2012 Sorento GDI 4 cyl

[Old Mechanic]

This is the wifes vehicle. I took it to the dealership today for the first check over (free) with 1200 miles (in 2 months and 1 week). Driving in a heavy rain this morning the fuel consumption gauge was reading 30 MPG on the highway.

After some stops and on the return trip I reset the gauge on entering the Interstate. Cruising along at 65-72 MPH I saw the reading peak at 36 MPG, after exiting the 12 miles stretch of road the guage was reading 35 MPG average for that leg of the trip. She has been consistently averaging 25-26 MPG overall for the last 3 tanks of fuel, including the original tank filled at the dealer.

The power is not that high, 191 HP and a 3800 pound vehicle, but the mileage I saw today after only 1200 miles on the odometer shows the potential for great highway mileage in a large heavy SUV type of vehicle.
While many here frown on ownership of this type of vehicle, I find the potential mileage of this one to be exceptional, considering what it is.

The 6 speed automated manual transmission also works well for economy shifting early enough so that you can stay at higher loads on the engine and the tach reads right at 2k RPM at 62 MPH.

One of the few vehicles that shows that the Korean manufacturers are really focusing on mileage. I think they did an excellent job on this one, especially considering its weight, which with me driving was close to two tons.

I would love to try one of their smaller sedans to see what it's potential would be, either a manual or the 6 speed automated manual. I know they are coming out with start-stop technology soon.

regards
Mech

[ChazInMT]

I've been following Kia/Hyundai for the last few years and think they really do have a good thing going.

[Old Mechanic]

An extra special fact, built in the USA!
By Americans.

regards
Mech

[roosterk0031]

FWD or AWD?

[Old Mechanic]

FWD.

regards
Badger

[tjts1]

Whats the point of a fwd suv? Just get a wagon.

[jakobnev]

Does the automated manual allow going to and from neutral in any gear at speed?

[Vwbeamer]

Pretty good, these are made in my state, Georgia.

I expect the mpgs will increase with a few more thousand miles to get everything broken in good.

[pete c]

i have an '09 sonata, 5 speed. The wife drives it primarily. We are quite happy with it. Haven't really followed mileage that closely, but, I suspect it is around high 20s/low 30s overall.

One of these days I will get around to monitoring it more closely, with some hypermiling technique thrown in.

If there is one thing I could change, it would be a higher 5th gear. I believe that would squeeze an extra mile or two per gallon.

One other thing that is annoying is it's tendency to stall during launch if you do not feed it some throttle. I've been driving stick for over 30 years and am pretty good at it. Other vehicles I've had were much less fussy about this. The odd thing is, it does not lack low end torque. I can put along at very low revs happily, so long as I am feeding it a bit of throttle.

This condition is enough of an annoyance that I would probably have gone with the slushbox, were I to buy it again. Also, if I am not mistaken, the auto mpg numbers are actually a tad higher, which is sort of weird. Don't know if these numbers are reflected in real world driving.

[puddleglum]

Originally Posted by tjts1

Whats the point of a fwd suv? Just get a wagon.

The point is styling and space. Nobody makes a large fuel efficient wagon anymore. If you need a large spacious vehicle, you get an SUV or a minivan. Who wants to drive a minivan forever. My Rondo is (was in the US) Kia's fwd wagon. It is similar in interior space, 400lb lighter, and gets way worse fuel economy. The fact is, SUV's are popular with the public and so that is where the car makers put their new technology. The new GDI engines are very impressive. It's too bad that there isn't a wagon on the market that has one, only sedans and SUV's.