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Hyundai Elantra Real World MPG 2012

745 messages,  Last post on May 18, 2013 at 10:29 AM

You are in the Hyundai Elantra Forum.

What is this discussion about? Hyundai Elantra, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Hatchback, Sedan

Messages Page 15 of 75

#135 of 745 1st Service Complete on 2012 Limited by majorben

Jan 18, 2012 (1:27 pm)

Hi All,
 
I just had the vehicle in today for it's 1st service at just over 5K miles. I must say that the service reps were very friendly at both times - dropping the car off and picking up the car. I had asked them to do a fuel consumption test, and when I picked up the car they told me that they could not find anything wrong. All settings were correct and that the car was functioning normally. This is what I expected. And I guess the service rep didn't seem at all surprised that I have had significantly lower gas mileage than expected because they told me that 3 other customers have already come in this week with the same complaint. The rep told me the usual line about waiting until Spring to see if things change, because the car is still has low miles and that it is expected that one would normally get lower gas mileage due to the colder temps and the oxygenated (10% ethanol) gas. I told them that I expected the lower FE in the winter, but I didn't expect it to be significantly different. They also mentioned, as I told them that I knew to do these things, to 1) keep the tires inflated to the recommended pressures or slightly higher, 2) get gas a top tier gas station using the same pump all the time and stopping the pump when it clicks off, and 3) calculate the FE manually and do not rely on the car's computer readout.
 
Anyway, the rep asked me to give them a good rating on the survey, and that I will do, but they also mentioned that I should write in the comment section to Hyundai about my disappointment. It did seem a bit odd though that when I mentioned that I had been reading about this issue with the FE of the Elantra, and they told me that up until this week that they hadn't heard a thing. This dealer is not a new dealer, and I know last year when I was picking out my car that they were selling Elantras like hotcakes, so I wonder what is going on? They said it wasn't a mechanical issue with my car and that all codes were up to date, so could it really then be a factory issue? Could it be a programming issue with the ECM? Please do not go to the "how do you drive the car" point. I think that I have stated how I drive with many details in previous posts, so I don't want to go there again. I wish that we all knew something about what was wrong with some of these cars, and that Hyundai would own up to this. I guess time will tell, but more people have to call them or write them or complain to the dealer/service department where they got the car. I do not know how much good that will do, but the more people who complain, the better for all of us. In these days with Twitter and Facebook, social media is a big concern of companies these days. One bad word about anything about a company can go a long way. I, for one, am hoping that it does as I will be contacting Hyundai shortly.
 
Happy New Year, and
Best Regards to all!!!

#136 of 745 I'll complain until they give me a new car... by mikewallace1

Jan 18, 2012 (4:00 pm)

my money back, or I sue them.
 
I'll run a few more tanks and document my issues before I start causing havoc.
 
I am not in the business of getting screwed as a consumer. If the dealership is worth anything they'll work with me.
 
24.5 mpg split driving is not right. One reason I bought this car was to save $100/month in gas. (old vehicle averaged 13)

#137 of 745 Re: I'll complain until they give me a new car... [mikewallace1] by backy

Jan 18, 2012 (4:23 pm)

Replying to: mikewallace1 (Jan 18, 2012 4:00 pm)
How many miles do you drive per year?
 
For example, at 12k miles per year (1k / month) and 87 octane at $3.40 (heard that's where national avg is at now), that saves you over $120 / month in gas compared to your old vehicle.

#138 of 745 Re: I'll complain until they give me a new car... [backy] by mikewallace1

Jan 19, 2012 (10:29 am)

Replying to: backy (Jan 18, 2012 4:23 pm)
The Elantra is my wife's car. She drove her old vehicle about 10k miles a year. I'd say realistically it averaged about 15mpg - I had not checked it in a long time. It was rated 14c/18h.
 
I would think the Elantra would get a few more miles per year but at 10k miles a year and 15mpg vs 25mpg and an average price of 3.40, I'm looking at a $75 monthly savings.
 
If the Elantra got 32mpg the savings would be an even $100 per month.
 
I don't want to wait to long to push this up the chain as I know people are real good at giving you the run around and playing the blame game.

#139 of 745 Re: I'll complain until they give me a new car... [mikewallace1] by backy

Jan 19, 2012 (10:52 am)

Replying to: mikewallace1 (Jan 19, 2012 10:29 am)
24.5 mpg split driving is not right. One reason I bought this car was to save $100/month in gas. (old vehicle averaged 13)
 
So in one day the FE for the old car went from 13 to 15? At 13 mpg, you ARE saving over $100 a month. Maybe at this time of year, the old car averaged closer to 13 mpg than 15?
 
Also consider, if we use the higher figure for the old car (15 mpg), and your wife is driving more miles per year in the Elantra, it doesn't take many more miles 25 mpg to hit your magic $100 mark.
 
Isn't this a lot of angst over what amounts to less than a dollar a day?

#140 of 745 Re: I'll complain until they give me a new car... [backy] by mikewallace1

Jan 19, 2012 (11:25 am)

Replying to: backy (Jan 19, 2012 10:52 am)
It's not about my savings. It's about I was sold something that does not, so far, live up to expectations of claims by Hyundai or the dealership - and it's not even close.
 
It's not like I bought a $300 TV and the picture sucks.

#141 of 745 Re: I'll complain until they give me a new car... [mikewallace1] by backy

Jan 19, 2012 (11:46 am)

Replying to: mikewallace1 (Jan 19, 2012 11:25 am)
Well, that was pretty dumb of Hyundai and the dealership to guarantee you at least $100 a month savings on gas when they didn't know anything about your old vehicle, your wife's commute and driving habits, future price of gas etc.

#142 of 745 Re: I'll complain until they give me a new car... [mikewallace1] by robrct

Jan 19, 2012 (5:15 pm)

Replying to: mikewallace1 (Jan 18, 2012 4:00 pm)
I bought car Jan 6 2012
First week 800 miles - 24.6 combined
This week... 28.9
Hope the trend continues!

#143 of 745 3rd tank by mikewallace1

Jan 19, 2012 (7:02 pm)

90 miles on this tank and computer says avg 23.8 so it's probably more like 22.
 
Woohoo.

#144 of 745 Elantra Rental - Conclusion by dodgeman07

Jan 19, 2012 (9:51 pm)

Back in Iowa tonight after 3 days and about 380 miles on an Enterprise Elantra GLS automatic rental (well broken in at 24,000 miles). Sticking to the mileage only here............
 
I only put about 20 chilly miles on the car in the north suburbs of Chicago. Total for the trip was 90% hwy and 10% city. The tire pressure light was on the entire trip. My guess is the pressure was down a few pounds from recommended levels.
 
The drive home offered a slight elevation increase, 10-15 mph headwinds, single digit temps, and the tire pressure issue. After a 37.5 mpg effort going east, the trip home was metered at 32 mpg. For the trip I averaged just under 35 mpg. Not bad at all. I filled up with 10.8 gallons of fuel just before turning her in. The car was "full" at pick-up so the trip meter was within a reasonable margin of error.
 
The fixation with the 40 mpg hwy rating hurts this car. Sure it COULD achieve 40 mpg at 65 mph on level roads with good fuel and a well-maintained vehicle, but the 33 mpg combined number is the realistic figure to work from. After my trip I can say that if I owned the car, I could easily hit the 33 mpg EPA combined number with my current driving style (average and 50/50 city/hwy). I also buy ethanol-free fuel here in the Dubuque, Iowa area and that helps a bit.
  
Nice car Hyundai! You've come a long way since my test drive of the last-gen Sonata in 2006.

Messages Page 15 of 75

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