Official: What are your real world MPG Numbers

[CoHPhasor]

Making a trip that long, with those speeds, and in the open-wind environment of the key bridge I'd say that's about what I'd expect.
100mph is very inefficient.

An intake and a tune will do you well with mpg, or at least running premium octane.

Full-synthetic is a definite, you can use Mobil1 if you want to save some $.
If your miles are still low you might gain some mpg just from break-in as well.

 

[2012LTZ]

100mph is very inefficient.

yeah, I only did that a couple of times in bursts of speed to get past packs of cars on the highway.

Oh yeah, don't know if ya'll have driven down there but it's super congested. Having the turbo was nice when it came to claiming spots. Also, around Miami, ...I've never seen so many different kinds of cars, yet my Sonic was the only one I saw, both trips!

 

[GeneralZod]

yeah, I only did that a couple of times in bursts of speed to get past packs of cars on the highway.

Oh yeah, don't know if ya'll have driven down there but it's super congested. Having the turbo was nice when it came to claiming spots. Also, around Miami, ...I've never seen so many different kinds of cars, yet my Sonic was the only one I saw, both trips!

For the what you were doing 30 MPG is great. Those "burst" cost you dearly. Some of the slickest and more fuel efficient car would have issues doing that.

 

[Larry]

Just filled up and here is my results. Also I am tuned so I use 93 octane.

Miles: 332
Average Speed: 35.2MPH
Gallons: 8.590
Price: $31.00 or $3.609/gallon
Average MPG: 38.7
DIC: 41.2

 

[mitdr774]

Driving at a higer speed than the EPA test ever hits and having bursts up to much higher speed is a sure fire way to not even come close to the EPA numbers.

Last I knew the EPA highway test had a top speed of about 60 and average speed around 48-49. All done in a controlled environment. It is a very unrealistic test for the vast majority of drivers out there.

 

[mitdr774]

You got 450 miles out of one tank?.....

I only get about 300 give or take.

I always tend to fill up well before I need to but this is my best three fill run. It was a trip to Chicago for a weekend. Approx. 695 miles with 93% highway, mostly free run at 60 MPH but with a few slow downs here and there.

234.1 miles
5.22 gallons
44.8 MPG
546.5 mile theoretical range

302.5 miles
7.24 gallons
41.8 MPG
510 mile theoretical range

158.6 miles
3.65 gallons
43.5 MPG
530.7 mile theoretical range

total run of:
695.2 miles
16.11 gallons
43.15 MPG


I have not had a tank of clean highway run since then as that has been the only decent trip with the car so far. I cant complain about it. I do have a goal of 50 MPG on at least one highway run, but that will take some doing to accomplish. I do have some ideas and plans, but no time or extra funds to make them a reality just yet. Only another 24k until most of the car has no warranty and I wont mind playing as much.

 

[2012LTZ]

Just filled up and here is my results. Also I am tuned so I use 93 octane.

Did you adjust your tune after initially installing it? I have only installed mine and haven't recorded anything to send back but I know the driveability and response could be better. Worth doing for 7mpg. Best I can do when I stay off the gas is 34 if I'm lucky, even highway miles thrown in. ...but it's pretty hilly where I live. Still nowhere close to the 41 or whatever they advertised.

 

[Eric Smit]

40 highway, 29(IIRC) city. If you're driving mixed, 34 isn't awful.


-Eric Smit

 

[chrismonson]

I was able to take a Cruze Eco for the day today for a golf tournament and on my drive to and from the course was a lot of mountain driving and windy roads, my average MPG was 36.2 with lots of mixed driving and top speeds of 90 MPH. What a fun car to drive! Can't wait for my Sonic RS to get here at the end of October!

 

[SuperFudd]

About Buicks, I get to tell this again:
I have a '94 rustic green base, stock 2.2L (HONEST!) automatic Plymouth Sundance that I commuted in, 23 miles Union City (CA) to Santa Clara. Typically 40-60 mph with ~6 stop lights. I usually got ~28 mpg, driven frugally. No Tach.
I also have a '96 Buick Regal that I occasionally used instead. 3.8L V6 with, like the Sundance, a 3 speed automatic with lock up. It has 200, or is it 210, hp and even more torque. The Sundance is maybe 90 hp.
The Regal would get ~30 mpg. I would limit rpm to 2k rpm.
I occasionally drive the 175 miles to the Mendocino County coast over the Coastal Range via state 128. Driven carefully the Sundance gets ~28 mpg and the Regal ~26. It's the mountains. In both cars you need to put your foot in it at times. When doing so the Regal slurps more than the Sundance because it can and because it is allot heavier.
At least that is the way I see it.

 

[Papasonic]

2012 Sonic 1.4 LTZ hatch, 6sp. manual (His)
4,911 miles
OnStar RemoteLink
37 MPG lifetime avg.
----------------------------------------
2012 Sonic 1.8 LTZ sedan, 6 sp. auto. (Hers)
5,074 miles
OnStar RemoteLink
32 MPG lifetime avg.

Papasonic

 

[Larry]

Did you adjust your tune after initially installing it? I have only installed mine and haven't recorded anything to send back but I know the driveability and response could be better. Worth doing for 7mpg. Best I can do when I stay off the gas is 34 if I'm lucky, even highway miles thrown in. ...but it's pretty hilly where I live. Still nowhere close to the 41 or whatever they advertised.

I had the tuner datalog the car, Vince looked at it and saw no problems. I'm gonna do another datalog once it gets cooler.

The 41 is highway, which means you are getting 33-34MPG average.

Have you checked your spark plug gap?

 

[photoman475]

We've driven about 10,500 miles since purchasing the car since the end of April.
About 60% has been interstate driving.

We're running combined mileage right around 30.5; best mileage is 41.6 at
55 mph and the air conditioning running; at interstate highway speed our best is 37.6 with the air on and the wind helping push us along. The more typical interstate mileage has been in the 34-35 range. Most gas has been 87 octane.

The car has a 1.8L and the semi-manual or semi-automatic transmission, depending on what you want to call it.

No matter how you figure it, it's far better mileage than the previous car was getting!

 

[shooK]

About Buicks, I get to tell this again:
I have a '94 rustic green base, stock 2.2L (HONEST!) automatic Plymouth Sundance that I commuted in, 23 miles Union City (CA) to Santa Clara. Typically 40-60 mph with ~6 stop lights. I usually got ~28 mpg, driven frugally. No Tach.
I also have a '96 Buick Regal that I occasionally used instead. 3.8L V6 with, like the Sundance, a 3 speed automatic with lock up. It has 200, or is it 210, hp and even more torque. The Sundance is maybe 90 hp.
The Regal would get ~30 mpg. I would limit rpm to 2k rpm.
I occasionally drive the 175 miles to the Mendocino County coast over the Coastal Range via state 128. Driven carefully the Sundance gets ~28 mpg and the Regal ~26. It's the mountains. In both cars you need to put your foot in it at times. When doing so the Regal slurps more than the Sundance because it can and because it is allot heavier.
At least that is the way I see it.

the 3800 gets 30 mpg on hwy easily

 

[LS1notFOUND]

My old modded Grand Prix 3800 Series 3 Supercharge would get 25mpg moving pretty good on the highway.

 

[GeneralZod]

After the last fill up with 91 octane I hand calculated 36.1 MPG. Best tank so far and the first tank I was stuck in traffic. I think 38-39 can be had with little effort.

I might have to check the gap just to see if it is off. The 1.4 really likes 91 in every way.

 

[Kuntryboy865]

23.4 mpg i'm getting. I have a lead foot though.

 

[THKPIC]

After the last fill up with 91 octane I hand calculated 36.1 MPG. Best tank so far and the first tank I was stuck in traffic. I think 38-39 can be had with little effort.

I might have to check the gap just to see if it is off. The 1.4 really likes 91 in every way.

Have you seen a difference with 91? Enouph to matter?

 

[rdss]

16 fill up and pretty much 90% city I'm averaging 31.2. I'm thinking I could get a few more out of it if actually logged my car and got a tune updated for it but it shouldn't be to far of since the Trifecta ECP tune should so most of the adjusting for my intake.

 

[Larry]

Total Cost: $34.11
Gallons: 9.505
Price/Gallon: $3.59
Miles: 360.3
DIC MPG: 40.7
Actual MPG: 37.9
Average Speed: 37.3 MPH
Odometer: 1360

93 Octane

Performed oil change at 1011 miles using QS Ultimate Durability 5w30 and AC Delco Filter. Cruise control set at 70 MPH, driving an estimated 200 interstate miles. Used Eco Mode 80% of the time, when using Sport Mode the No Lift Shift was properly tested.

Oh yea, I use the A/C quite a bit since I live in Louisiana. However, towards the end of Oct it should start cooling down enough to where I can stop using it.