My 1997 Jetta GTS needs a new engine, and my 2007 MazdaSpeed 6 is broken, so I'm currently driving my Grandmas 2008 Pontiac Torrent, it's EPA rating is for around 12.4L/100km so I reset the average economy/trip meter and took it for a drive around the city.
I was average 7.8L/100km between 1200rpm and 1500rpm with cruise control set between 50km/h and 60km/h depending on street speed limits. Tried timing lights but this was done just after lunch hour traffic so I did have to stop at a few lights.
So with 7.8L/100km being extremely good, I decided I would take it on a highway run and see how that goes.. Exactly the same, roughly 40km in on the highway and hasn't changed at all. Still 7.8L/100km. I suspect it has something to do with the fact that on the highway, it's running at a consistent speed, however it's closet between 1800rpm and 2000rpm, so that 3.4L V6 really chugs down the fuel despite not making minimal stop and go starts in the city
I did come up to a transport that was driving around 90km/h to 95km/h so I was drafting off of him for a bit and the fuel consumption went down to 7.6L/100km, that's almost 31 US MPG but once we got back out onto the highway away from the city turn offs and lights he started going 100 and I was using too much fuel to keep up so I continued going 90km/h and the fuel consumption went back up to 7.8L/100km on average.
(sorry for the sideways picture, I don't like touching my phone while driving, especially while drafting and I didn't have anyone else with me to take pictures)
My total mileage test trip was 82.6km
I averaged 7.8L/100km both city and highway driving. Roughly 40km city and 40km highway.
For you US Folks, the vehicle is rated for 17MPG City, 24MPG Highway, 19MPG Combined and I averaged 30MPG (31MPG while drafting on the highway but we won't count that)
I was over looking the SUV to think of things I could do to improve it and I noticed the tires have never been rotated, so I'm going to do that now then equal out the tire pressure (right side tires are lower then left side for some reason) so hopefully that'll give me better traction to keep speed up in deeper snow, I'm going to give it a good wash and wax for optimal air flow, and try it again with the mirrors folded in later tonight with less traffic so I can time the lights better to really push this thing. I couldn't believe how good the fuel consumption was for a 3.4L V6 SUV with a terribly slushbox 5 speed automatic transmission.
I'll be back later tonight to post my results to see if I could get it anymore then 7.8L/100km or 30 US MPG