Official: What are your real world MPG Numbers

[joe truck driver]

looks

have another friend with an engineer at Chrysler. said he would run it by him. not holding out an hope their.

stopped by Lingenfelter performance. the look I got was priceless. haven't sent a question to tech yet.

 

[sx sonic]

Ole Joe, I want to go for a ride with you! If you're getting those numbers without being an a$$ to traffic and without back roading than you might have the best real world mpg out of a sonic on this forum.

Mind you Smit has claimed a 67.xx and I'm sure that was "pulse and glide" flat as a pancake driving; I've claimmed 55.xx and that was a whole lotta 15-30mi back roads at 40 mph with only 5-8 20mi highway ventures. You're doing great if It's typical commutes, going slow, but being nice to traffic drives (i;ve seen an Early prius doing 45mph interstate trying to hypermiles


With the intake I think your best bet would be thru removing the stock accordion tube in the fender. That thing is purportedly worth 3-4hp alone on a dyno and it's nothing but restriction. Replace it with either a RAM from the fog light or possibly from the engine comprtment (somewhere with lots of airflow).

Then stuff a heater core in the airbox, or make a custom airbox for one to heat the air with coolant. once the coolant is up to temp it's free heating. If you do it electically you're inevitably robbing power parasitically, I think every 750 watts is 1/4-1/2 a HP (~every 53 amps).

 

[joe truck driver]

no problem on the ride. just let me know. like the idea of the coolant box and are you sure about the horsepower drag?? will look at the tube tomorrow. I was waiting on the 48,000 mile mark before changing anything. I'm over 50,000 now. I have made absolutely no changes to the car except Mobil One oil. I did make one change on my best run (54.8) instead of going around entering trucks I just slowed a little, then speed up with the truck. didn't always work, had to go around some and some people just don't know how to merge(cars mostly, but a few trucks too). they are oblivious to the left side when entering the expressway. I do enter the expressway at least 55mph and will adjust so I merge, not just pull out. when coming up to the left hand EXITS, I make sure I stay right until 1 mile from the exit(same as the truck restriction) or there is a big open spot so that I one from exit before any one is behind me. I have watched rear-endings before the 14 23 merge and split. I know that slow down is coming everyday. I only feel bad in one place...going west down the hill on 14. its 65 max and i'll stay left until i'm around the exit at the bottom. no point in getting stuck or struck. not everybody is happy but its just safer for all.

I know at 55 or less I would get better mileage, I just can't do it. for my 140 mile round trip it only adds 24 minutes a day. in the morning I can adjust the time with food( I eat when I get to work instead of before) so the ride home adds only 12 minutes and I've not been able to utilize those minutes to my advantage or anything else for that matter. I figure all told I am olnly saving 500.00 a year in fuel, but.... 500.00 is 500.00

 

[klystron]

I know at 55 or less I would get better mileage, I just can't do it. for my 140 mile round trip it only adds 24 minutes a day. in the morning I can adjust the time with food( I eat when I get to work instead of before) so the ride home adds only 12 minutes and I've not been able to utilize those minutes to my advantage or anything else for that matter. I figure all told I am olnly saving 500.00 a year in fuel, but.... 500.00 is 500.00

What is your time worth, Joe? A basic comparison is to look at your hourly rate. 12 minutes a day for 261 days a year is 52.2 hours. If you make less than $9.57/hr you are definitely saving money. On the flip-side if you make more, and have the option to work those extra 12 minutes, then you can make up the fuel cost that way plus have increased productivity.

I want to report, btw, that at 4700 miles (I am driving the Sonic sometimes now) I got 42.2 mpg on a 77 mile trip from Morgantown, WV to a place in Pittsburgh, PA with 3 people in the car. I noticed on the last tank the mileage starting to get over 33 mpg on mostly highway trips. I was not too happy with the MPG before then, but people do say you have to let the car get a few thousand on it before the mileage picks up.

BTW my trip was mostly 70 mph with a max of 76.

 

[LTZ ICE]

1.4T 6spd
44mpg highway (hills/ mountains) .ac on 67-70mph

3900 miles

 

[ScottieVK]

2012 1.4t 6 speed 93 octane

City and highway average after many tanks is 36mpg

Highway only 65-75mph I get 41 mpg

City I get 28 - 32mpg

Extremes:

Followed a school bus to an event which included very slow acceleration, 55 mph highway I got 62 mpg

Towed a 4'x8' trailer with my DR650 motorcycle on it 320 miles each way to an event, mostly highway and I got 35 mpg

I have also towed the trailer carrying 12' sheet rock, refrigerator, plywood, large power tools, kayaks and more. It is all the truck a regular home owner needs.

 

[joe truck driver]

What is your time worth, Joe? A basic comparison is to look at your hourly rate. 12 minutes a day for 261 days a year is 52.2 hours. If you make less than $9.57/hr you are definitely saving money. On the flip-side if you make more, and have the option to work those extra 12 minutes, then you can make up the fuel cost that way plus have increased productivity.

I want to report, btw, that at 4700 miles (I am driving the Sonic sometimes now) I got 42.2 mpg on a 77 mile trip from Morgantown, WV to a place in Pittsburgh, PA with 3 people in the car. I noticed on the last tank the mileage starting to get over 33 mpg on mostly highway trips. I was not too happy with the MPG before then, but people do say you have to let the car get a few thousand on it before the mileage picks up.

BTW my trip was mostly 70 mph with a max of 76.

I know all that but I couldn't put the 10 minutes to good use. each day when you get home would 10 minutes really make any difference. kids are grown, I've already eaten dinner, calls are made when I need to(cell),I dvr any tv I watch, its dark( I leave at 7am and return at 9:30 pm, etc.....

not that I'm trying to nit pick but the only time I hear statements like that over 10 minutes is when an employer is about to cut somebody's pay

 

[davecerv]

1.8 Automatic Hatch here.
I currently have 3,670 miles. I love this car so much. I just get upset with it sometimes when it gives me 26mpg after I get off the freeway after driving about a 25 mile distance going 58mph with no traffic at all no braking. I baby my sonic everyday. That mpg calculator is a liar especially if I reset it. It will say 37mpg but I do the math and its really 24-26mpg.
The highest real calculated mpg I've reached is 33mpg (with ac in low). Then sometimes my fuel gauge likes to play around and a bar comes back after I park then it stays for like five more miles and dissapears for good. In the city I mostly never use ac unless its 90+degrees outside. Sometimes it seems as if this car likes having the ac on. I only pump regular chevron gas. If chevy ever decides to make a diesel sonic, ill be ready to trade in. The sonic would be 110% perfect if the mpg was as the computer says, well on mine :blankface: and if it had cooled seats

 

[sx sonic]

33 hand calc isn't bad for the 1.8 with the a/c on.

A note on the DIC the only way it'll be anywhere close to accurate is if you only reset it at fill up, then it'll be within 1-5 mpg of actual hand calc mpg, It's usually 2-3 mpg optimistic but depends on your car and driving:

If you reset the DIC in the middle of a tank and especially while moving/coasting on a warm engine it'll be way off.

 

[davecerv]

Yeah 33 is great, if only it was like that everytime I'm on the freeway. That only happened one time last week haha. I do reset everytime I refuel. The meter says I have 335 miles of range everytime I feed my sonic.

 

[sx sonic]

Ok wasn't sure how you were using the DIC on average, got the impression you'd reset occasionally while driving. Nothing wrong with that and frequent resets can be very useful in determining what driving style will get you the best gas mileage. But then It's no good for gas mileage as a whole.

Curious what your typical commute is in terms of drive time and traffic?

 

[davecerv]

Well my job is 10 miles away from my house, five days a week. It takes about twenty or so minutes to get there cause of some light traffic on the freeway going 30-40mph. I let go of the gas pedal and just roll whenever possible. Then on Wednesdays and Sundays I do a 23 mile drive which takes about 28 minutes on the freeway going 58 mph non stop. I've never even been over 70 mph on my sonic. BUT also sometimes…I idle my car a bit when I'm with the lady, about 25 minutes…but thats why I only discuss my highway mpg not city haha. Wednesdays, Sundays, and Saturdays are when I do the most freeway driving. Unless the idling screws up my highway mpg which isn't fair but if it does then I can live with it
There thats my weekly life on my sonic

 

[joe truck driver]

1.8 Automatic Hatch here.
I currently have 3,670 miles. I love this car so much. I just get upset with it sometimes when it gives me 26mpg after I get off the freeway after driving about a 25 mile distance going 58mph with no traffic at all no braking. I baby my sonic everyday. That mpg calculator is a liar especially if I reset it. It will say 37mpg but I do the math and its really 24-26mpg.
The highest real calculated mpg I've reached is 33mpg (with ac in low). Then sometimes my fuel gauge likes to play around and a bar comes back after I park then it stays for like five more miles and dissapears for good. In the city I mostly never use ac unless its 90+degrees outside. Sometimes it seems as if this car likes having the ac on. I only pump regular chevron gas. If chevy ever decides to make a diesel sonic, ill be ready to trade in. The sonic would be 110% perfect if the mpg was as the computer says, well on mine :blankface: and if it had cooled seats

have to say, i wasn't aware that the setting of the a/c (fan speed?) had much to do with mpg. on/off yes. i suppose the colder you set it the more the a/c compressor cycles. is that what you meant? i haven't tested mine with different settings of temp, but .... my mileage doesn't match anybody else's anyway.

 

[joe truck driver]

confused again. temp at 75 and 72 on the first two legs and gauge reads 55.7. total miles still at 685(140 driven-545 left) which translate to 53.5 or 54mpg. this may kill the heat idea. did make one change. climbing out Ann Arbor hill reduced speed to 55. last 3 fill ups 49.7(2 days rain)52.9(2 pump clicks at end)54.8 should aveage this and the last for 53.85. still averaging 670 or better for total future miles at fill up.

 

[sx sonic]

have to say, i wasn't aware that the setting of the a/c (fan speed?) had much to do with mpg. on/off yes. i suppose the colder you set it the more the a/c compressor cycles. is that what you meant? i haven't tested mine with different settings of temp, but .... my mileage doesn't match anybody else's anyway.

You are correct, fan speed has a negligible effect on mpg if any at all. The a/c being on always has a negative effect on mpg, but sometimes It's a necessary evil.

 

[sinnerone]

Long term mileage update.

To start off I do not have precise logs to prove my numbers. I'm over 22k miles and hand calculate every tank. Only one tank has ever been under 40mpg and it was 39.7. My best tank mpg was 51. When i drove off the dealership lot with 60 miles on the odo Aug 2012 I reset the mpg readout and haven't rest it since.
Today it reads 46.3mpg.

The only issue(issue is too harsh) I have had with this car is the rubber trim on the shifter is separating slightly at the top.

I purchased my Sonic because I was looking for a high mpg car to replace my 95 V6 Contour. I did like the Contour. It was a reliable car and I averaged 23mpg. The engine wire harness insulation was starting to deteriorate to the point that it was starting to have intermittent electrical problems. With the V6 shoehorned into that engine bay I was not looking forward to running new wires.

I test drove a Focus, Fiesta, Cruze, and Dart to see what was available. All were nice cars especially the Dart. But I was looking for value and my daughter works for GM and she told me she worked on a project on the Sonic's seats. So I found a LT 1.4 M6 test drove it and was very impressed. The next day I drove off the lot with my new Sonic. It's amazingly quiet... I have no wind noise.

I am very happy with this car. Way above my expectations.

 

[davecerv]

Does it happen to anyone else that the first gallon gets stellar mialege and then that never repeats for the rest of the tank? Just last week I got an impressive 40mpg (calculated by hand) but then I never came close to that for the rest of the tank. And also sometimes when I park I turn on the ac and a bar comes back up sometimes.

 

[River_Rat]

Does it happen to anyone else that the first gallon gets stellar mialege and then that never repeats for the rest of the tank? Just last week I got an impressive 40mpg (calculated by hand) but then I never came close to that for the rest of the tank. And also sometimes when I park I turn on the ac and a bar comes back up sometimes.

How exactly does one hand calculate mileage for one gallon?

 

[davecerv]

Well after driving 40 miles a bar dissapeared..I know it was forty because I subtracted the mileage i had after driving the forty miles from where I was when I pumped. I've always thought that each bar on the gas meter meant a gallon..am I wrong? Because that's how Ive been calculating my mpg's all this time...

 

[sx sonic]

Well after driving 40 miles a bar dissapeared..I know it was forty because I subtracted the mileage i had after driving the forty miles from where I was when I pumped. I've always thought that each bar on the gas meter meant a gallon..am I wrong? Because that's how Ive been calculating my mpg's all this time...

Oh boy. You're doing it wrong. You're less accurate than the DIC lol.

Hand calculated is dividing miles driven by gallons of fuel used.
To clarify next time you fill up reset your "tripometer" drive until your low on gas (you can fill at anytime but more miles=more accurate). Then fill your tank and divide your trip miles by gallons of gas pumped.

And yes the 1st bit of gas APPEARS, APPEARS !! To last longer than the last because of tank shape, fuel sender design, etc. The fuel sender is a variable resistor on a float, because of the way things are the float doesn't move as much at a full tank as a low tank. Float movement is tied to resistance which is tied to your fuel gauge so your display isn't linear because the float isn't.