I recently purchased an xA after conducting a very thorough research effort into cars in and around the same price as the xA. Initially, I thought I was going to buy a Yaris, but after driving a Yaris I thought it was absolute garbage.

Anyway, my question concerns gas mileage. It seems my xA isn't getting near the 38 mpg highway on the sticker, but there are factors to consider. First, I live in AZ and I have the A/C on almost all the time. Second, I drove to and from AZ and Los Angeles, and drive quite a bit up and down mountains.

What type of mileage can I expect to get considering the circumstances? Obviously my gas mileage will increase once the weather changes and I don't have the A/C on all the time.

What kind of mileage are other xA owners getting?

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Hi,

I have a 2006 New xA with less than 2000 miles. This car is not getting the mileage I am expecting. The best I get is about 31MPG (70% freeway/30% local).

I don't abuse or drive fast. No A/C and always stay in less than 65 miles/hr on freeway. I have no idea why i never be able to get more than 31MPG. I heard some people can get even 40MPG.

This is crazy! I am planning to take this car back to the dealership. If not, I will sell this car.

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I have a 06 xA with 1,350 miles on it and I got 32 mpg on the first tank and it has gone downhill to 27 mpg.
It is hot in Indy and i have the A/C on all the time and I don't do much highway driving. Its still 10 mpg better than the 02 Montana I traded in for my xA.

kms2112

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I commute to work about 50 miles a day.....mostly highway. At 65-70 mph with A/C I'm getting low to mid 30's.

Mine is a 5spd and turns about 3500 rpm @ 70 mph.

The 5spd is rated at 37 mpg/highway. Of course that's under ideal conditions....no A/C, 55 mph, no hills, ect. So I'm not to far off, all things considered.

If you look at what the DOE/EPA info on the window sticker actually says, then I fall right in the middle.

Here's what it says:

27-37 mpg/city, averaging 32 mpg.

31-43 mpg/highway, averaging 37 mpg.

 

25-26 mpgs city auto.[

 

I think that's just about what I'm actually getting. As I said, I have the a/c on quite a bit and I drive up and down mountains when I make my weekly trek to California from AZ. I'm really looking forward to seeing how much my mileage increases once the weather changes and I don't need a/c anymore. I also wonder how much mileage would increase living in the midwest with no mountains.

 

IS there anyway to improve the gas mileage, such as, cold air intake or some kind of gas treatment chemical?

 

I think it wold make a difference. I have some family about 70 miles away. I travel there via a highway with a fair amount of hills. I simply do not get the same mileage driving this hilly highway as I do my daily commute on the very flat I-75.

 

With regular AC use in our '06 AT xA, we see commuting numbers between 34-37 mpg. On a long trip @ 55 mph using AC I saw 39.

In theory at least, if you start and end at the same elevation, you're burning more uphill, but idling downhill, so it shouldn't use more fuel for the same driving habits. .No mountains near here, but vacationing in Utah/Colorado saw our mpg increase, as it has with every other vehicle we've owned. This is mainly due to the higher altitude: you push against less air mass at 8,000' than at 1,000'.

 

My automatic xA has about 6K miles now.
Last March, in cold weather with short runs I got 32.8 mpg. Now summer time, I get a little over 35.
I know when I tell you my driving habits you will groan

First off , I run the A/C only if my wife is in the car. I much prefer to have windows open *unless* I'm driving on the thruway.
If I have the A/C on and come to a long hill, I hit the button and turn it off. Because it's circulating the cabin air, I stay cool for a while - at least to the top of the hill.

On secondary roads (here in upstate NY) I maintain 45-50mph (2200rpm), unless someone is behind me pushing. Then I go 55.
On the thruway, I maintain 60mph, unless there is heavy traffic. Then I keep up.

I read some stats recently stating that optimum mileage is possible at 35-45 mph. This is plotted on a parabol and at speeds over 65, the curve drops fast.

I accelerate fairly slowly whenever possible.

Things in the Middle East are telling us that $4/gal is not unreasonable to expect so I'm getting the most mileage I can.

 

^^^ You sir, are to be commended.

 

please folks, use the search function...this has been talked about sooooo many times. I too was concerned about my mileage, but it starts going up as you drive longer. Don't know why, just does. If you search the threads, you will find some great info which isn't going to be repeated over and ever again.

 

Whatever...I wasn't hating, it's just a subject I see once a month, and it gets less and less replies every time it's brought up. I have found all kinds of information doing a search. But do what you want, Everything that was said before obviously wasn't as important since you weren't a part of it.

 

I just completed my first 11 gal tank on my xA with 301 miles. I filled up 9.2 gallons so that gives me about 32mpg. I'm happy.

willp66, don't worry about the way you drive I think that's awesome. I wish more drivers were so conservative. I am when I am able. When the wife is in the car and I drive and take off that slow she gets kinda annoyed but if I take the gas money outta her fun money I'm pretty sure she'll let me drive how I want.

 

Yup, appleguybruce taught me every thing I needed to know to get great mileage.

 

I'm getting about 34-37 miles a gallon. I live in PA. Using the ac all the time now with it being summer. See no difference in gas mileage. Hope to get better once I install a intake. 40% city 60% highway

 

<<<<willp66, don't worry about the way you drive I think that's awesome. I wish more drivers were so conservative. I am when I am able. When the wife is in the car and I drive and take off that slow she gets kinda annoyed but if I take the gas money outta her fun money I'm pretty sure she'll let me drive how I want.>>>

Thanks! I thought I'd get bashed for driving like an Ol Fart...hehehehe

Oh wait ...I AM...LOL

 

I'm with you as well. I drive a Ford Ranger on 33" tires. With normal tires, I should be getting 17/19 MPG. Even with the bigger tires, and adjusting the speedo, I get 22 MPG at 50% city/highway. It's a 5-speed. I coast down hills and up to stops. I shift at 2300 RPMs and I don't speed. I only downshift on snowy or icy roads. I can't wait to see what I get with the xA.

 

I haven't gotten below 30 MPG for a few weeks now, and even then, its barely below, at 29 MPG. I don't really baby it around like a grandma would, and I'm still impressed with the mileage I get.

I rarely use the A/C... the only time I use it is when the girl is in the car. I love having the windows open. I coast up to as many stoplights as I can, no need to leave it in gear. I just pop it into neutral.

I've also kept a spreadsheet of my mileage from the first tank. I'm on my 30th fillup now.

http://www.mayhem-rc.com/stuff/gasmi...preadsheet.xls

 

I got 327 on my first tank.

That comes out to 29 mpg.

Although, I'm not sure if that's accurate. I just drove until the needle hit R and then maybe another 5 miles.

What's the BEST way to calculate mileage?