Is my MPG normal?

[Swordsmith]

I just drove from central PA to SE MA and back, got a little over 40 mpg each way (the trip is about 415 miles). Normally I get around 33mpg, but this trip I was in no hurry and deliberately stuck to the speed limit. It did include getting stuck in some traffic jams, and on the way back, following my navigator app took me onto surface roads in the Bronx so... some less than ideal driving conditions.

 

[whitesmoke]

That sounds good to me. With a stick you prob should get that at speed limit if not better. I can do no wrong when it comes to mpg. Every mod and tune i have done so far raised mpg. Just ported intake and put 42# injectors in and im getting 40-41 on a dead hwy run

 

[poncho167]

But the 1.4 won't need a timing belt replacement.

Every 95,000 miles is no big deal. Expected belt service is $300-400. There are many cars that require belt service sooner.

 

[Camaroboi13]

I've used fuelly since I got the car, I've logged something like 61 tanks in the last 20k miles, and I'm just a hair over 32mpg all time. Best is 37ish, worst is 29ish. I'm in a 14 LS 1.8 auto without cruise control. CC can't do the same thing that my foot can. I consistently log 2-2.5mpg better in my wife's impala when not using cruise control. I'm in Southern California, the 100 degree temps have made zero difference in my mileage. Make sure your tires are over 40psi and coast/draft as long as you can.

 

[curvguy]

What type of fuel you guys are using? Right now I'm using e10 blended fuel and my mpg is getting lower as day goes by.

 

[poncho167]

Regular octane which I believe is 88 in my area. Runs smooth.

 

[1.8 Handler]

I run 93 octane in my 15 sonic 1.8 manual and average 32-34 mpg. That about 75% hwy at 65 mph. Going 75 mph ill get around 37-39 mpg depending conditions. I found that at high hwy speeds getting in the middle of a pack of cars will help the mpg a lot by breaking up the wind. Ive seen the computer register 42 mpg going 80 mph in a pack of other cars!

 

[DEG]

Drove my 2013 LS 1.8 MT from southern MI to central FL and back twice (both summertime) and averaged a solid 42+ mpg on every tank. That's driving 70-75 mph (mostly 70). didn't have an Ultra-gauge then, but I do now. I expect to be able to do even better in the same conditions with it's instant MPG gauge. Now if I could just solve the battery drain it causes after not driving for several days.

 

[dannyg]

Drove my 2013 LS 1.8 MT from southern MI to central FL and back twice (both summertime) and averaged a solid 42+ mpg on every tank. That's driving 70-75 mph (mostly 70). didn't have an Ultra-gauge then, but I do now. I expect to be able to do even better in the same conditions with it's instant MPG gauge. Now if I could just solve the battery drain it causes after not driving for several days.

Did you try 93 octane on either of these trips? I tried it on one leg of a 750-mile trip and can't say I saw much difference. Maaaaybe the engine felt a little smoother with the 93, might have been my imagination. I'm seeing 40-41mpg in rural driving and 41-42mpg highway (at 70mph in summer) in my 2015 1.8L LS 5sp sedan.

Sorry can't help with the battery issue!

 

[DEG]

Did you try 93 octane on either of these trips? I tried it on one leg of a 750-mile trip and can't say I saw much difference. Maaaaybe the engine felt a little smoother with the 93, might have been my imagination. I'm seeing 40-41mpg in rural driving and 41-42mpg highway (at 70mph in summer) in my 2015 1.8L LS 5sp sedan.

Sorry can't help with the battery issue!

Only used 87 octane on both trips. Never tried higher.

 

[The Champ]

Only used 87 octane on both trips. Never tried higher.

No need to try. Unless your car is modded to require the higher octane, there is no benefit. All it does is increase your costs per mile.

This assumes that you are using a Top Tier 87 octane fuel to start with.

 

[MJSONIC]

Foolish me...I believed the dealer when they showed me a brochure bragging 40 mpg. I am getting 28 mpg in my 2015 Sonic 1.8 automatic Hatchback. Mostly highway miles. Calculated manually. Pretty angry. Would never have bought or even test driven the vehicle if they had told me 28 mpg.

 

[Palmaris]

Foolish me...I believed the dealer when they showed me a brochure bragging 40 mpg. I am getting 28 mpg in my 2015 Sonic 1.8 automatic Hatchback. Mostly highway miles. Calculated manually. Pretty angry. Would never have bought or even test driven the vehicle if they had told me 28 mpg.

Doesn't sound normal, but it has been a complaint that we have heard before.

For example, I would have to try really really hard and only drive in the city and maybe also have the e-brake rubbing a bit to get 28 mpg. You should be expecting closer to 34 to 36 mpg

 

[kevjam79]

28 to 31 in Winter.

32 to 35 in the Summer.

Very normal.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bluejay]

are there any cars out there getting 40 mpg in everyday real life driving situations? im sure chevy got a sonic to get 40 mpg in a lab somewhere but thats what every other manufacturer does to get their numbers . i understand being mad getting 28 instead of 40 but what car does 40 mpg and is fun to drive .

 

[Fry]

I haven't crunched the numbers, but I get 37 MPG in the winter and 39 in the summer. I'm going off the dash number there. 2012, 1.4T with 31k miles and a tune. I do run on premium fuel, though. When I have put in regular, I don't remember any drops in MPG, I just didn't like how it drove compared to normal.

I do mostly highway driving, but some city driving for errands. My commute is 20 miles each way, and I drive it between 60 to 70 MPH.

 

[MarkS]

The mpg gauge says 44.9 in my 1.8 5 speed. It has not been reset since purchase (with 8 miles on the odometer) and the car celebrates its second birthday on Sunday.

The last time I checked it was overly optimistic by about 2 mpg. But it is still definitely over 42 mpg average.

 

[Palmaris]

The mpg gauge says 44.9 in my 1.8 5 speed. It has not been reset since purchase (with 8 miles on the odometer) and the car celebrates its second birthday on Sunday.

The last time I checked it was overly optimistic by about 2 mpg. But it is still definitely over 42 mpg average.

Why don't you reset it now, just to see what happens?

 

[MJSONIC]

are there any cars out there getting 40 mpg in everyday real life driving situations? im sure chevy got a sonic to get 40 mpg in a lab somewhere but thats what every other manufacturer does to get their numbers . i understand being mad getting 28 instead of 40 but what car does 40 mpg and is fun to drive .

I used to average high 30s in my 2006 Corolla, and years ago I got mid 40s in my Ford Festiva which was a similar size and shape but much cheaper! I live in Vermont where the unofficial state car is the Subaru. I wouldn't consider a Subaru,due to gas mileage considerations. At this rate I could be driving a Subaru!

 

[Swordsmith]

I got 40 mpg on a two tank trip burning 87 octane from Lancaster county PA to Carver MA and back, driving only slightly more sedately than usual (I kept it under 70 by using cruise control, since I tend to creep up). I got 20mpg on a one tank drive over local roads, pulling a trailer and with approximately 3000 lbs total above vehicle weight, and a couple empty WOT runs, all on E85. There's a wide variation in what you get, depending on what you're doing with the car.

The official EPA estimate for a 1.4T manual is 40 mpg Highway (the figure you're fixating on) but 29 city and 33 overall. Driving in my irresponsible fashion, with a mix of highway, city, and rural roads, I regularly get that 33 mpg figure (when I'm not burning Corn, which frankly sucks for MPG), and I'm sure I could beat that with a little care, I just don't care to.