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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 73 of 75

#715 of 745 Re: This Sucks [roadscholar3] by backy

Jan 29, 2013 (6:21 pm)

Replying to: roadscholar3 (Jan 29, 2013 5:20 pm)
Or maybe you could spell out which complaints you found legitimate as it seems no one's negative personal experiences with their car was acceptable by your standards either.
 
Sure. IMO, a legitimate complaint is one that is backed by efforts to determine if the vehicle is capable of attaining its EPA ratings. I have posted umpteen times in these FE discussions a fairly simple process to do that. Not once--never--has someone come back and told us the results of that test. That told me something about the complaint.
 
Why do I think it's important to determine if a vehicle is capable of attaining its EPA ratings, if the owner isn't achieving them? Because of something that many people who complain about fuel economy forget: YMMV. There's LOTS of reasons someone is not getting the EPA ratings on a car. There could be a defect in the car. There could be something else wrong with the car, e.g. got a bad batch of gas or someone tried to put E15 in it (which Hyundai says is a no-no). It could be driven in conditions not at all comparable to how the EPA runs its tests. It could be due to how the car is driven. etc.
 
So the first step is to determine if the car CAN meet its EPA rating. If not, figure out why it isn't, with help from the dealer and manufacturer. If you determine the car can meet its EPA ratings, then figure out what if anything can be done to driving habits/style to improve FE. Maybe there isn't anything that can be done; maybe there is but the driver is unable or unwilling to make the necessary adjustments.
 
FWIW, I have driven this car. In what I consider very much "real world" conditions: in Austin, TX, in mid-summer (100+ degree weather), combination of downtown, suburban, and urban highway driving. A lot of stop and go, not much cruising. And on a nearly-new car I easily exceeded the EPA numbers. And I wasn't trying as hard to save gas as I do on my own cars, as I didn't have to pay for the gas. But put a different driver behind the wheel of the same car, and the odds are pretty good it would NOT hit the EPA number.
 
And if you've read test reports on the car, e.g. from Popular Mechanics, you'll see they were able to get close to if not meet or exceed the EPA numbers under moderate driving. So it's not just moi.
 
It can be done. Not everyone has driving patterns that allow it. And for those who do, not all of them will be willing to do what's needed (e.g. light foot on the gas, anticipate stops, no lengthy idling).
 
Re all the angst about Hyundai restating the FE on the Elantra... do you realize we're talking a difference of one mpg (average) between the old EPA rating and the corrected one? ONE MPG! And that number has been scrutinized and verified by the EPA. So if someone isn't hitting that revised number... methinks they should be looking someplace other than Hyundai for an answer--unless there's a defect in the car.

#716 of 745 Re: This Sucks [backy] by gman4911

Jan 30, 2013 (8:31 am)

Replying to: backy (Jan 29, 2013 6:21 pm)
Nice post.
 
I'd also like to add that most of the complainers probably greatly underestimate the amount of city-like driving they actually do. For example, driving 25 mph with stop-and-go conditions on the freeway during rush hour counts as city driving, not Hwy. This is why you have to also look at the MPH calculation to understand why you're not getting the EPA numbers. If your average MPH is in the 20s, you're driving mostly city.
 
Another thing that a lot of people don't realize is that with the EPA City test, the avg idle time for a stop sign/light is about 14 secs. In the real world, the idle times can be as much as 180 secs.

#717 of 745 Re: This Sucks [gman4911] by ajfinoak

Jan 30, 2013 (9:25 am)

Replying to: gman4911 (Jan 30, 2013 8:31 am)
I certainly understand that the EPA numbers are not promises of MPG. However, the last 4 cars I have purchased (Japanese and German) all met or exceeded their EPA estimates and that is driving in the San Fran Bay Area with traffic, hills and freeways. As well noted in other forums the Hyundai computers in their cars overestimate the MPG by 2 mpg as well. I am not a conspiracy theorist but I do find it very offensive that Hyundai overestimated their EPA sticker numbers and their cars computers and frankly just blamed the drivers for lower EPA until they got caught. I am very pissed that consumers cannot count on the manufacturer (Hyundai) or the EPA in their car buying decisions to provide valid info. The vast majority of drivers are not making Hyundai's numbers (as validated by consumers and the vast majority of car review publications). Just compare what the publications get compared on all of brands of car tests to their EPA numbers and they are always much closer. I think Hyundai's offer of their puny mileage reimbursement is damage control for getting caught. I like my '13 Elantra GT (aside from the MPG) but won't buy another Hyundai. I just don't trust them anymore.

#718 of 745 rickyred2057 by rickyred2057

Feb 20, 2013 (11:22 am)

2012 Elantra GLS 25K Miles AVG MPG 27.5 Seattle W.A
 
First off. This is the twenty first centurey. A 2012 Elantra should get better or as good mpg as my 1990 Honda Civic EX, Avg 34.5 MPG. The Elantra will not even break 30MPG on a early Sunday morning on I.5 at 65MPH wth echo on from Seattle to Tacoma. The Honda 43.5 MPG doing the same trip. Second, the Elantra has come a long ways. Comfertable, decent power, great brakes,reliable. But the rear suspencion recieves a big fail. Conastoga wagon has better. I did not buy this car just for the milage, but was a big part of it.

#719 of 745 Re: mpg on a recent 400 mile roundtrip [g2iowa] by rickyred2057

Feb 20, 2013 (11:36 am)

Replying to: g2iowa (Nov 26, 2011 10:39 am)
I agree, you cannot rely on just the trip computer. 20k on car. five fill ups from same station, Shell regular gas 10 percent methenal. AVG 27.5 MPG

#720 of 745 Re: Damn Skippy [eweiner] by knocker81

Mar 05, 2013 (10:36 am)

Replying to: eweiner (Jan 25, 2013 6:17 am)
I'm with you on that, I have the car 14 month's and still only get 24 combined....I filled out the form online and they said I would be compensated $14.00, what a joke. When I called they said I need to bring the car in and leave it a few days so they could test it out, but how would I get to work? I'm really not interested...I just want to get rid of it..but I'm stuck with a 3 year lease.

#721 of 745 In the real world ... by garlandcary

Mar 05, 2013 (9:09 pm)

I between June 26, 2012 and February 27, 2013 I put 11,769 miles on a 2013 Hyundai Elantra GLS Sedan with the Preferred Equipment package (home link, auto-dimming mirror, heated front seats, etc.) Frankly I LOVED the way the car looked, and compared to the 2006 Honda Civic LX Sedan I replaced with it, it was quiet, comfortable, spacious and, on all but the worst of roads, a better handler, as well.
 
But the one thing it NEVER has been is the equal of the Civic in terms of fuel economy. On the highway, the Civic–driven without any regard for fuel consumption (i.e., between 75 and 85 mph come hell or high water)–consistently delivered 38 mpg. If I was forced to drive nearer the posted limits–such as during the tail end of rush hour–the Civic would console me with as much as 43 mpg. Mixed city/hwy driving ranged from 28 to 32. NEVER, ever did the Civic return less than 26 mpg.
 
The Elantra? During a 12 mile stretch early one Monday morning coming back from Vancouver BC, I got snarled in nascent rush hour traffic on I-405 South just past Lynnwood that brought me down to between 45 and 55 mph, during which time I averaged 43 mpg on what is essentially a flat stretch of freeway. And that was the last time I saw average mileage greater than 38 mpg INDICATED–which must be emphasized because the indicated mileage is ALWAYS optimistic by no less than 2 mpg. The actual typical highway fuel economy I got was between 34 and 36 mpg if I kept my speed no greater than 65 mph and was lucky enough to not have to climb any hills. You see, the Elantra seems EXTREMELY sensitive to grades. As in "it sucks gas to generate the power necessary to get up even modest inclines."
 
Unfortunately, everywhere I drive involves cresting some kind of hill (I'm in the lowest part of Redmond, WA, and everything is uphill). Consequently, in city driving, I'm blessed if I can keep the mileage above 20 mpg (22 mpg indicated). Actually, it's not a blessing so much as me devoting myself to driving like an old lady. Which sucks enough that when I started reading that the new Honda Accord–despite being larger; heavier; burdened with larger, drag-inducing 18-inch wheels and tires; and more powerful and comfortable–gets REAL WORLD fuel economy better than my Elantra's REAL WORLD mileage, I went to try one out last week and wound up signing on the dotted line, leaving the Hyundai behind to charm then frustrate somebody else. Guess what, the Accord (I got the Sport sedan) actually DOES get significantly better mileage. In mixed driving so far–the same routes I traveled routinely in my Elantra–it's averaging 32 mpg (compared to 26 mpg max in the Elantra). I know: I'm comparing apples to oranges, but while waiting to take delivery of the Accord, I was giving a spanking new 2013 Honda Civic LX, and for the day that I drove it, it delivered even better fuel economy in the same mixed driving: 38 mpg. On the highway I saw sustained 43 mpg with the "ECON" button engaged. So, anyone concerned with maximum mileage: look beyond the Elantra's pretty face and check out the competition.
 
Speaking of frustrations (and disappointments), my Elantra didn't age well at all. By the time we parted company, the dash had developed a fistful of consistent creaks and buzzes–centered around that snazzy-looking, multi-part center stack–that drove me crazy! And the beige seats were stain magnets, even if they are relatively easy to clean.

#722 of 745 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [kate007124] by creyes1

Mar 28, 2013 (5:17 pm)

Replying to: kate007124 (Nov 15, 2011 1:05 pm)
Oh man I don't know what to tell you. I bought a 2010 Elantra new and have always gotten between 32 and 34 mpg's. Once I decided to use a gasoline additive AND filled my tank with the highest octane stuff. For five full tanks in a row I actually got 38 miles a gallon. Mostly highway driving though.
 
But at 50,000 miles my tranny did go out. But the warranty covered a new one minus the $180 they charged me to flush it first while they were "guessing" what the problem was.. Other than that no problems.

#723 of 745 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [creyes1] by knocker81

Mar 29, 2013 (8:51 am)

Replying to: creyes1 (Mar 28, 2013 5:17 pm)
The problem I see with that is , I shouldn't have to fill an Elantra with high octane,plus additive. I save that for my BMW, did you ever figure how much you're spending on all of that. My biggest problem is the city miles, I've never driven strictly city...... I'm afraid what I might get, but the 24 combined I'm getting is unacceptable.

#724 of 745 Re: POOR GAS MILAGE 2012 ELANTRA [creyes1] by garlandcary

Mar 29, 2013 (9:27 am)

Replying to: creyes1 (Mar 28, 2013 5:17 pm)
The discussion centers around the current generation Hyundai Elantra, which bowed for the 2011 model year, not the previous generation such as your 2010 model.
 
Still, that's a lot of additional expense and trouble, using fuel additives AND high octane gas, to just match the kind of mileage my 2006 Civic easily achieved buzzing along at 3000 rpm and 80-plus MPH on the highway with ARCO 87 octane fuel and a trunk full of luggage and photo gear.

Messages Page 73 of 75

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