I've just bought a '13 Sonic LT 6/spd Auto 1.8. Just curious on the actual MPG. I started an average about 18.2 in the city. I've reached up to 20.5/city and I am at a stand still. Now I have only had it a week so I'm not sure if I should wait until I reach 500 miles or is this normal. I'm averaging about 60-70miles per quarter tank..eek.
Low MPG Normal?
- Thread starter jstahley
- Start date
chivalryder
New member
Low mileage is normal on a new engine. Wait for it to break in and see how it's running in a few thousand miles.
Your driving conditions will also affect the mileage. When I first got my car it was cold, my commute was 2 miles, and it would take 10 minutes to travel that far. I have seen 7 mpg on the dash after 100 mi of driving in those conditions.
Your driving conditions will also affect the mileage. When I first got my car it was cold, my commute was 2 miles, and it would take 10 minutes to travel that far. I have seen 7 mpg on the dash after 100 mi of driving in those conditions.
photoman475
New member
My wife is the primary driver of our Sonic-darn it-and she will get between 19 and 25 city, depending on the weather and time of year. She also has a rather heavy foot. The car's equipped with a 1.8, 6 speed with slush box, which she never uses.
Chevrolet Customer Care
New member
Hi jstahley
First of all congrats on your new Sonic!! Your new car does require a break in period. You can find more information about this on page 9-13 of your manual. According to fueleconomy.gov the average Sonic user can get between 30-34 miles per gallon depending on driving conditions.
Jackie
Chevrolet Customer Care
First of all congrats on your new Sonic!! Your new car does require a break in period. You can find more information about this on page 9-13 of your manual. According to fueleconomy.gov the average Sonic user can get between 30-34 miles per gallon depending on driving conditions.
Jackie
Chevrolet Customer Care
AndrewGS
Ultimo Hombre
You don't have enough data to get an accurate reading yet, you've got less than 500 miles on your car. You are also going by the DIC I presume? You need to full the car up properly, drive it until it's empty and fill it up the exact same way so you can get a semi-accurate calculation of mileage.
Also, what is your average drive like? Lot's of starts and stops? Low speeds? Lots of idle time? These are all a recipe for very low mileage no matter what the car.
Also, what is your average drive like? Lot's of starts and stops? Low speeds? Lots of idle time? These are all a recipe for very low mileage no matter what the car.
ganthc
New member
I have put 14,600 on my Sonic (1.8 auto), and I get right at the EPA numbers for the car here in DC traffic. I get 25 mpg in the city, and 35-38 on the highway (I can get 42mpg if I go at 55mph on a flat stretch). The key for me has been to not do fast starts from a full stop. If you have a light touch, you can usually keep the mpg in the city around 25. Whenever I gun it, that is when it drops down to 20-22mpg.
How do I do that.
Moxie
New member
Ditto. I don't want to start a new thread and my search isn't coming up with much. Has anyone done an instructional thread on how to check your spark plug gaps? Or maybe someone has a link to something from CruzeTalk?
Moxie
New member
No problem! Thanks for the response. I did as much research here as I could, gathered the tools and a friend with more car knowledge than me. As you said, very easy job. My plugs ranged from 0.021-0.025 and we opened them up to 0.028. I can definitely feel the difference! Can't wait to see if my mpg improves as well.
savegejon123
New member
I'm at about 32mpg and I'm doing just small town and some highway driving.
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attrapereves
New member
I guess I've had my car for about two weeks now. The first week I was getting in the low 20s. Currently, the MPG average is showing around 26. For city driving, I'm happy with that. I'm sure it will get even better as the engine wears in more.
lilmike1971
New member
So does anyone know why I do alot of highway driving and for the life of me can only get around 27 to maybe 30 with a stiff wind.Doing the speed limit of 75. I also have tried all grades of gas but I usually use 89 to 90
75 is a little fast, but that in itself doesn't account for such a low number.
When you say that you do a lot of highway driving it seems to imply that you do some amount of city driving as well. What percentage would you estimate of each style?
How many miles is your average commute? Shorter drives usually result in lower numbers both because the engine needs to warm up to reach peak efficiency and also because of a greater percentage of acceleration and less steady-state driving.
Do you encounter a lot of stop and go traffic, stop signs, traffic signs.
Do you use the a/c frequently or do a lot of idling?
Are your tires properly inflated?
The list of things goes on, and sometimes you have to really analyze all aspects of your driving.
When you say that you do a lot of highway driving it seems to imply that you do some amount of city driving as well. What percentage would you estimate of each style?
How many miles is your average commute? Shorter drives usually result in lower numbers both because the engine needs to warm up to reach peak efficiency and also because of a greater percentage of acceleration and less steady-state driving.
Do you encounter a lot of stop and go traffic, stop signs, traffic signs.
Do you use the a/c frequently or do a lot of idling?
Are your tires properly inflated?
The list of things goes on, and sometimes you have to really analyze all aspects of your driving.
