How many new cars get an honest 40mpg?

[Mr Nice]

I bought my son a 2003 Civic HX (5 speed) and it gets 46 MPG on the highway, but I'm pretty sure if you drove 55 MPG, you just might be able to break 50 MPG.

For anyone looking for a cheap used car that gets great gas mileage, I think this is one of your best options if you are on a budget.

 

[Mr Nice]

I notice on the list of best/worse gas mileage cars....

the Honda Fit only gets 34 MPG on the highway. Doesn't that seem kind of on the low side ???

A 6 speed Corvette can get 30 MPG on the highway.

 

[rationull]

To be pedantic, all you see is that the Fit is rated 34 on the highway. The 2008 6 speed Corvette is rated 26, not 30.

I'm pretty sure the Fit can get better than 34 on the highway.

To expand on this a little more, my civic w/ a 1.8 is rated 34 mpg highway, which is pretty absurd. I manage about 34 regularly on my normal circuit, which includes a steep 3 mile hill and some stop and go for grocery shopping etc. A few weeks ago I was able to get 42 mpg on a 400 mile highway round trip without making too much of an effort (just kept my speed down and didn't pass much). The new EPA ratings really take a lot of cars down, even small ones that get good mileage.

 

[Mr Nice]

What I'm trying to say is that the 'rated' gas mileage is less than what you see in 'real world' driving.

Why even bother looking at the rated MPG if it is incorrect ?

 

[rationull]

Oh yeah, totally agree with you there. My take is that the rated mileage is close to what you'd see if you weren't driving with gas mileage in mind. Also, presumably it's useful as a comparison between different cars since (again, presumably) it's scientifically generated.

 

[ClarkB]

The Civic and Corolla are proven for your situation. My older Civic (1.6L, manual) got 39-42 mpg when kept at 60-65 mph. If you're really worried about it, get a Smart car.

Clark

 

[XS650]

Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
What I'm trying to say is that the 'rated' gas mileage is less than what you see in 'real world' driving.

Why even bother looking at the rated MPG if it is incorrect ?


It's a reasonably valid way to determine which cars get better mileage. The actual numbers vary too much according to conditions and drivers to expect much more from the ratings.

 

[Cogito]

Originally Posted By: Pablo
Yaris would be close. But 38-39 mpg might be tops. Same with a Corolla, Fit very close, butt....

As a side note, a Scion xA gets [censored] (lousy) MPG for the size.....maybe 32 mph in the scenario above.

Any idea why the big difference between an xA (xD) and a Corolla? Don't they use same engine and about same size?

 

[lindermant]

42mpg average over 49,9xx miles so far in my 2005 Civic DX w/automatic transmission.

Keep your tire pressure up, RPMs & speed down, use light throttle inputs and your 40mpg bogey can be attained in most newer small cars.

I've adjusted my driving style quite a bit in the last few years. I pretty much stay in the right lane and try to be as smooth as possible. If I'm able to keep my speed around 50-55mph I can easily squeeze 47-50mpg tanks. Not too shabby for a non-hybrid and considering I'm in crazy DC-beltway traffic.

 

[glennc]

A few years ago people were complaining en masse that they couldn't match the EPA mileages for their cars. So the EPA changed the tests, made them much harder, so the A/C is on more, there are higher speeds and more heavy accelerations, and so on - to match the way the average driver supposedly actually drives.

Now the rated mileages are very pessimistic for some cars and drivers. And I see people are now complaining that the ratings are too low!

Either way it's just a guide. Everybody's driving is very different. I don't really think you can compare numbers between EPA testing, CU testing, Car and Driver testing or your own mileage. You can only do valid comparisons within a single test.

 

[Pablo]

glennc - I was thinking the exact same thing!!

 

[smokey1]

TOYOTA Yaris Liftback : 5 speed manual : best was 44.6 , low was 31 or so ( very cold that day : teens , wind , snow , 2 people , studded snows , winter gas ). The overall average is close to 38 m.p.g.. As of recent been averaging near 41 m.p.g. overall , expect better when it gets warmer . The automatic sedan and liftback would get yeh about 3 m.p.g. less than a manual . Depends on driving habits too . GOOD LUCK

 

[Cutehumor]

if I was in the market for a 40mpg car right now, I would be looking at the Toyota Yaris.

 

[smokey1]

Originally Posted By: smokey1
TOYOTA Yaris Liftback : 5 speed manual : best was 44.6 , low was 31 or so ( very cold that day : teens , wind , snow , 2 people , studded snows , winter gas ). The overall average is close to 38 m.p.g.. As of recent been averaging near 41 m.p.g. overall , expect better when it gets warmer . The automatic sedan and liftback would get yeh about 3 m.p.g. less than a manual . Depends on driving habits too . GOOD LUCK
Forgot , most of this mileage includes a motor route of once a week , it was over 100 miles , many hills , 2 people , about 100 lbs. extra weight , over 250 stops , and on road for over 4 hours . Got 38 m.p.g. doing it about 1 month ago . NOT TO BAD . Do use REDLINE MT-90 synthethic gear oil and PENNZOIL Platinum 5w-30 . Just changed to VALVOLINE Synpower 5w-30 , plan to go back to PLATINUM 5w-30 in late fall . Keep tires inflated at 34 p.s.i.. GOOD LUCK in your decision .

 

[Cup of Joe]

Yaris, corolla, civic all should get you there with that drive. My little 2006 Kia Rio automatic is getting 41-42mpg on a rougher drive then discribed. On a 220 mile trip at 60mph I averaged over 49 mpg about 3 weeks ago.

I didn't like the yaris center gauges and my Rio was considerably cheaper then I could get the yaris for, around here at least back in 06. The Rio is only rated at 35mpg highway now FYI do to the new testing standards.

 

[smokey1]

Originally Posted By: TaterandNoodles
Yaris, corolla, civic all should get you there with that drive. My little 2006 Kia Rio automatic is getting 41-42mpg on a rougher drive then discribed. On a 220 mile trip at 60mph I averaged over 49 mpg about 3 weeks ago.

I didn't like the yaris center gauges and my Rio was considerably cheaper then I could get the yaris for, around here at least back in 06. The Rio is only rated at 35mpg highway now FYI do to the new testing standards.
Is that the 5 speed manual ? My father has an older RIO w/ 5 speed and claims to get over 40 m.p.g.. He has one heck of a lead foot , impressed with that car . THANKS

 

[Cup of Joe]

No its the automatic. Some of the 05 and down cars have reported 40's with sticks but none of the newer 06 and up have. Auto's in the newer car turn low rpms on the highway at 60mph 2400rpm and are rated at considerably better mileage on the highway. The alpha engine seems to like lower rpms as far as mileage goes.

I have LRR tires in a size up at 185/70r14 instead of 185/65r14, since that change it has been a consistent 41-42 each tank.

 

[Hermann]

on several trips of from Kansas City to St louis and back on I-70, traveling between 65-75 MPH, I have got 37 MPG average on my 05 Honda Accord 4-cyl auto(no longer have). The car only turned 2200-2500 RPM's at those speeds. Very fuel efficient when driven at constant highway speeds. Not so fuel efficient after Missouri initiated the 10% ethanol mandate. That car really hated e-10 blend. :2cents:

 

[BrianWC]

Stay away from the Fit if you plan a lot of interstate miles. It's geared pretty low and it reportedly tachs fairly high at cruising speeds and drives a few owners nuts. The Yaris is a lot more popular with the hypermiling crowd.

As a side note, a co-worker of mine who drives a 4wd Tacoma picked up a 92 Nissan Sentra for commuting. He paid $1500 and had to put minimal bucks into bringing it up to par. So far he says he's averaging 45 mpg on his 60 mph average commute.

 

[Cup of Joe]

I believe he wanted to know about new cars.

If it was who has bought the cheapest beater that gets good mileage the sentra would apply as would my 95 escort I got for $550, good engine, good body, bad trans missing a gear. For $300 in parts I had a escort wagon that got over 38 mpgs. Drove it for a year and gave that car to someone that needed wheels since I was pimp'n in my Rio.