107 messages,
Last post on Sep 23, 2012 at 10:34 PM
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Hyundai Elantra Forum.
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Hyundai Elantra, Hatchback, Sedan
#59 of 107 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [mikeystoy5]
by kate007124
Nov 16, 2011 (10:04 am)
Yes, I am trying to get my point across... it is a disappointing and frustrating situation or I wouldnt be posting about it.
When I was shopping for a vehicle I looked at all options. I did look at the fine print below the 'big 29/40 hwy' and the my vehicle is not falling in those fine print estimates. I love everything about my elantra but the main reason I purchased this vehicle it is not doing, or even coming close.
As stated in my above post, if you would read carefully, I said that my hour long commute is all highway. The only stop lights I hit is to murge on the turnpike and when I get off the turnpike. As far as my driving style goes, I am no maniac... I drive the speed limit and at most 10 miles over it. I keep my car on cruise at between 65-75 mph and it is mostly flat terrain.
I purchased this vehicle in July and have used both 'summer' and 'winter' gas and really saw no difference between the two.
You mentioned that you have a 2011 and that you are getting 'what it says it will'... whatever that means. I have read over the forums and see that most mpg problems are in the 2012... do you think this could be the problem? I know that there is no 'claimed' to be difference in the models besides the steering, but maybe there was a smaller change or not mentioned by hyundai similar to the situation with the tibirions.
I am not expecting 40 mpg but at least 30 - 33 mpg would appropriate. I know there is many variables in computing mpg but when a car that is advertised to get great mileage is getting the same mpg as a 2009 Mitsabushi Eclipse, which is heavier, has a bigger, powerful motor, that made the same commute then there is an issue. I am not sure if it is just my car or maybe its the whole slew of 2012, but there is something wrong. Maybe no one has pursued yet because very few have reached the 7000 miles, according to Hyundai 'break in' mark.
I do know that others have reported similar issues with this year. The delarship where I purchased the vehicle said that they have recieved complaints about the mpg and even the women I spoke at Hyundai Customer service said the same thing. So maybe its not just me.
All I want is reasoning for this issue and I have yet to hear one. I think you can agree that when you pay thousands of dollars for something and it doesnt work to the standards set by its own company ( im talking about real word mpg), its disappointing.
Before ridiculing me and my post look at the whole situation... I have researched all the options, variables, and solutions and none of worked. I have reached out to Hyundai and they said they could not help me. So what else do I left to do?
#60 of 107 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [sarah2175]
by kate007124
Nov 16, 2011 (10:11 am)
AGAIN, you have a 2011...I have a 2012, read the above post to mikeystoy5.
Trade a 4 month old car in? Are you even reasonable? So.. I trade the car and take 3-4,000 dollar loss. GET REAL. I dont hate the car, I love all my features, the look, and the interior design, its just not getting the gas mileage.
And coming up with numbers? The mpg is calculated manually by using the mileage travelled divided by the gallons of gas used. These calculations arent even taken off of the car's computer. So NO they are not made up.
As far as my driving style, I am no maniac... I drive the tunrpike ( ALL FLAT HIGHWAY) to and from work. Set the car on cruise on 60-75mph, reset my mpg and still getting 28 mpg.
Any other input?
#61 of 107 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [kate007124]
by Kirstie@Edmunds HOST
Nov 16, 2011 (10:47 am)
Kate, if you look at consumer reviews of the 2011 Elantra, you will note that there are many complaints about inability to achieve the EPA estimated MPG on that model year as well.
If Sarah is getting good MPG (at least acceptable to her), that's great for her. I'd say more than 50% of reviewers have the "bad MPG" complaint, though.
#62 of 107 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [kirstie_h]
by markw
Nov 17, 2011 (7:18 pm)
I understand the frustration with not getting the mpg you expected but keep in mind those are ideal figures. If you really want better gas mileage you will need to do all or some the things that help. Like remove excess weight, keep the car clean and waxed, maintain a slightly higher tire pressure, use synthetic oil, buy fuel that doesn't have additives (more chance for dirty injector etc though) drive much slower. The elantra likely doesn't have one but my 99 caravan has a real time fuel mileage display and the best mileage is around 52-55 mph. There are some more involved things like a low restriction air filter (I bought a foam one fits standard air-box for my 03 Pilot) and it saves money on replacement filters. After market exhaust would be the most expensive and likely impractical and unavailable for the elantra.
#63 of 107 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [markw]
by Kirstie@Edmunds HOST
Nov 18, 2011 (10:01 am)
No, the figures aren't meant to be "ideal" - they're meant to represent the average. If you look at the window sticker, right below the city and highway figures, there's an expected range. The numbers in large print represent the average as in this sample:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratingsNewSticker.shtml
If the low MPG is mostly attributable to driving or maintenance habits, then Elantra and Equinox owners must just be overall worse at both. We're not seeing this level of complaints about ANY other models. Just those two.
#64 of 107 Re: my 1-week old elantra limited [gunther2]
by sandman_6472
Nov 18, 2011 (1:04 pm)
They are nice cars really. Pass the back lot of Coconut Creek Hyundai daily and as soon as a new batch comes in, they are gone which just shows that the demand is still there. Hopefully by next year at this time when we're ready to buy, that situation will have leveled off quite a bit. I can honestly say that my prediction will be between the Elantra and the Buick Verano as to what she'll choose. Also think that she'll go for leather this time around since she says she wanted it in the Mazda even though I thought the Mazda grade leather was pretty inferior...think she blames me still! But she's buying whatever she wants...and can afford, so we'll see if she finally gets the leather. I'll be happy either way since I only get the car serviced, don't drive her car at all anymore.
The Sandman
#65 of 107 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [kirstie_h]
by markw
Nov 18, 2011 (5:31 pm)
Hi Kirstie, you are correct my wording was not good. So then I will say the average mpg is assessed under ideal conditions. If you notice it doesn't say what the speeds were, weather road surface conditons, if there are long delays etc. but you can be sure that the manufacturer did their best to eliminate or minimize those real world affects. I would agree that the complaints are higher on those because the 40mpg is a very high number and personally I would think that it would not be consistently attained under real world conditons. What I always wonder is how people calculate their mileage. You would hae to start with a known amout on fuel add a known amount and then measure after and record city and highway miles which I don't think anyone does. Also pumps are not regulated that accurately for temperature which affect fuel volume. This article explains it fairly well.
http://articles.latimes.com/2007/aug/22/autos/hy-wheels22
#66 of 107 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [kate007124]
by lestrade
Nov 19, 2011 (4:03 pm)
i share your concerns. My 2012 limited gets about 32-34 if driven strictly, and I mean strictly on the highway. Any combination of highway/local drops the mpg to about 27. Not what I expected.
#67 of 107 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [kate007124]
by tturbo
Nov 19, 2011 (4:48 pm)
Are you actually calculating MPG using miles traveled divided by gas used? Or are you relying on the onboard computer?
Here's what I do.
Wait until my gas light comes on.
I fill up by inserting the pump nozzle, selected a flow rate, lock it, and don't touch it until it shuts off on it's own. STOP. Do not add more to even out gallons or money. Just stop and go with what the pump gave.
Reset mileage to 0. Drive normally as you like.
When the gas light comes on again, right down how many miles you've traveled. Fill the tank like before, stopping once the pump has stopped.
Take the previous miles traveled and divide by how much as you just put in.
Example:
350 miles traveled.
14 gallon fill.
350 divided by 14 = 25mpg
Do this for at least 3-4 tankfuls to get a greater consistency.
Use your car mpg computer, if you have one, and see how it measures up.
On my BMW my car computer reads a bit different than my calculations.
The manual miles driven divided by gallons used is the BEST and only true method to get to actual MPG.
The computer may work depending on how it was programmed.
#68 of 107 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [kate007124]
by tturbo
Nov 19, 2011 (4:53 pm)
Ah.
Didn't see this before I posted.
I too would expect at least 30mpg if my driving was at least 30% highway. My driving is about 50/50 city/highway. I would expect about 33-34mpg.
40mpg on highway would only be achieved under ideal conditions where you don't have to stop and go before getting to highway, only use cruise control, highway is plate flat, no head or cross wind, and you don't calculate getting off of highway.
Oh, and no passing of any car where you'd have to give any throttle beyond what cruise is using.
It's a marketing number IMO, that's achieved by using the EPA rules to the manufactures advantage.