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Ford Fiesta Real World MPG

134 messages,  Last post on Apr 25, 2013 at 9:52 AM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Fiesta, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Hatchback

Messages Page 9 of 14

#80 of 134 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue by ronello

Apr 05, 2012 (12:05 pm)

My 2-month old 2012 Ford Fiesta SE Sedan with automatic transmission is only giving me 24-25 mpg in the city, with about 40% traffic, and AC on (low). The car has reached around 1000 miles, the average speed shown on the car is 20 mph. I am a pretty conservative driver, and step on the gas lightly at signals. Do I need to give the car some time to reach that 30-33 mpg city that everyone's bragging about, or is there some inherent issues with the car that need to be checked? Is it worth taking it to the dealership and getting it checked, or am I being a tad impatient? Thanks!

#81 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [ronello] by ivan_99

Apr 05, 2012 (12:47 pm)

Replying to: ronello (Apr 05, 2012 12:05 pm)
I don't see it getting any better...I do not have a fiesta...so take it for what it's worth
 
You should track the miles driven as well; I'd guesstimate it's also very low.
 
I suspect that at 20mph average you're spending a long time idling...which is zero mpg Our mini-van is terrible for mpg because we spend so long idling (drive-through, picking up kids, very short trips to the store...)
 
If you drove an average 20mph -- steady -- through a park I think you'd have fabulous mpg numbers...but still 20mph.
 
I've never seen anybody disappointed with their new car mileage all of a sudden report that the engine has finally 'broken-in' and is now a fuel-miser.
 
Or put another way; I don't see putting on another 10k miles resulting in a 25% fuel efficiency increase.
 
What did you drive previously? What mpg on the same route?

#82 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [ivan_99] by phill1

Apr 05, 2012 (2:19 pm)

Replying to: ivan_99 (Apr 05, 2012 12:47 pm)
Get to you local Ford dealership immediately. Something is definitely (very) wrong! My 2011 Fiesta SE Hatchback with automatic transmission has produced 34 mpg City and between 41- 43 mpg Hwy since it was taken home. On the other hand, my 2012 Kia Rio5 with the same 1.6 ltr engine is producing about 27 mpg city and maybe 35 mpg hwy. Your Fiesta needs to be looked at, NOW!

#83 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [ivan_99] by ronello

Apr 05, 2012 (2:41 pm)

Replying to: ivan_99 (Apr 05, 2012 12:47 pm)
Ivan, Thanks for the inputs! I see the point you make about having a worse mpg when driving intermittently with a lot of idling time as well, versus driving steadily at 20mph..my hunch is that I still should not be seeing such bad numbers even with the former case. This is my first car in San Diego, CA..so I cant really compare. I'll definitely get it checked at the dealership.

#84 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [phill1] by ronello

Apr 05, 2012 (2:50 pm)

Replying to: phill1 (Apr 05, 2012 2:19 pm)
Phil, thanks for the prompt reply...I'm taking it to the dealership tomorrow, and will post my experience later.

#85 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [ronello] by iamz

Apr 06, 2012 (7:25 pm)

Replying to: ronello (Apr 05, 2012 12:05 pm)
If your average for mph is 20 then you are likely sitting at traffic lights or stuck in stop and go traffic during rush hour and not moving. Like ivan 99 said, your mpg are exactly 0 when that is happening. You're also running your AC all the time. Only 24-25 mpg sounds about right to me.
 
How many miles to and from work do you drive?

#86 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [iamz] by phill1

Apr 07, 2012 (6:04 am)

Replying to: iamz (Apr 06, 2012 7:25 pm)
Funny, I live here in South Florida, get caught in traffic on I95 as well as in City traffic. A/C is on constantly and (my) 2011 Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback with A/T still gets 33/35 mpg city and when on the highway at speeds of 75/80 mph always get between 41/43 mpg. Like I posted earlier, something is (drastically) wrong with that Ford Fiesta and it needs to be looked at immediately. Case closed! Now my 2012 Kia Rio5 LX Hatchback, thats a different story. This (dog) gets around 26 mpg city and never more then 34 mpg highway although it has an EPA rating of 30 mpg city and 40 mpg hyw. Kia Dealership says with only 3000 miles driven, it`s still just breaking in. Odd, the Ford Fiesta achieved the same mpg from day one! If sitting in traffic, stuck at a traffic light, etc would result in 20 mpg with just a tiny 1.6 ltr. 4 cyl. engine, and that seems about right, I guess one would expect to run out of gas (immediately) if they had a hemi V8, correct?

#87 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [phill1] by ivan_99

Apr 07, 2012 (10:25 am)

Replying to: phill1 (Apr 07, 2012 6:04 am)
heh.
 
He didn't say how long we went between fill-ups...just he got 26mpg and averaged 20 mph. Getting zero miles (idling) will always get 0 mpg; it depends on how long you're sitting as to how it'll affect your overall mpg average.
 
That tank could have lasted him a month. 5 miles to work...5 miles back averaging 26mpg.
 
26 mpg can get you 10 miles per day on one tank of gas...for a month.
Tank (12 G) 26mpg = 312 miles range
10 miles per day * 30 days = 300 miles.
 
Of course this is all made up.
 
He could have problems...but he didn't say any warning lights were on, or smoke was coming out the tail pipe, or it was hesitating, hiccuping, stalling, etc.
 
I thought he said he was in San Diego...isn't that hilly? I remember getting 27 mpg with my Infiniti Q45 on a trip. When I would have the instant-mpg showing it was really interesting to see the mpg drop to 7-8 when there was a slight incline.
 
Anyway...I suspect they'll come back and say...sorry...no error codes, everything is fine.
 
The hemi would run out of gas sooner...even with a 19 gallon tank

#88 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [phill1] by iamz

Apr 07, 2012 (3:54 pm)

Replying to: phill1 (Apr 07, 2012 6:04 am)
Hey phill1,
 
Just for kicks, take a look at your average mph reading on your Fiesta and report back if you would please. Mine is usually between 40 and 45.

#89 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [iamz] by ronello

Apr 07, 2012 (6:11 pm)

Replying to: iamz (Apr 06, 2012 7:25 pm)
All, thanks for the inputs! Took the car to the dealership yesterday, and the mechanic drove the car for 20 miles (mostly highway miles) and reported 42.8 mpg to me using his IDS system (in addition to the dash). No defects were reported to me at this time, and he suggested the same plausible causes for the low mpg numbers that you guys mentioned (lots of idling, excessive stop-start in traffic, etc...)
iamz, I drive 12 miles (round-trip) to and from work each day...
ivan, your calculations are pretty accurate...I have filled up a full tank approx. once a month. At this point, I dont have anything to compare to coz everyone's average mph seems to be much higher..but iamz and phil, it would be nice to know what mpg numbers you guys are getting at average 40-45 mphs...thanks again!

Messages Page 9 of 14

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