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Hyundai Elantra Real World MPG 2012

752 messages,  Last post on Jun 16, 2013 at 12:33 AM

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

Messages Page 51 of 76

#500 of 752 C&D 40mpg Comparo by dodgeman07

Jun 02, 2012 (8:33 pm)

I just received the July 2012 issue of Car and Driver magazine and it contains an excellent article of 40mpg (and near-40mpg) compacts. The article, actually a series of articles, is one of the best I've seen with mileage tips (the usual), radar graphs, and a unique approach to measuring fuel efficiency.
 
C&D used a "precision fuel-consumption meter" to determine the maximum speed the vehicles could obtain 40mpg. This is a key statistic not typically measured. The vehicles in the test included:
 
1. Chevrolet Cruze Eco
2. Ford Focus SE (not the SFE)
3. Hyundai Elantra GLS
4. Mazda 3 Skyactiv
5. VW Golf TDI
 
The results included C/D Observed Hwy mpg and the maximum speed at which 40mpg could be generated. Who won? The Golf TDI of course but the final tally was interesting. Here's the order of finish with the observed Hwy mpg then the max speed at which the magical 40mpg figure could be obtained.
 
1. VW Golf TDI: 46 mpg hwy and 77 mph for 40 mpg.
2. Mazda3 Sky: 45 mpg hwy and 76 mph for 40 mpg.
3. Elantra GLS: 41 mpg hwy and 74 mph for 40 mpg.
4. Cruze ECO: 36 mpg hwy and 69 mph for 40 mpg.
5. Focus SE: 36 mpg hwy and 66 mph for 40 mpg.
 
The Cruze was the loser here and Ford wasn't able to provide their high mpg SFE version Focus so that one's tossed out really. The Elantra did very well and Mazda's new 3 Skyactiv posted stunning numbers. The TDI performed as expected.

#501 of 752 Create your own MPH-MPG data (Re: 41.4 mpg on state highways) [m6user] by g2iowa

Jun 03, 2012 (6:13 am)

Replying to: m6user (May 31, 2012 9:17 am)
Anyone interested in their own FE should get a complete data set for their specific car, tracking MPH-MPG.
 
Just filled up after a real mix of downtown city, suburb, and highway driving, covering 25 mph to 70 mph. About 60% interstate at 70 mph posted speed limit and had 3 passengers for about half the driving. Temperatures in the 60s all day. I had cruise set at legal highway speeds (50-70 mph). My avg. MPH was 40 and I ended up with 36.75 mpg. So I now have 5 good recent data points. (Just need a 45 mph average point.)
   
- Avg MPH= 52 and achieved 41.38 MPG. Drove 243.4 miles and used 5.882 gals.
- Avg MPH= 40 and achieved 36.75 mpg. Drove 232.3 miles and used 6.321 gals.
- Avg MPH= 35 and achieved 35.45 MPG. Drove 231.4 miles and used 6.528 gals.
- Avg MPH= 30 and achieved 32.68 MPG. Drove 292.0 miles and used 8.934 gals.
- Avg MPH= 24 and achieved 29.46 MPG. Drove 258.5 miles and used 8.776 gals.
  
All of these were with Active ECO "on", little A/C, and maximum use of cruise control. Used only regular unleaded (no ethanol). Car now has about 4,200 total miles on her. My computer continues to read high. It showed 40.4 mpg, which was off by 9% (too high).

#502 of 752 Re: C&D 40mpg Comparo at 73 mph [dodgeman07] by g2iowa

Jun 03, 2012 (6:16 am)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Jun 02, 2012 8:33 pm)
Per the article, "Driving 200 miles at 73 mph on a freeway yielded C/D-observed HWY MPG numbers." So they were driving pretty fast.
 
I'm not sure my Elantra GLS would get 40 mpg at constant 74 mph. Seems like her FE reaches a peak closer to 70 mph.

#503 of 752 Re: C&D 40mpg Comparo [dodgeman07] by backy

Jun 03, 2012 (10:11 am)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Jun 02, 2012 8:33 pm)
Must be "high MPG car" month with the press! CR's July issue focused (no pun intended) on several high-mpg compacts, that is, models specifically designed to get higher-than-normal mpg, including the Focus SFE, Cruze ECO, Civic HF. They also tested the Prius C. They previously tested the Mazda3i Skyactiv and Elantra, also the Golf and Jetta SportWagen TDIs.
 
What they found was interesting and somewhat inline with the C/D report. Their average mpg on the previously-tested Elantra automatic was 29, and for the Mazda3 Skyactiv automatic was 32. The Corolla automatic was also 32. The Cruze ECO automatic averaged only 27 mpg (1 mpg better than a 1LT they previously tested); CR noted that the Sonata GLS and Camry LE they tested also averaged 27 mpg. The Focus SFE did better, averaging 31 mpg, 3 better than the Focus SE they previously tested. The Civic HF averaged 33 mpg, 3 better than the 30 they got on the LX. But they noted the Mazda3i Skyactiv and Corolla cost less than these and get 32 mpg. One place the Civic HF really stood out though was on highway FE: CR measured 49 mpg, which was better than the Prius C they tested, and tops all other gas-powered cars CR has tested. (Too bad C/D didn't include a Civic HF in their tests.) So someone who drives mostly on the highway might find the Civic HF appealing, if they can stand the rest of the car (CR declined to recommended it based on its overall test score).

#504 of 752 Re: C&D 40mpg Comparo [backy] by m6user

Jun 03, 2012 (12:36 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jun 03, 2012 10:11 am)
I would not buy a Corolla in it's present form but one has to admit it gets very good MPG for a 4sp auto and no DI. It's a little wanting on the power but I've driven several(rentals) over the years and they seem to get around ok.

#505 of 752 Re: Create your own MPH-MPG data (Re: 41.4 mpg on state highways) [g2iowa] by bhmr59

Jun 03, 2012 (3:07 pm)

Replying to: g2iowa (Jun 03, 2012 6:13 am)
Your average speed tests are just another way of measuring the average RPM as shown on the TACH. Everyone knows that 2,000 RPMs results in more speed with each higher gear.

#506 of 752 Re: Create your own MPH-MPG data [bhmr59] by g2iowa

Jun 04, 2012 (10:20 am)

Replying to: bhmr59 (Jun 03, 2012 3:07 pm)
In the real world there are nearly an infinite number of ways someone might "average" 50 mph over the course of a couple of hundred miles of driving. For me, it is usually a unique combination of city, suburb, and highway miles that varies with each tank. The average MPH figure is readily available for the '12 Elantra driver to see for each tank and post here when commenting on their own achieved FE. I have far less confidence in postings when posters choose not to include readily available data that helps people better understand how they are driving in the real world. I suspect avg MPH are far LOWER for most posters than they think as they overestimate highway miles and underestimate city miles and time spent at stoplights/signs.

#507 of 752 Re: Create your own MPH-MPG data (Re: 41.4 mpg on state highways) [bhmr59] by gman4911

Jun 05, 2012 (7:28 pm)

Replying to: bhmr59 (Jun 03, 2012 3:07 pm)
I don't think that is the case with the Elantra. Let's say you have a full tank of gas. When you're idle, your rpms is around 900 rpm. The avg MPH calculation is updated anytime the engine is running even when idle. So if you allowed the car to idle for the full tank, your avg MPH and MPG would show 0. This is why you have to consider your avg MPH to understand why you get the MPG you're getting. More idle time indicates more stop and go type driving which adversely affects your fuel efficiency.

#508 of 752 Bad fuel economy! by camaroman2012

Jun 08, 2012 (12:24 pm)

Replying to: gman4911 (Jun 05, 2012 7:28 pm)
My Hyundai Elantra has barely even come close to the EPA estimates. At 90% highway driving, I was able to get 37mpg. This has been the best I have ever achieved. The next closest was 36mpg (once) and then 35mpg a couple times after. Most of the time though, I was getting high twenties to low thirties. I mentioned it to the dealership when it was still new and only had around 6k miles on it and they stated that once it broke-in, that it should get better. Well, at 16k miles, my mileage has continued to decline. So, I asked the dealership about it and they stated that if no check engine light was on, there was probably nothing wrong. I adamantly advised them that something must be wrong, so today they finally agreed to look at it. Well, they stated that the vehicle computer stated the vehicle was misfiring due to too much alcohol in the tank. First off, how did the alcohol get in there, and secondly why isn't it burning it up like any other car would. HEET is all alcohol and is used to remove water. It safely burns up and out along with any water, but I have not used any HEET product or put anything in my tank but gasoline. Generally Chevron or Texaco fuel. On occasion, (Road Trips) Shell or other gasoline, but I always try to stay with a big name brand. I don't cut corners on my fuel or maintenance. I have a 2001 Ford Escape bought new and have put 176k on it and have always used the same fuel and maintenance schedule and it purrs like it always has. So, my question is what type of BS is this their giving me? Too much alcohol in the tank? Why won't the vehicle burn it up like any other vehicle? Also, they are stating that it won't be covered under warranty (Big surprise) and that I have to replace the spark plugs (16k miles) and drain the tank and remove all the alcohol. Again, this crappy gas mileage has been since new, and steadily declined. We don't live in a cold climate and don't have a lot of stop and go traffic. Also, the last fill-up showed me 23mpg. My average is 25mpg. No heavy foot driving as its my wife's car and she drives VERY conservative. Sounds like Hyundai has no idea why it's misfiring and made up this bogus story.......

#509 of 752 Re: Bad fuel economy! [camaroman2012] by backy

Jun 08, 2012 (12:42 pm)

Replying to: camaroman2012 (Jun 08, 2012 12:24 pm)
Any chance that some E85 was accidentally put into the tank? Does anyone but you ever put gas into the car?

Messages Page 51 of 76

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