Are current gas mileage estimates low?

They are very hard to achieve without “economy driving” techniques. Jump in put your foot down a bit and you won’t come close. But they are real in the sense that they are achievable.

I seriously question your estimates. Have you kept a diary that tracks all the gasoline purchases and miles?

In general, real gas mileage is worse than EPA ratings. My car is significantly lower than those ratings, although it is much higher than any other SUV since it’s a hybrid.

Where do you live? If you live in a part of the country that is not warm all year around, have you noticed a difference in mileage in summer and winter?

There are ways to get your car to do better mileage, but you have to start really slowly, and coast a lot, and find roads with no stop lights, and some other stuff.

But the answer to your question is that, in general, EPA mileage estimates are high. They may be trying to adjust that, but it’s hard because their testing tracks do not mimic real driving conditions.

@DarkScribe Ok… but I’m noticing the opposite. I do far better than the estimate. I’m a very conscious driver, though often drive energetically, and can pat my ego to think I’m that much better than the estimates, but it seems so far off it’s hard to believe.

@wundayatta I don’t keep a diary but I set the trip odometer when I refuel, fill it up and note the gallons purchased and the miles traveled since the last time I filled it up, often at the same pump, and divide what should be the miles traveled by the fuel used. It’s always over 20 MPG in city driving. In the case of the SUV, I’m going by its own on-board estimate saying more often than not 14–18 MPG (this is a Ford Freestyle). I live in Seattle, which is hilly. It seems to be worse in winter, and has been worse since my car has had some issues with starting and idling, but I think I’m still beating the official estimates, and my car is 23 years old and has about 250K miles on it. My driving style is to start quite quickly, and coast a lot, and pay close attention to the driving and only apply gas when wanted, though I am often zipping around for fun.

Another “detail” I didn’t mention is I seem to remember when I was car shopping about 15 years ago that the mileage estimates shown on cars then, including my model, were more like what I think I see in practice. Which is why I asked about “current” estimates – I was wondering too if the way this statistic is expressed has changed.

Your initial figures are way out. One of my daughters had a three series coupe a few years back and it was way, way above 16 MPG for city use. About 24–26 and well over 30 on highway. My ten year old five series get better mileage than your figures. My new car (with similar power to the five series) gets about thirty percent more. Our consumption figures are quoted at liters consumed per one hundred kilometers (62.5 miles) but out of habit I always convert back to the old method.

Are you wondering why all gas mileages seem lower than usual? A couple of years ago, the EPA changed it’s fuel mileage test rules so that an average is generated from both economy and rough driving, and that number is used for each of the two categories. The rules used to be that a single, economy-drive test would give the EPA estimate, but the new system is supposed to be more realistic. I’ve found that the old system seemed more accurate according to my relatives’ driving.

I find them accurate for my driving. If I’m conscientious I can actually do better than my listed mileage. I average about 13 miles per gallon.

@SeventhSense You don’t happen to drive a Corvette or Super Duty diesel pickup, do you? No, wait, a Hummer H2? Those are the only cars I can think of that currently get such an incredibly low mileage in the states.

The car that I mostly drive was built before the EPA even existed (1962 MB 190D), but in mostly rural driving, I get better fuel economy than the factory stated in their sales literature. The cars sluggish acceleration (0–60 in about 30 sec) and low top speed (70 mph) don’t encourage leadfoot driving. Diesel engine fuel economy curves are somewhat different than with gasoline engines. I’ve driven this car for almost 40 years, the driving habits I’ve acquired yield much higher fuel economy when driving even the modern disposable boxes. It’s mostly a matter of your driving habits.

@Fred931
No I drive this

(LOL! The April Fools renaming and repicturing is hilarious! Makes it hard to see who is who.)

Ok, so DarkScribe what you write in your second post matches your daughter’s experience, and Fred931, your explanation seems to match what I’m seeing in the estimates.

And wow, another reason to dislike those trucks.

The trucks are fine if you really need them. We run a Dodge Power Wagon and a Unimog on the farm. Their fuel ecomomy, for what they do, is about the best one can get. We run both on biodiesel (25 acres of castor beans is the feedstock for running them and several cars). About the only time you’ll see these on the road is winter emergencies or trips to the feed store or building supply.

Thanks Stranger. I don’t dislike trucks as trucks. I kind of like trucks as trucks, in fact. It’s the city trucks used as “cool” passenger vehicles, and the appearance of some of them, and the ads for them, and now the fuel efficiency of them, that get to me.

@Zaku I agree with you, when they’re used as status symbols it’s really wasteful. The popularity of them also jacks up the prices for those who really need them. It’s hard to find a heavy-duty 4WD pickup that’s not loaded down with “mandatory” luxury packages, unless you go to a dealer that specializes in “fleet” sales.

Daimler-Benz made a good decision many years ago when they separated their truck and Unimog sales from their car sales organization. The commercial customers are totally different, not interested in status but rugged economical service for the needs of their business.

HEY LOOKIT ME

@Fred931 ROFL, my sentiments exactly.

Mine is for business. How much money does your car make for you?