Official: What are your real world MPG Numbers
- Thread starter Sonic-Mike
- Start date
I drive 32 miles one way to work. 2 miles on regular streets and 30 on freeways during Houston rush hour. I'm working on my second Sonic. The first was a 2013 1.4 AT HB that gave me 33.6 mpg or about 370 miles between fill ups. My current car is a 2018 1.4 AT HB that has been giving me 30.4 or 335 miles between fill ups. I've looked at all the specs and gearing and even shipping weight there really isn't a difference. (The 2018 is 29 pounds heavier) The tires are even the same size and brand. I do have 20,000 miles on the 2018 so I'm way beyond break in. Both cars freeway sweet spot is between 70-75 for best numbers. 80 and above numbers drop quickly. Speed limit between Houston and Dallas is 75, but you typically find yourself running faster just to keep up with traffic. All numbers were figured the old fashion way. BTW I have used a 2018 Cruze 1.4 AT HB and a 2018 1.4 AT Trax on the run to Dallas. The Cruze got 40.8 mpg and the Trax got 27.4. Granted the gearing in both of those are very different from the Sonic. I guess what I'm trying to say is every car is different, even with the same driver.
Yeah, I can't speak to the gearing in the automatics, but the gearing in the manual is ridiculously short, the highway fuel economy is obnoxiously bad as a result. 5th gear on my Sonic is great for cruising around at 50KMH... Less so at twice that.
Oof, well if the Sonic got a bit better fuel economy in slightly cold air, it falls off a damn cliff deeper in to the negatives. It's a snowing here, and around -5 to -10 Celcius, and my fuel economy has fallen all the way down to 7.0L. Now, some of that is due to hooning it a little in the snow, but still, that is obnoxiously bad compared to normal.
I drove my '14 LT 1.4 auto 654 miles from the central CA coast to the mountains of central AZ. The DIC showed an average of 28 when I started, and edged up to 28.8 at the end of the trip. Evidently, it had never been re-set for the entire 9,600 miles on the car at the start of the trip.
The first leg of 185 miles, which included some city, some steady cruising at 60 MPH, and a 75 MPH blast over a 5000' pass netted 36 MPG measured.
The next leg was 252 miles, at speeds of 65-75 MPH, more downhill than uphill. 39.38 MPG.
The last leg was 210 miles, with about 80 MPH mostly uphill for about 130 miles, then the rest at lower speeds with some traffic lights and stops. The last leg netted 31.7 MPG.
Overall, the average measured MPG was 35.7.
The first leg of 185 miles, which included some city, some steady cruising at 60 MPH, and a 75 MPH blast over a 5000' pass netted 36 MPG measured.
The next leg was 252 miles, at speeds of 65-75 MPH, more downhill than uphill. 39.38 MPG.
The last leg was 210 miles, with about 80 MPH mostly uphill for about 130 miles, then the rest at lower speeds with some traffic lights and stops. The last leg netted 31.7 MPG.
Overall, the average measured MPG was 35.7.
2019 Sonic LT RS Auto
I bought my Sonic right after Christmas 2018 the first day the dealer opened. I drive 43 miles highway to work each way, so 86 round trip minimum. I was looking for good mpg when I purchased, but I’m starting to have regrets. I accelerate slowly to speeds between 55mph-70mph and my average mpg so far with 3900 miles is 27.6 based off what the computer says. The sticker claims 33mpg highway. Does anyone have suggestions? I can’t even get 300 miles on a tank of 87 octane. The most I have gotten is 265 miles when the low fuel light comes on with 30 miles left til empty. At that figure with my calculations of 10.55 gal fill up it’s only 25.11 mpg.
I bought my Sonic right after Christmas 2018 the first day the dealer opened. I drive 43 miles highway to work each way, so 86 round trip minimum. I was looking for good mpg when I purchased, but I’m starting to have regrets. I accelerate slowly to speeds between 55mph-70mph and my average mpg so far with 3900 miles is 27.6 based off what the computer says. The sticker claims 33mpg highway. Does anyone have suggestions? I can’t even get 300 miles on a tank of 87 octane. The most I have gotten is 265 miles when the low fuel light comes on with 30 miles left til empty. At that figure with my calculations of 10.55 gal fill up it’s only 25.11 mpg.
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Some of this will be obvious, so I apologize if I come across as condescending:
- Make the car work as little as possible while it's warming up.
- Short shift as much as you realistically can.
- Use the AC as little as possible.
- Make sure the vehicle is all up to snuff (Filters, fluids, plugs, etc).
- Keep the tires nice and full.
- Keep as little stuff in the car as you can.
I don't know what your specific Sonic is, but I know I normally get around 45MPG in normal temperatures (Though that has fallen all the way to 33MPG in the snowy cold we've now got), but that's a on a manual, no-option 1.8L.
If you're down for some grunt work, you could do a bunch of things to boost mileage:
- Buy a set of plugs and see how far you can gap them without snuffing the spark.
- Install a water/meth injection kit to let the timing advance like crazy.
- Strip out anything you don't used for weight savings.
- Go to a smaller battery.
- Build an ABS undertray.
- Swap to lighter rims.
Chazzz
Member
I am averaging 32 mpg with my 2019, mostly back roads with not a lot of traffic or lights. If you have a lot of stop and go traffic on your commute that could be the issue. Also in warmer weather you should see a several MPG increase.
dannyg
Member
Managed a personal best 43MPG on recent 540mi trip, mostly highway, by keeping speed to 70MPH. Info:
1.8L/5sp sedan
87 gas (top tier)
15in wheels, 36-38PSI cold
Last oil change was full synthetic
540 mi, about 80% highway, 70MPH
Measured 43MPG, DIC a bit higher
Previous best was measured 41MPG on similar trip but approx 75MPH speeds.
Day to day driving is less, of course.
1.8L/5sp sedan
87 gas (top tier)
15in wheels, 36-38PSI cold
Last oil change was full synthetic
540 mi, about 80% highway, 70MPH
Measured 43MPG, DIC a bit higher
Previous best was measured 41MPG on similar trip but approx 75MPH speeds.
Day to day driving is less, of course.
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My displayed average MPG has crept up ever so slowly over the years, from 34.4 and is now at 34.7 MPG. My driving is mostly suburban/exurban @35-50 MPH, with occasional short freeway trips. The car has accumulated just over 46,000 miles in the eight years since I purchased it new.
Coolbreezin
Member
Purchased car July 2017, 34mpg regularly.
Once I hit 60,000 miles I changed plugs with OEM and ran tons of various EFI cleaner through the tank, mpg stays in the 33's.
Once I hit 60,000 miles I changed plugs with OEM and ran tons of various EFI cleaner through the tank, mpg stays in the 33's.
ChicksHateMe
Member
I'm from Mass too, with a 2013. So I have so many variations of MPG ratings it's crazy
Most roads I drive on suck around here. :blankface: Either tons of pot holes, windy as hell, All uphill, All downhill while a few are nice and flat.
I drive my 1.4L Turbo Hatch like it's a go-cart, it's so wicked fun to drive. Almost always 10+ mph over the speed limit, unless in neighborhoods. Still on the original tires too, with some nice dry rot showing now
(Changing them next week). I get as low as 20 mpg average if I stick to the city driving for a while, but get as high as 40+ driving downhill to a town about 20 miles away, or if I drive on a nice long, flat highway, like some parts of 495.
I bet we take a good 20% hit just because of our roads. But even with these crappy roads, and if I drove like a sane human, I'd get close to the 27 city, 37 Highway they said we'd get.
I imagine if I lived somewhere where the roads were long and flat, like between Vegas and Phoenix, I'd get really great mileage in this thing.
But it DOES suck in the snow having these original Hankook tires that seem like summer-only tires. I'm going to get some A/S's, but have a feeling I am going to be taking another ding on the MPG's.
I REALLY love my Sonic. I swear they took a mold of my butt and made these seats. It's just so comfortable and fun to drive. And I've been happy with the MPG's, but I HATE Chevy's JUNK MAIL. 8 years, and they won't stop no matter how much I ask. Which is ticking me off and has me thinking about getting a New Honda CR-V Hybrid. :banana: Families been having some great luck with Honda's (Pilot and 2 CR-V's), so I'm thinking of making the switch myself.
pwyskowski
Member
When I replaced my factory installed tires, I went with the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Plus tires.I'm from Mass too, with a 2013. So I have so many variations of MPG ratings it's crazy
Most roads I drive on suck around here. :blankface: Either tons of pot holes, windy as hell, All uphill, All downhill while a few are nice and flat.
I drive my 1.4L Turbo Hatch like it's a go-cart, it's so wicked fun to drive. Almost always 10+ mph over the speed limit, unless in neighborhoods. Still on the original tires too, with some nice dry rot showing now
I get as low as 20 mpg average if I stick to the city driving for a while, but get as high as 40+ driving downhill to a town about 20 miles away, or if I drive on a nice long, flat highway, like some parts of 495.
I bet we take a good 20% hit just because of our roads. But even with these crappy roads, and if I drove like a sane human, I'd get close to the 27 city, 37 Highway they said we'd get.
I imagine if I lived somewhere where the roads were long and flat, like between Vegas and Phoenix, I'd get really great mileage in this thing.
But it DOES suck in the snow having these original Hankook tires that seem like summer-only tires. I'm going to get some A/S's, but have a feeling I am going to be taking another ding on the MPG's.
I REALLY love my Sonic. I swear they took a mold of my butt and made these seats. It's just so comfortable and fun to drive. And I've been happy with the MPG's, but I HATE Chevy's JUNK MAIL. 8 years, and they won't stop no matter how much I ask. Which is ticking me off and has me thinking about getting a New Honda CR-V Hybrid.Families been having some great luck with Honda's (Pilot and 2 CR-V's), so I'm thinking of making the switch myself.
They handle so much nicer in the snow plus they are rated for 80K miles.
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