You are here: Forums SUVs Mazda CX-9 Mazda CX-9 Real World MPG

Mazda CX-9 Real World MPG

140 messages,  Last post on Feb 13, 2009 at 11:14 AM

You are in the Mazda CX-9 Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & tidester

What is this discussion about? Mazda CX-9, SUV

Messages Page 11 of 15 1 ... 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#93 of 140 Better than Average Mileage. by blueru May 09, 2008 (10:09 am)
We have owned our 2008 CX-9 since March 4th and we love it. We bought a base model (FWD Sport?) with the moonroof & power seat option. Within 2 weeks of owning it, we drove it to Hilton Head, SC (900+ miles one way) and were able to average between 23 - 24 MPG going about 72 MPH the entire way! Since then (now have about 4000 miles), we have been averaging about 18 - 19 MPG in mostly city (85%) driving. Several of you have mentioned pulse and glide....that is how we do it in town/city. This car glides forever....I have been able to easily glide more than a 1/4 mile and only lose 5 - 10 MPH The vehicle is great and I would recommend it to friends and family. Replies to this message: ceric (May 09, 2008 10:46 am)
#94 of 140 Re: Better than Average Mileage. [blueru] by ceric May 09, 2008 (10:46 am)
Replying to: blueru (May 09, 2008 10:09 am) I also found that CX-9 glides much longer than others. I suspect that the flywheel is quite massive, which hurts the acceleration a bit. (a heavy flywheel smooths out acceleration and deceleration) People with AWD is not as lucky in term of MPG. I believe a 2mpg difference is more realistic than EPA's 1mpg. Pulse and Glide works extremely well for hybrids, but the same applies for ICE vehicles as well, only not as much improvement. For ICE vehicles, just try to keep RPM low. Modern vehicles try to maintain same fuel/air mixture (within 5% range). Therefore, RPM is a good indicator of fuel consumption. CX-9 has very short 1st gear (1st=4.15). I have tried to start at 2nd gear (with M+/-) and it pulls fine. I can see the 1st gear will be useful on heavy load. The transmission program should allow CX-9 to start at 2nd gear. It has the torque (270ft-lb) and gear ratio (2nd=2.37) to do that. Most BMW auto-tranny automatically starts at 2nd gear when not accelerating hard offline. In contrast, the 1st gear of Honda Pilot 5-spd tranny is 2.422 (FWD), very close to CX-9's 2nd gear. While most 6-spd tranny save fuel, but not the one on CX-9 since the extra gear is placed very short to have the "zoom-zoom" feel offline. Compare the 6-spd gear ratios and those of Honda Pilot's 5-spd, and you will see what I mean.
#95 of 140 Crossovers MPG by seloo May 10, 2008 (3:56 pm)
The MPG for these cars is very disappointing. Most minivans get as good or better MPG than the major crossovers. These crossovers have good platforms, they just need to get 22 City and 30 Hwy MPG.   Maybe they can rework the gear ratios in future models. Ceric is correct most BMWs (6 cyl) balance performance with fair to good MPG.
#96 of 140 Re: The problem with the MPG by hot4amy May 12, 2008 (7:52 am)
Replying to: ceric (Feb 13, 2008 9:35 am) Hmmm I have had 3 CX-9 during the last 3 months....original AWD GT stuck in repair after 2 weeks; loaner CX-9 (FWD) for 1 month; replacment AWD GT for 6 weeks. Have yet to get any better than 14.8 mpg combined(50/50) Try to turn off climate control, never go over 65, check tire psi, ..........   amazing getting same mpg than Suburban..... no....not speeding nor lead footed.   Wish wife had chose the Toyota or Honda or even the Acadia ....since repair had been horrible for a new vehicle. Replies to this message: ceric (May 12, 2008 9:12 am) vinsuz (May 13, 2008 9:11 am)
#97 of 140 Re: The problem with the MPG [hot4amy] by ceric May 12, 2008 (9:12 am)
Replying to: hot4amy (May 12, 2008 7:52 am) I think Toyota/Honda would probably have given you better MPG, but not the Arcadia. Go read their forums. You will see that Arcadia's 500lb extra weight is something to carry around. All I can say is that go gentle on the 1st gear, and your CX-9 MPG will be fine. I have been averaging 16+mpg in SF BayArea traffic. Zero problems after 5000 miles.
#98 of 140 Re: The problem with the MPG [hot4amy] by vinsuz May 13, 2008 (9:11 am)
Replying to: hot4amy (May 12, 2008 7:52 am) What's the terrain where you live? I live in Western Pa with a lot of hills, but now that I've surpassed 2k miles, my '08 GT is getting 16+ consistently (50/50), and I'm sort of a lead foot and drive 70+ mph on the interstates. I don't know the validity of the supposed "break-in period", but I have noticed a slight improvement.
#99 of 140 Re: 2008 GT FWD MPG [btm2518] by ezye Jul 01, 2008 (12:03 pm)
Replying to: btm2518 (Apr 20, 2008 12:09 pm) Just over 1000 miles and I've yet to get more than 13 mpg out of this thing. I really like this car but having to fill up once a week is ridiculous. At first, I thought it was my wife's driving habits but I had the car for a week while she was out of town and the best I could do was about 13 mpg and I'm a very conservative driver (no ac, slow starts/stops, etc.). If I knew my mpg was going to be this bad I would've passed on this vehicle. Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, I'm very dissappointed. Replies to this message: nxs138 (Jul 03, 2008 8:03 pm)
#100 of 140 Chat night by pf_flyer HOST Jul 01, 2008 (3:41 pm)
Tuesday means Mazda chat night! The chat opens at 8:45 pm ET and runs until 10 pm ET. I hope you're able to join us tonight to meet and greet with your fellow CarSpace members! See you there!
#101 of 140 Re: very pleased with mileage [dorenescar] by badself Jul 01, 2008 (9:20 pm)
Replying to: dorenescar (Apr 14, 2008 10:11 pm) When I got mine ('08 GT), the vehicle was California emissions and I was very worried about (1) the vehicle bogging down more than a non-California car, and (2) a hit in fuel efficiency because it's California. I bought in Maryland, but the dealer bordered a green state (PA) so they order all theirs California in order to do dealer trades. I actually drove two non-California cars before buying mine and I could not detect a difference in performance, so I bought this California emission CX-9 and after two tankfuls if 50/50 driving, I'm just breaking 20.0 mpg, so all in all, California or no California, I guess I'm doing better than I expected, and definitely better than some. Didn't set out looking for the particular emission standard, it just happened to be the dealer with the best price (by a good margin). Hard to understand how folks driving conservatively are in the 13's and 14's, not that I don't believe them. Just glad not my experience so far. Replies to this message: ceric (Jul 02, 2008 2:20 pm)
#102 of 140 Re: very pleased with mileage [badself] by ceric Jul 02, 2008 (2:20 pm)
Replying to: badself (Jul 01, 2008 9:20 pm) As I posted before, CX-9 has very short 1st gear (4.15?). It revs very high when you hit the gas starting off. This, of course, gives you the "zoom-zoom" feel but it costs you gas. Also, cruising at 40 mph, the CX-9 holds onto the 5th gear instead of 6th. I believe the 6th can handle it very well (try the M-mode). I believe Mazda programs the transmission to be more responsive while costing you MPG a bit. Besides, CX-9 is heavy (AWD at 4600lb when loaded with options). 3.7L engine eats more gas than 3.5L/3.6L that most competitors use (Pilot, Highlander).   My CX-9 (after 6000 miles) has been doing 15.5 to 16.5mpg in SF bay area (metropolitan driving). I cruise highway at 75mph, and follow traffic vigorously. We have the usual traffic jams like everywhere when commuting.   I don't see how people can get 13-14mpg normally. Maybe, - check tire pressure - check alignment - check air filter for blockage or dirts

Messages Page 11 of 15 1 ... 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums SUVs Mazda CX-9 Mazda CX-9 Real World MPG