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GMC Acadia Real World MPG

251 messages,  Last post on Mar 20, 2013 at 8:45 AM

You are in the GMC Acadia Forum.

What is this discussion about? GMC Acadia, Fuel System, SUV

Messages Page 14 of 26

#123 of 251 Re: 2011 Acadia AWD Denali [gmcustsvc] by hsalinas

Sep 10, 2011 (5:45 am)

Replying to: gmcustsvc (Aug 12, 2011 12:51 pm)
I must say that I am very disappointed with the fuel economy on my 2011 GMC Acadia Denali. I've become a huge fan of GM after purchasing my first, a 2009 Chevrolet Traverse LTZ. This vehicle suited the needs of my family perfectly, very comfortable, excellent in the snow, loaded with features and best of all it was giving a steady 18mpg around town and 22mpg on the highway. Unfortunately on July 1st my mother in law was driving my children to camp and a car traveling at high speed lost control and collided into my Traverse with my family in the car, a 10 year old 6 year old and 18 month old. Thankfully my family walked away without a scratch but were really shaken up by the impact. Needless to say the Traverse was totaled. We were so impressed by how ONSTAR immediately contacted my wife to advise us that the car was in an accident and they contacted the police. They also advised us that the ONSTAR rep. spoke with my family and that everybody was okay. This was one of the deciding factors that I will only purchase another GM vehicle along with that my family walking from an accident without a scratch, so Thank You to GM!
We decided to purchase the new 2011 GMC Acadia Denali because of the style and color of the vehicle, we figured that it's gotta be the same as the Traverse......Well boy we were wrong! Though the drive on the GMC is much softer and more plush, the fuel economy SUCKS! I have 2000 miles now on the GMC and have spent $542.00 already. The last fillup was $81.00, 20.2gallons, 277 miles traveled to give me 13.7mpg....TERRIBLE!
My wife says that this is the first vehicle we have owned, and we have owned probably 12-15 vehicles in the 17 years we are together, that we can see the fuel go down when driving locally....PRETTY SCARY especially with gas $4.00/gallon!
On another note, I was so impressed by GM that I traded in my commuter, 2008 Honda Civic, and purchased a 2011 Buick Regal. I absolutely love this car! The Regal has so many features and best of all I am getting around 28-30mpg. ONSTAR is awesome too!

#124 of 251 Re: 2011 Acadia AWD Denali [hsalinas] by gmcustsvc

Sep 19, 2011 (12:58 pm)

Replying to: hsalinas (Sep 10, 2011 5:45 am)
hsalinas,
I am happy to hear that your family was all okay after that accident.
 
The best fuel economy possible is the direct result of proper maintenance and good driving habits. Listed below are GM's recommendations to achieve the best mileage possible. The first group are things to consider for your vehicle, while the second are tips relating to your driving habits.
  
One of the major contributors to poor fuel economy are under inflated tires. Tires with low pressure create drag that the vehicle’s powertrain must overcome, wasting dollars in fuel. Always keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure as shown on the vehicle placard. This not only serves to increase gas mileage but cuts down on tire wear, further decreasing your costs per mile.
  
A vehicle that has a dirty air filter can’t efficiently draw air into the engine. This restriction forces the engine to expend energy to "breathe" wasting fuel in the process. Change recommendations are found in your vehicle Owner’s Manual.
 
I hope this information helps! Thank you for your loyalty to GM!
Christina
GM Customer Service

#125 of 251 Poor Mileage by klewis0906

Sep 28, 2011 (9:42 pm)

Well, I just bought a used 2009 Acadia SLT. I see that I am not alone in the low mileage performance. My SUV has 28000 miles on it, and I am getting 13.8 miles per gallon. I just filled up the truck for the 3rd time. It was weird because I didn't even drive the SUV for a couple days during the week? I was wondering why I was out of gas so fast? After I filled it up I saw that I only get 288 miles for the entire tank! I cant even get to Vegas on a tank of gas? I could get to Vegas on 3/4 of a tank in my Expedition! I got better mileage on my 1998 Ford Expedition!! I literally just logged on to compare the mileage on the two trucks and came across this post! This is crazy!! And like an idiot, I paid cash for this crap! Should have kept my Expedition.

#126 of 251 Re: Can't stop crying over my new GMC purchase [skpa] by klewis0906

Sep 28, 2011 (9:55 pm)

Replying to: skpa (May 03, 2011 5:35 pm)
Interesting post. I just bought a used 2009 Acadia. I noticed the smoke when I test drove the car. I did ask about it, and the salesperson told me no worries. It was from moisture. After I bought it and drove it home, I noticed it again on start up as I got ready to leave for work. Your post is the first real explaination i've received.

#127 of 251 Re: Poor Mileage [klewis0906] by victorg009

Sep 28, 2011 (10:07 pm)

Replying to: klewis0906 (Sep 28, 2011 9:42 pm)
You CAN get to Vegas on Acadia. On highway it easily gets 20 MPG, and drives for 400 miles on a tank of gas. However in city it consumes gas by gallons. Our city MPG is 13-14 and range 260-280 miles.

#129 of 251 Re: Poor Mileage [victorg009] by klewis0906

Sep 29, 2011 (8:20 am)

Replying to: victorg009 (Sep 28, 2011 10:07 pm)
Thanks victor! I hope so! I was pretty bummed last night. At least you get to give yours back. I paid cash for mine. I thought I had received such a great deal! I hope someone comes up with a solution for this. I do more city driving than highway driving.

#130 of 251 Re: Poor Mileage [klewis0906] by hsalinas

Sep 29, 2011 (10:00 am)

Replying to: klewis0906 (Sep 29, 2011 8:20 am)
victorg009..........It's obvious you don't own a GMC Acadia because an elderly person driving in the right lane doing 50mph will NEVER get 20mpg!!!!!!!!!
I personally drove my wife's Acadia Denali for 230miles straight and suffered doing 60mph just to prove a point and I was able to get 16.2mpg.......BIG DEAL! I own a 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 w/HEMI, 390HP and driving it as I would everyday which is not like an elderly I am still getting 15.4mpg around town and 22mpg on the highway.I purchased this truck without worrying about fuel consumption and didn't care and it still exceeded my expectations.
I was always told that the GMC are the better of the GM lineup in trucks...YEAH WELL THAT'S BS!! Thank god I leased this car BUT unfortunately I'm stuck with this junk until August 2014.
I will NEVER NEVER NEVER consider a GMC or recommend to anybody. The company is full of IT and I'm surpirsed GM can allow this.

#131 of 251 Re: Poor Mileage by victorg009

Sep 29, 2011 (12:04 pm)

hsalinas: I do own 2010 Acadia SLE AWD, and it gets 19MPG on roundtrip from Bay Area to Tahoe which includes climb to 7000' mountain. On flat freeway it can get 20+ MPG, but there are no flat freeways in Bay Area.
 
Acadia weights 3 tons and it takes lots of gas to accelerate it after stopping in city driving. The only way to improve MPG is to accelerate slower.
 
Another factor is Acadia transmission is programmed to downshift immediately when you touch gas pedal even slightly, and when downshifted it accelerates much faster and therefore consumes more gas. This sporty transmission mode is similar to Overdrive OFF in our old 4-cyl Camry, and with Overdrive OFF even Camry burns gas like Acadia.
 
I do like our Acadia when we go on family trips. I hate it when filling at gas station or every time I look on gas level gauge.

#132 of 251 Another dis-satisfied Acadia owner. by kaydeejay

Oct 01, 2011 (5:15 pm)

I have had my FWD Acadia for 3 months now and have driven approx 2500 miles.
I have been most unhappy with the gas mileage I have been getting (less than 16mpg in general driving, much of it highway).
I mentioned this to the Service advisor at my dealership and was told "That's all you're going to get"
I quoted the sticker mileage of 24 Hwy and was told that was a very optimistic number under perfect conditions.
BS! The tests behind those numbers were changed a few years ago to be more realistic!.
I took my first 400 mile purely highway trip last weekend and drove 70mph. I got 21.8mpgs.
Better than some people are reporting but still not what I was hoping for.
To put things in perspective here - that is 2mpg LESS than I used to get driving a 1995 Buick Roadmaster station wagon with a 5.7L V8. With 16 years of "Progress" I expected the Acadia to do better.
I also own a 2500HD Duramax Crew-cab pickup that I use to tow a fifth wheel. I have driven the SAME 400 mile trip with my truck (unloaded) and got 20mpg.
Not good enough GM.
But I leased it so am stuck for another 3 years. I will NOT lease another one.

Messages Page 14 of 26

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