2012 Hyndai Sonata gearing
 

Drove a rented 2012 Hyndai Sonata automatic for a week and got 37.74mpg in "eco" mode. I drove it pretty slowly by generally just keeping-up with the posted speed limits. Gearing was remarkable: It could cruise in 5th gear as low as 30mph and about 1000 rpms. It would stay in 6th as low as about 41/42 mph and 1100 or 1200 rpms. At 60mph on the freeway it rumbled along at about 1700 rpms. A rough estimate of a 400 mile freeway only trip suggested 40-45 mpg driving 55-65 mph mostly with cruise control on.

[EDIT: 2.4 liter engine and EPA 22/35]

If you went by the 'onboard' gauge, subtract 8-10% for closer to real measurement.
Mine has read as high as 8 mpg over the UG on trips, and usually 4+mpg high on tanks!

No onboard mpg gauge in this car.

Pretty sure it does. Button on right hand low side of wheel is where you get to it.

If that's the case, it would have been fun to know. As it was I didn't see it. But my numbers are just estimates, anyway. There was nothing ideal about the fueling and measuring while on the road in a strange car. The most notable thing to me is the gearing. The six speed manual for this car would be pretty cool. I did no mods, of course. I didn't even get to pump up the tires and one looked low and briefly set off the tire pressure gauge on my long trip. So much low hanging fruit just left there!

That is pretty awesome results for justexercising restraint with the loud pedal....great job

Gearing for 2013 [u]Elantra[/u] and [u]Accent[/u]
 

This thread started with my experience with gearing on a rented A/T Sonata, which cruised at 60mph at about 1700 rpms. But I want to add info on the Elantra, the cheaper 1.8L sister of the Sonata. Here are the 2013 specs: https://www.hyundaiusa.com/vehicles/...ications.aspx?

Look how much shorter the MT final drive is compared to the A/T! What a bummer. Is this why so many A/T versions of these cars are rated about the same or slightly better by the EPA?

Here are the specs for the 2013 Accent, which has the 1.6L and an MT standard, but they don't report the final drive ratio.

These Hyundais would make good candidates on the second hand market in a few years.

I have been disappointed in the mileage of my wife's 2012 Kia Sorento with the 2.4 DI engine and the 6 speed auto trans. It is rated at 32 highway, which is remarkable for a 3800 pound SUV. I have seen 35 on the mileage inidcator but it is always about 2.5 MPG below the instrunmented mileage in acutal fill ups. Compared to my Fiesta that is rated at 38 highway, which I have averaged 45 MPG in since I got it 7k miles ago.

If you look at fuelly, the Kia and Hyundai cars do not easily beat their highway ratings. I think their EPA figures are somewhat fudged and before I buy another one I will rent one and see what it will do with me driving.

regards
Mech