awdex automatic gets the same gas mileage as a fwdex auto and the auto awd gets better than a fwd stick shift.
 
Well technically, the 08 awdex is 1 mpg less efficient than the fwdex, on both the highway and city side.

#85 of 117 Re: Does the Element have a compartment that can be locked... [0311vn] by ccirelli

Aug 03, 2008 (3:10 pm)

Replying to: 0311vn (Aug 03, 2008 9:50 am)
...to store valuables such as cameras and a hand gun? Is there such a compartment built into the floor that can be secured?
 
Well, not really. For that, I picked up the Cargo Cover, so people can't peer into the area behind the back seats. But it's not really a "locking compartment", like say, the trunk on a Civic.
 
If someone wants to get into your car, they will. But if you hide your stuff well and don't leave any clues as to what might be inside... you should be relatively safe. By clues I mean - no stickers advertising stuff you like - Nikon, Apple, stuff like that.
 
Guns...? Not sure. But most thieves won't break into a car if they don't see anything of value right out in the open (wallet, camera, watch, computer bag, etc.).
 
So the Cargo Cover should help with that. Out of sight - out of mind!

#86 of 117 Re: New Element EX AWD [ccirelli] by ccirelli

Aug 03, 2008 (3:12 pm)

Replying to: ccirelli (Aug 03, 2008 3:04 pm)
Oh another thought - leave the spare tire at home (if you're feeling brave) and use all that space under the floor to store valuables, if you don't have the Cargo Cover. Probably a safe bet if you only do it once in a while.

#87 of 117 Re: New Element EX AWD [steve_] by ccirelli

Aug 03, 2008 (3:20 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jul 24, 2008 10:52 pm)
SECOND MILEAGE REPORT
 
OK, for my 2nd tank, I used my baseline of filling the tank between $.50 and $.75 over the "click" of the gas pump handle.
 
Driving conditions:
 
- maybe 5% highway
 
- 95% back roads, 40 to 50 mph, pulled lots of hills
 
- used Sunoco fuel 87 octane
 
MPG: 26.80
 
An increase of 1 mpg, even more back road driving this time. Still driving slow & steady, taking it easy going up those hills. Essentially I am doing the speed limit, maybe 5 to 10 mph more here & there. Nice & light on that gas pedal.
 
For my third tank I am curious to see what I get - I filled up with Sheetz fuel. I don't expect the same as Sunoco, but we'll see. And, I will be doing some more highway driving over the next few weeks. I will keep tabs on the general percentage of highway vs. back roads.

Messages Page 9 of 12

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement