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High Mileage Test from Popular Mechanics

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SilverSVT

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
No link on the website yet, from the June 2011 issue and copy and pasted from someone elses posting on BON


Santa Barbara to San Fransisco, mix of city, two lane roads and interstate.

Jetta Diesel: 40.4

Focus SFE: 38.6

Cruze Eco: 36.7

Fiat 500 34.6

Hyundia Elantra 32.3

Focus was also the quickest to 60mph at 8.02 seconds

Couple comments:

A 1.8 MPG difference at a nearly $4k price difference and $4.12 for Diesel between the Focus and Diesel Golf isn't worth it IMO

The Fiat 500 gets HORRIBLE MPG considering its size/weight

The Elantra is very disappointing...its MPG ratings are closer to its city ratings then its highway ratings...which seems to be a reoccurring theme with them..as almost they are skunking the MPG test to get artificially high numbers that are impossible to reproduce in the real world.
 
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#2 ·
SilverSVT said:
No link on the website yet, from the June 2011 issue and copy and pasted from someone elses posting on BON


Santa Barbara to San Fransisco, mix of city, two lane roads and interstate.

Jetta Diesel: 40.4

Focus SFE: 38.6

Cruze Eco: 36.7

Fiat 500 34.6

Hyundia Elantra 32.3

Focus was also the quickest to 60mph at 8.02 seconds

Couple comments:

A 1.8 MPG difference at a nearly $4k price difference and $4.12 for Diesel between the Focus and Diesel Golf isn't worth it IMO

The Fiat 500 gets HORRIBLE MPG considering its size/weight

The Elantra is very disappointing...its MPG ratings are closer to its city ratings then its highway ratings...which seems to be a reoccurring theme with them..as almost they are skunking the MPG test to get artificially high numbers that are impossible to reproduce in the real world.
Click to expand...
I haven't looked, but if that's a highway test, is that really that surprising about the Fiat 500? It still has to use a small powerplant to push a significant mass through the air at a consistently high speed. It really probably isn't going to be as efficient on the highway. Compare those in the city, however.. probably different story all told.
 
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#4 ·
At first i thought this was a article about which vehicles go the furtherst, in life, not in MPG total.

Then i was like "i really wish the wife would buy a focus"
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
TimBrown said:
I haven't looked, but if that's a highway test, is that really that surprising about the Fiat 500? It still has to use a small powerplant to push a significant mass through the air at a consistently high speed. It really probably isn't going to be as efficient on the highway. Compare those in the city, however.. probably different story all told.
Click to expand...
Santa Barbara to San Fransisco, mix of city, two lane roads and interstate
 
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#8 ·
I don't think Hyundai cares. They're the new Honda. The press loves them and they can do no wrong, certainly no domestic could be better...

I know my statement might sound a bit harsh, and I don't have much against Hyundai, They've come a long way and they deserve their due praise. I would also go so far as to say I don't think the automotive press is doing all the leg humping either, I see it more in the mainstream media sources that do reports on cars

All of the big three have made some rather gigantic strides in car building as of late, and we still see Toyotas and Hondas with recalls coming out. I would really like to know when the media is going to start to take a little recognition in what the car builders here are doing now.

I might be stretching a bit, but where's the national pride?
 
#10 ·
Guess not. I didn't say the Focus wasn't receiving good press, or Ford for that matter, but the 'tone' if you will in regards to their cars is nothing like it is for Hyundai...That's all I'm saying.

With Ford its more of an expectation it seems. Ford releases a 300+ HP V6 that gets over 30 mpg on the highway and it can be had for under 25K, first production V6 to ever do such a thing IIRC. Hmm...no real big deal there....Hyundai stuffs a 260+ HP DI turbo into the Sonata and OMG they're soooo cool!

Hell my 5 year old Mazda has that....I dunno....maybe its just me.
 
#11 ·
CTZX3 said:
I have been reading the Elantra is getting no where near the highway mileage Hyundai said it should get.
Click to expand...
I also read a few comments and articles about the 2012 non-SFE Focus getting nowhere the highway mileage it claims.

Point is....you're better driving off the damn car and see it for yourself. Or you can go inside those enthusiast forums that have threads about the ave. fuel economy those enthusiasts get from their cars.

In the end, it's HOW you drive your car that matters.
 
#12 ·
CTZX3 said:
I have been reading the Elantra is getting no where near the highway mileage Hyundai said it should get.
Click to expand...
I heard that on Autoblog as well. All I know is my friend with the brand new Elantra just posted a picture on their facebook with the cluster display reading "AVG 42 MPG"

Let's be honest, with "enthusiasts" driving the car, the mileage will be highly dependent on the driver.
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
RainyZX3 said:
I heard that on Autoblog as well. All I know is my friend with the brand new Elantra just posted a picture on their facebook with the cluster display reading "AVG 42 MPG"
Click to expand...
If I reset my MPG reader on my Mustang on the highway...I can get it to read 28 + MPG...which is 4 MPG higer then the EPA ratings...:p
 
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Discussion starter · #15 ·
S. on Da 5 said:
What is up with the SFE package? Is that only some fancy aerodynamic wheels?

Is 38mpg average good for that Focus?
Click to expand...
Official MPG numbers:

Focus SFE: 28/40 MPG (special wheels and active shutters)
Focus 27/37 or 26/36 depending on model

Elantra: 29/40
(even on the fueleconomy.gov site 8 people are reporting MPG numbers lower then what the EPA test got...not good)

With that said, the SFE Focus gets closer numbers to its MPG ratings then the Elantra does.
 
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#17 ·
SilverSVT said:
Official MPG numbers:

Focus SFE: 28/40 MPG (special wheels and active shutters)
Focus 27/37 or 26/36 depending on model

Elantra: 29/40
(even on the fueleconomy.gov site 8 people are reporting MPG numbers lower then what the EPA test got...not good)

With that said, the SFE Focus gets closer numbers to its MPG ratings then the Elantra does.
Click to expand...
Another Focus set of numbers to add is 28/38 for PowerShift (auto) transmission Focuses *without* SelectShift are EPA rated at 28/38 mpg. SelectShift, via the EPA test requirements, drop both numbers by 1 for 27/37 mpg.
 
#20 ·
OmniFocus said:
I thought you bought a Hyundai?

Either way, I blame your driving.
Click to expand...
^^ This.

Driving around in LA is not going to get you the best efficiency numbers.
 
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