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Ford Fiesta Real World MPG

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

You are in the Ford Fiesta Forum.

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

Messages Page 10 of 14

#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!

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

Apr 08, 2012 (5:01 am)

Replying to: ronello (Apr 07, 2012 6:11 pm)
ronello,
 
my long term average is between 39-40 mpg. In the winter I get around 37 mpg and in the summer I get around 42 mpg. I have a long 90 mile, round trip commute that is mostly rural 2 lane highway where I drive about 55 mph.
 
I've found through testing that my Fiesta doesn't reach full operating temperature until I've driven about 7 or 8 miles (in the winter). A car won't get its ideal mpg's until the engine reaches its normal operating temperature. So, with your short commute, you're unfortunately getting hit with a penalty there also along with the stop and go driving of city traffic.
 
Take it on a road trip and I think you'll be pretty pleased with the numbers you'll be getting on the highway.
 
Good luck!

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

Apr 08, 2012 (10:43 am)

Replying to: iamz (Apr 08, 2012 5:01 am)
I never pay much attention the the on board computer read-out indicating the vehicle MPG. I think its never very accurate and the best way to know what kind of Fuel Economy you are getting is simply dividing miles driven by fuel used. I also don`t pay much attention to exactly what speed achieves the best fuel economy either. I drive to the speed limit in city driving plus 5 mph when driving conditions permit and usually drive the speed limit plus 10 mph weather and driving conditions also factored in. I don`t fixate on 1 or 2 mpg changes regardless of what speed I`m traveling at. I just know that the Ford Fiesta "exceeds" the EPA ratings, (when have you seen that lately) while my 2012 Kia Rio5 gets no where near its EPA rating, both vehicle being driven under the same conditions identically. Great Job Ford, not so much Kia. I do notice that the Fuel Level Indicator moves ever so slowly on the Ford Fiesta while the same indicator on the Kia Rio5 starts moving downward as soon as you leave the filling station. 30 miles driven and the indicator has dropped from slightly (over) Full to down an 1/8 of a Tank. I`m sure the same is also true for the Hyundai Accent which uses the identical mechanical components.

#92 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [ronello] by xwesx

Apr 09, 2012 (12:26 pm)

Replying to: ronello (Apr 07, 2012 6:11 pm)
I agree with iamz; ronello, you're looking at a perfect storm for poor mileage! Given that you don't have any other vehicle with which to compare, and given the analysis done by the dealership indicated it was operating within the expected efficiency range, I think you can rule out a definite problem with the car.
 
Seems a shame to have a (fairly) new car and only drive it one tank per month! I think you need to come up with an excuse for a road trip... even a short one will do!

#93 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [ronello] by dann_k

Apr 19, 2012 (7:09 pm)

Replying to: ronello (Apr 07, 2012 6:11 pm)
I've actually kept rather extensive logs of my Mpg since I didn't really buy into the 40 Mpg thing when I got the car in Nov 2010.
 
I've noticed that I get my best mileage doing 40 - 50 Mph. I maintain about a 45 Mpg rate at that speed over fairly level ground.
 
At highway speeds of 55+ I get about 42 - 43 Mpg.
 
I have noticed that the car does go through a lot of fuel accellerating IF you're an agressive accellerator. If you're content to speed up slowly, keeping your RPM under 2500 throughout the process, you don't have that immediate quick-consumption that take 5 miles of no stop driving to get you back to 40 Mpg for your trip. I learned this over the first few months of owning the car, and when I changed my style of accelleration, it made a solid 4-5 Mpg overall improvement.
 
Right now, at about 23,000 miles - having last reset my Mpg Counter at 10,000 Miles (13,000 on this "trip"), I'm averaging 38.9 Mpg. I have a 21 mile commute of which 15 are highway miles. The other 6 miles has me encountering about 6 stops on average for lights. I live in NJ - so I run the AC from May until Sept.

#94 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [dann_k] by phill1

Apr 20, 2012 (7:03 am)

Replying to: dann_k (Apr 19, 2012 7:09 pm)
You Poster`s are a "Hoot". So much detail and scientific analysis. Its safe to say, the Ford Fiesta is probably the most (non) Hybrid vehicle manufactured in the World that offers, good styling, decent interior room, an respectable performance in a B-Segment Sub-Compacy Car, period! ON the other hand the 2012 Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio, exit stage right. Sub Par fuel economy and no way reaches EPA Fuel Estimates. The Rio5, nice looks, comfortable seating, better performance thanks to "GDI" but its negated by sub-par mpg.

#95 of 134 40 mpg a requirement? by steve_ HOST

Apr 20, 2012 (7:16 am)

A reporter is looking for a car shopper who thinks 40 MPG is a requisite before they buy. If you have recently shopped for a car, and you have only considered cars that get 40 MPG, and you are willing to share your story with a reporter, please contact predmunds.com with your daytime contact information no later than Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at noon Pacific/3 p.m. Eastern.

#96 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [dann_k] by iamz

Apr 20, 2012 (8:53 am)

Replying to: dann_k (Apr 19, 2012 7:09 pm)
I can confirm everything you said. Keeping in the 40-50 mph range seems ideal. I don't want to lengthen my otherwise long commute though, so I generally drive at 55 mph. And I found the same thing you did on acceleration. Even moderate acceleration from a stop is hard to recover from. When I need to stop, going into neutral or just coasting in gear helps quite a bit too. My lifetime average after 27k miles is just above 39 mpg.

#97 of 134 Re: 2012 Ford Fiesta 25mpg issue [dann_k] by ronello

Apr 23, 2012 (11:50 am)

Replying to: dann_k (Apr 19, 2012 7:09 pm)
All, I made a 2-hour trip to LA this weekend and am very pleased with the numbers-- touched 45 mpg on the highway (with cruise on), and the overall trip made 38 mpg with 80% highway and 20% city driving...this baby does exceptionally well on long trips!
Dann, thanks for the tips! I'm a pretty conservative driver and never push the engine beyond 3000 rpm (well, at least I try not to!). It does take a little getting used to the ~3 gear shifts upto 30mph, but its a very smooth ride after that!
Phil, could not agree with you more...this car does way better than its EPA estimates of 39 mpg on the highway (my EPA sticker does show a range of 36-44 mpg highway though)

#98 of 134 Re: 40 mpg a requirement? [steve_] by phill1

Apr 23, 2012 (12:36 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Apr 20, 2012 7:16 am)
As an owner of a 2011 Ford Fiesta SE Hatchback, I purchased (that) vehicle in July of 2010 because of reported excellent fuel economy as well as IMO, excellent styling. This year I replaced my aging 2006 Kia Rio5 Hatchback with a 2012 Kia Rio5 Hatchback that purportedly was (supposed) to get 30 mpg city and the (magic) 40 mpg highway. Still pleased with this vehicles styling and comfort but as far as fuel economy, disappointed. A new highly touted vehicle boasting GDI fuel injection as well as electric power steering assist and a state of the art 6 speed automatic transmission and it gets no where near the EPA Fuel Estimates while my 2011 Ford Fiesta "Exceeds" the EPA fuel estimates for both city and highway driving. Had I known the somewhat disappointing fuel economy, I would have probably picked the 2012 Ford Focus Hatchback that would have been considerably larger, more powerful and got better real time gas mileage.

Messages Page 10 of 14

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