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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 6 of 75

#47 of 745 Re: 40mpg claim being investigated [aviboy97] by backy

Dec 03, 2011 (2:39 pm)

Replying to: aviboy97 (Dec 03, 2011 11:50 am)
Hyundai should voluntarily ask the EPA to re-test the Elantra, just to get this behind them... one way or another.
 
While they're at it, Consumer Watchdog should go after Buick:
 
Mileage isn't great. Government ratings of 21 mpg in town, 32 on the highway, 25 in mixed use are OK. But Buicks in general seem to do worse than other cars in the Test Drive regimen of suburban slog and bustle, with a few wide-open throttle moments tossed in for fun. Verano managed 17 mpg.
 
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/story/2011-12-01/buick-vergan- o-test-drive-james-healey/51553716/1

#48 of 745 Re: 40mpg claim being investigated [backy] by dodgeman07

Dec 03, 2011 (8:25 pm)

Replying to: backy (Dec 03, 2011 2:39 pm)
I had to laugh at Healey's mileage comments on the Verano. He quotes, "5.88 gallons in 100 miles". My first question: You drove exactly 100 miles? Not 99.9, not 100.1, but exactly 100.0 miles. You used exactly 5.88 gallons? How do you know? Because the trip computer said so?
 
I have the exact same engine in my Lacrosse (400 pounds heavier) and average close to 25 mpg in mixed driving. I calculate miles driven versus gallons burned. My trip computer reads a touch low on mpg (0.5 mpg low). Trip computers are better than they use to be but cannot be your sole source of data when reporting or the report has low validity.
 
It's gotten to the point with Healey and USAToday that I read it for a good laugh. He has zero credibility. Healey is one guy, beasting a brand new car, getting F150-like mileage, and then reporting it. A joke.

#49 of 745 Re: 40mpg claim being investigated [dodgeman07] by backy

Dec 03, 2011 (9:00 pm)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Dec 03, 2011 8:25 pm)
If you've seen multiple Healy reviews you should realize that he notes the number of gallons consumed in 100 miles as a point of reference. It's a simple calculation based on the mpg he achieved in his tests.
 
A review is credible to me if it's clear how the car was driven. Healy at least makes it clear how the car was driven. I've seen many posts in the mpg discussions in Town Hall that don't give much info at all on how the car was driven. I'll take Healy's reviews over those any day.
 
Also, I'll bet your driving pattern is a lot different than Healy's.

#50 of 745 FE tests are not accurate first 4,000 miles by fowler3

Dec 03, 2011 (9:34 pm)

Most FE tests are not accurate the first 4000 to 5000 miles because the engines are new and tight, they have to be driven at least 4000 miles first. Even then, how you drive, the weather, the temperature, the altitude, etc. plays a part. Some people get over 40mpg by driving very cautiously. When you achieve 40mpg, remember, you will not get that every time you hit the road because you go back to bad driving habits. Hyundai did not set the FE numbers, they are EPA estimates.
 
I have found the only way to get EPA estimates is to drive at max 60mph highway and not let the tach get above 3000rpm on the highway or in the city. Often achieving much higher true
FE when I stick to this rule. 2001 Mazda Protégé LX with EPA estimate 25/30, always averaged 36mpg
on trips. You cannot have performance and low FE at the same time.

#51 of 745 Re: 40mpg claim being investigated [backy] by dodgeman07

Dec 04, 2011 (11:17 am)

Replying to: backy (Dec 03, 2011 9:00 pm)
Healey is a joke of an automotive journalist. I've been laughing at his columns for decades. I'm a manufacturing engineer who spent many years in the light vehicle automotive systems. Test validity and data source are in contention here.
 
Feel free to use Healey's reviews as your standard of refereence. When a guy reports 5.88 gallons burned? Yeah, "I drove exactly 100.0 miles, the trip computer read exactly 17.0, so 100.0 divided by 17.0 = 5.88 gallons burned!"
 
Genius!

#52 of 745 Re: 40mpg claim being investigated [dodgeman07] by backy

Dec 04, 2011 (1:11 pm)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Dec 04, 2011 11:17 am)
I use Healy's reviews and other reviews of cars from a variety of sources as points of information, not as a standard of reference. I find it useful to get different perspectives on cars. I don't always agree with Healy's opinion on cars but I think he has a more practical approach to reviewing cars than some of the automotive mags that focus mainly on one aspect of the car, e.g. handling or acceleration.
 
I think you are misunderstanding the comment re gallons used per 100 miles and how it was calculated. I tried to explain it in my previous post.

#53 of 745 Re: 40mpg claim being investigated [backy] by dodgeman07

Dec 04, 2011 (2:12 pm)

Replying to: backy (Dec 04, 2011 1:11 pm)
I understand Healey's calculations. He's simply taking whatever the trip computer reads, in this case it had to be 17.0, and divides it into 100 miles. That equals 5.88 gallons.
 
Healey also took a shot at Buick mileage stating, "But Buicks in general seem to do worse than other cars in the Test Drive regimen...". I've owned 3 different Buicks over the years and never had a problem acheiving EPA mileage numbers. Nor have most other Buick owners.
 
Back to the Elantra. My take on the owner reports revolves around the eye-popping 40mpg hwy figure on the window sticker. Buyers see that and think they will get that kind of mileage. Most won't come close (and aren't supposed to ). The Elantra is a mid-size car that will weigh in at over 3000 pounds with just the driver and several gallons of fuel on board. The city rating of 29mpg and the combined rating of 33mpg should give people more realistic expectations.
 
Now if you're getting 20 to 25 mpg, something is wrong. If you're getting 30mpg? I'd be happy with that in a car like an Elantra.

#54 of 745 Re: At 33 mpg during break-in period [g2iowa] by puffin1

Dec 04, 2011 (2:20 pm)

Replying to: g2iowa (Nov 29, 2011 8:01 am)
Where can you buy non ethynol gas? Just curious.
                  Also, i drive a2011 BMW 3 and a 2010 VW Golf 5cyl 5 peed and if I drive the speed limit like 35 mph in fifth gear I can get 35 mpg. On CC flat highway only 34 mpg.
  Doesn't the milage on the stcker like 40 mpg mean at 55 miles an hour?.
 Well I like this forum becaues of the milage alot of people put on for a true road test.
  I suppose that you drive DSG's(dry)but if your doing 65 or 70 on the freeway. No way you'll cme close to 40 mpg, maybe 29 0r 30. Have a good day Puffin

#55 of 745 Re: At 33 mpg during break-in period [puffin1] by backy

Dec 04, 2011 (5:24 pm)

Replying to: puffin1 (Dec 04, 2011 2:20 pm)
Doesn't the milage on the stcker like 40 mpg mean at 55 miles an hour?.
 
No. It means that if someone drives in conditions exactly like the EPA highway tests are conducted, they should expect to get 40 mpg. Anything outside the EPA test regimen can cause fuel economy to be different than the EPA ratings.
 
It's not much different than 0-60 times. If someone were to use exactly the method used by one of the auto mags in a 0-60 test, under exactly the same conditions (weather etc.), they should be able to get the same 0-60 time or really close to it. But look at all the different 0-60 times reported in test drives. Why? Because everyone does that test a little differently, and conditions are different for each test.

#56 of 745 Re: 40mpg claim being investigated [dodgeman07] by backy

Dec 04, 2011 (5:28 pm)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Dec 04, 2011 2:12 pm)
Buyers see that and think they will get that kind of mileage.
 
Their mistake.
 
And the city rating of 29 shouldn't make people think they'll get 29 mpg in their "city" driving.
 
Now if you're getting 20 to 25 mpg, something is wrong.
 
Not necessarily. It could be that low due to a driving pattern of mostly short trips, city or suburban traffic with lots of stops and idling, hot weather (A/C on full blast) or cold weather (takes longer for the car to warm up, maybe the driver starts it and lets it warm up for awhile before driving), etc. If it's 20-25 mpg driving at 50-70 mph on the highway with few stops for more than a few miles, then I'd say there's something wrong.

Messages Page 6 of 75

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