EPA mileage ratings is bull? (Elantra vs Civic vs Corolla)

[night9]

I forgot to mention I run ~2100 rpm at 65mph. Pale what rpm does the fit run?

[LeanBurn]

The Canadian fuel consumption ratings and the US EPA are quite different for my Corolla. Just for highway...

Canada - 5.6L/100km highway, 50mpgImp, or 42mpgUS
USA - 6.7L/100km, ~42mpgImp or 35mpgUS

The city ratings have about the same kind of spread. That is quite a variance IMO. Of course I aim for the Canadian ratings as they are more challenging and I usually meet them occasionally beat them, but I have to drive with fuel economy in mind to do it. The US EPA ratings..I could match that driving like a hooligan. I can get those kind of numbers with the LeSabre.

In looking at some of the ratings for the same car from the UK, they more match the US EPA ratings. The testing must have some huge variances between the two countries. I don't completely understand what is happening.

The Mazda 3 is another car that has large differences, I am sure there are a lot more out there.

[night9]

Sorry off topic but if your sister is looking at cars...I like the new Mazda 3's. If I could go back and do my car purchase over I would definitely look at the new 2014 Mazda 3. Not to mention the Mitsubishi mirage. How can you pass up a new car priced at under $14,000. If the geo metro owners on here are any indication of what a 3 cylinder car can do mpg wise then this car should perform well in the real world.

[Flakbadger]

Originally Posted by ever_green

My sister recently decided to buy her first car. She is rather cheap when it comes to cars and therefore fuel efficiency, price and maintenance are all top priorities.

Buy her a gauge to go with her new vehicle, and make sure she buys something from Japan.

[MetroMPG]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Pick the right horse for the course.

Absolutely!

And unless she's doing the majority of her driving on the freeway, she should seriously consider getting a manual. Honda Fit manuals can do remarkably well in sub/urban driving. Pale can show that. Also see: http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...tml#post337338


(Note these results are from plain, vanilla driving techniques -- nothing you wouldn't encourage your mom to do. This Fit's owner in this case wasn't able to match the 41.2 MPG "demonstration" results very closely during the "coaching" lap, but most drivers could.)

Originally Posted by UltArc

The EPA runs the exact same test. So under the exact same conditions, it should show how they compare.

Remember, the EPA does not do the testing. They lay out testing rules, and the automakers are left to do the testing themselves and report the numbers to the EPA.

However, the EPA is focusing more on auditing what the OEM's report -- http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ims-27224.html .

[PaleMelanesian]

Originally Posted by night9

I forgot to mention I run ~2100 rpm at 65mph. Pale what rpm does the fit run?

2850 at 60, so ~3100 at 65. That's its big handicap on the highway.

[Flakbadger]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

2850 at 60, so ~3100 at 65. That's its big handicap on the highway.

Holy crap! I do like 2400 at 60, maybe 2550-2600 at 65. Is 5th just really short?

[night9]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

Absolutely true. The Elantra is a better highway car. Pick the right horse for the course.

Thanks Pale, just trying support you comment about right car for the right job. Highway vs urban driving. Thats some crazy high highway rpm. Not that I think she should buy an Elantra. I don't think it is suited for a Canadian winter.

[spacemanspif]

Originally Posted by PaleMelanesian

2850 at 60, so ~3100 at 65. That's its big handicap on the highway.

That is really low gearing...I know someone else who runs that RPM on the highway...my friend's Nova, with 4.10 rear and 3-spd, no overdrive lol.

I can't understand why they wouldn't build the car to be more "well rounded". I was considering the Fit as a car to look into if the Saturn ever dies but with my life being 90% highways, 3000rpm just won't do... Cross Fit off my list of options lol.

Metro: are you recommending an auto for a highway car? Care to explain why? I know autos are caught up to manuals when it comes to efficiency but I thought manuals still have the advantage?

Sorry for the thread hijack, like I said, I've been looking at cars just to start my homework early that way if I need to make a quick decision in the future I'll have more knowledge of the market

[PressEnter[]]

Originally Posted by night9

Not that I think she should buy an Elantra. I don't think it is suited for a Canadian winter.

Why's that? Hyundais are very popular up here. Three of my co-workers had or have Hyundais, and we do a lot of driving in snowy conditions.

And diesels will win the highway RPM test. I run about 2,000 RPM at 65 mph...until I shift into 6th