Ask the Car People.SM


Hyundai Elantra Real World MPG 2012

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

You are in the Hyundai Elantra Forum.

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

Messages Page 58 of 76

#567 of 752 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [camaroman2012] by gman4911

Jun 25, 2012 (4:13 pm)

Replying to: camaroman2012 (Jun 25, 2012 12:19 pm)
The Elantra owner's manual warns not to use gas containing more than 10% ethanol and states that the warranty may not cover any damage caused by using it.

#568 of 752 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [gman4911] by m6user

Jun 25, 2012 (5:11 pm)

Replying to: gman4911 (Jun 25, 2012 4:13 pm)
So much for E15 not harming anything built after 2001.

#569 of 752 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [m6user] by backy

Jun 25, 2012 (6:46 pm)

Replying to: m6user (Jun 25, 2012 5:11 pm)
That's common knowledge. The 2001 cutoff means, don't EVER EVER put E15 in a pre-2001 car. Newer cars... check with the manufacturer. E15 is so new only the newest cars will mention it in the owner's manual. If the manual says something about E10 being OK, don't assume E15 is also.

#570 of 752 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [backy] by m6user

Jun 25, 2012 (8:21 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jun 25, 2012 6:46 pm)
That's common knowledge.
 
Common for who? From what I've read previously I thought it was OK to use the E15 in post 2001 vehicles. I think I stay up on auto industry news pretty well so I have to believe the average person doesn't have a clue.

#571 of 752 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [m6user] by backy

Jun 26, 2012 (8:43 am)

Replying to: m6user (Jun 25, 2012 8:21 pm)
From what I've read previously I thought it was OK to use the E15 in post 2001 vehicles.
 
Just do a google on "E15 gasoline" and you'll get several hits about the controversy on whether E15 is safe for post-2001 vehicles. I just did it (again) and the first hit was pretty good:
 
http://www.startribune.com/local/149444025.html

#572 of 752 Thought I would check in here by mikewallace1

Jun 28, 2012 (1:54 pm)

Our 2012 limited is coming up on 6,000 miles.
 
We avg about 26 mph overall but much of our driving is non highway.
 
On the rare occasion that I do take a trip I can get 36-40 on the highway. I have just resigned to the fact that 26 is tops based on how we drive our car.
 
I would love to avg 33 but that is just not realistic.

#573 of 752 Data (Re: Thought I would check in here) [mikewallace1] by g2iowa

Jun 29, 2012 (6:15 am)

Replying to: mikewallace1 (Jun 28, 2012 1:54 pm)
Since you've been tracking the FE for your Elantra, what were your actual results for some of your most recent tankfuls of gas? Say the last 2 or 3 tankfuls?
 
- What was the average MPH for the tank?
- How many miles did you drive for the tankful?
- How many gals of gas did you pump into your tank for the tankful?
- Are you using ethanol?
- Do you do a lot of stop and go city driving?
- How many drivers are there for your car and are they driving similarly?
- Are you routinely carrying passengers while doing city driving?
- Are you routinely using A/C while doing city driving?
- How did your car's computer MPG estimate compare to what you came up with based on actual miles driven and actual gals used?

#574 of 752 MT's Elantra struggling with FE, just 26.8 mpg by g2iowa

Jul 21, 2012 (5:53 am)

September '12 issue of MT has an update on their long-term '12 Elantra. After 9 months and 19,593 miles of driving, MT has only been able to average a woeful 26.8 mpg! Compare to...at just 4 months and 6774 miles MT achieving 24.3 mpg in their '12 Passat 2.5 SEL, which is only EPA'd at 22 city/31 hwy/25 comb. (Their '11 Jetta TDI is at 39.5 mpg after 36,643 miles, with EPA est. at 30/42/34.)

#575 of 752 Re: MT's Elantra struggling with FE, just 26.8 mpg [g2iowa] by bpizzuti

Jul 21, 2012 (6:43 am)

Replying to: g2iowa (Jul 21, 2012 5:53 am)
Weren't they the guys who did a test and said yes it really does meet the EPA numbers?
 
I"m glad I crossed the Elantra off my list...they made a mistake with the 1.8L Nu. I'm convinced the problem is low end torque: it doesn't have any, which means even a piddling 5% grade means a downshift in most cases, and that hurts FE.
 
To get good MPGs you have to deeply cut the cruising RPMs and keep them low. But to keep from having to upshift to do anything you have to provide sufficient twist at those low RPMs (the 1000-2500 RPM range) to overcome the gearing and any mild grades, so you can STAY at those low RPMs longer.
 
Mazda, Nissan, VW, and several others meet their EPA numbers because they provide enough low end torque (and then some in some cases). That Hyundai engine is absolutely torqueless at low RPMs though, so while yeah, it might get high MPGs at cruising RPMs, you can't stay in that cruising RPM range long enough to matter.
 
I don't think the EPA's treadmill actually simulates driving up or down slopes. Which may be an issue. MPGs are complicated: it's a combination of MPH, grade, and engine RPMs (people forget that it isn't just vehicle speed...guys, 55 MPH at 3000 RPM burns more fuel than 55 MPH at 1500 RPM!)

#576 of 752 Re: MT's Elantra struggling with FE, just 26.8 mpg [bpizzuti] by pflyer

Jul 26, 2012 (4:58 pm)

Replying to: bpizzuti (Jul 21, 2012 6:43 am)
BP
 
I checked out of this discussion several months ago and said I wouldn't comment anymore, but here I am again.
 
You CAN get the mileage posted on the sticker without too much trouble or effort. I drive it as I have every other car I have ever owned in my 50+ years.
If I need to step on it, I do. If I can, I use cruise.
 
I have NEVER gotten less than 30 mpg (based on fuel added, not readout) and I live in DFW (ac on constantly/lots of city driving).
 
If you "have crossed the Elantra off my list," I take it you have never been an owner, so how are you so "well versed" on the Elantra's engine?
 
How many miles do you have driving an Elantra?
 
I am an owner and have been for 15 months and 16,000 miles. I routinely exceed the city mpg and match the hwy mpg.
 
YMMV, but I am very happy with my mpg.
 
PS: Wish you the best on your car search, btw. I think you will find "haters" on any mpg car forum. Some get the mpg listed, some don't.

Messages Page 58 of 76

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement