Real world MPG performance is a big factor in vehicle "owner satisfaction"

[oil pan 4]

If you get 15mpg in a fusion you might be at a drag racing track.

[Fat Charlie]

... Or just think you are. And if you're doing that in a Fusion, you're bound to be frustrated.

[Hersbird]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

I was reading some where that fuel economy was pretty far down on the list of people out to buy a new car.
I guess once you buy it and have to pay for it then people start to care about fuel economy.

The only thing the dealers care about is getting the vehicle off their lot.

Part of this may be that when shopping you are looking for one basic type of car. You may compare a mid size Honda to a Mazda, to a Ford but they all pretty much get the same MPG so it isn't a factor so much in the comparison.

[MetroMPG]

Related bit of info that seems to corroborate CR's theory:

The Mitsu Mirage has the highest owner loyalty in the econobox/entry level segment , meaning return customers (the yard stick CR is using when it talks about owner satisfaction).

Owners of both the CVT and 5-speed transmissions are beating the EPA ratings on average, calculated from 3k+ fill-ups over 1,426,475 km / 886,371 miles of driving so far.

Ironically, CR hates the Mirage. Hates, hates, hates it.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

So, will EPA get even MORE serious and require even MORE realistic MPG numbers from manufacturers?

How can the EPA (or anyone) get "realistic" numbers when, as in the cited example, mpg can double just by changing the nut holding the steering wheel? For instance, the previous owner(s) of my Insight had a lifetime average just under 50 mpg (for 50K miles). I've averaged a bit over 70 mpg for 140K miles.

I'm a little skeptical about the doubling, but have always gotten 10-20% better than EPA from my vehicles.

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

How can the EPA (or anyone) get "realistic" numbers when, as in the cited example, mpg can double just by changing the nut holding the steering wheel? For instance, the previous owner(s) of my Insight had a lifetime average just under 50 mpg (for 50K miles). I've averaged a bit over 70 mpg for 140K miles.

I'm a little skeptical about the doubling, but have always gotten 10-20% better than EPA from my vehicles.

The delta on a hybrid will always be lower as it does some of the hypermiling for you, and it was probably bought by a more genteel driver in the first place.

100% over EPA is definitely possible. Heck I've done a fair few trips that were 100% over NEDC.

[Natalya]

I'm beating the EPA and previous owner lifetime MPG with the wrong tires, no IMA, and the wrong rims with only a few small ecomods. The way you drive the car counts a lot.

I agree with Old Tele man that there should be an EPA value scale corresponding with driver style, Better Typical Poor, or something that lets drivers know that how they drive the car matters.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Old Tele man

...or maybe something like: BEST-TYPICAL-POOR to coincide with better-typical-poor DRIVERS (wink,wink)!

Except who's going to think they're a poor driver? I doubt there are many who'll even admit to 'typical' - certainly not ME :-)

[Xist]

Most drivers think they are better than average, which is statistically impossible. However, I am statistically better than EPA, so there is that.

[wdb]

A quick check shows 2 of 3 Fusion engine choices are turbocharged. Jackrabbit driving and/or just a lot of stop/go driving could account for the large difference in MPG's folks are getting.

The NA engine in my GS gives me ~6MPG difference depending on whether I'm on the highway or secondary roads; I don't do enough stop/go driving to know for sure but I'd wager the MPG difference would be even higher. (Driving style is consistent.)

In my dearly departed STi I could get 7-8 MPG easily, or 24+ MPG easily, the difference all being in how I applied my right foot. That's a bit different than an economy-minded Fusion but I think it's still relevant.