Low MPG on new 2012 Titanium Hatch

[Tra1969]

Really, That is what I should expect from this car. I have a fellow employee with a 2012 SE with 17" rim, pretty much the same as mine with out the MFT and some bells and whistles, and she gets 42 to 44 mpg's at 70 mph. I had a 2011 Ford Fiesta I got 42 with at 75-80 mph in colder weather going to the UP in Michigan. So why do some Focus have no issues getting 32 in city and 42 on highway and other can't even climb out of the 32's + no matter what. I've had this issue all summer too. The results are the same with in a few mpg's not 10 MPG.

[suss6052]

Do you have evidence other than their verbal claims to get 42-44 mpg at 70 mph?

I can see 42+ at a steady state 65 mph easily, but that extra 5 miles per hour adds a lot more to the aerodynamic drag forces and speeds the engine up from 2400 rpm at 65 to at or over 2600 rpm at 70 mph.

Again if you were so satisfied with the Fiesta why trade it in after only a year or so for the Focus?

[jdubhack]

Originally Posted by Tra1969

Really, That is what I should expect from this car. I have a fellow employee with a 2012 SE with 17" rim, pretty much the same as mine with out the MFT and some bells and whistles, and she gets 42 to 44 mpg's at 70 mph. I had a 2011 Ford Fiesta I got 42 with at 75-80 mph in colder weather going to the UP in Michigan. So why do some Focus have no issues getting 32 in city and 42 on highway and other can't even climb out of the 32's + no matter what. I've had this issue all summer too. The results are the same with in a few mpg's not 10 MPG.

Remember...EPA ESTIMATES. Capitalized for emphasis.

This MPG discussion is fruitless because of all the factors that go into MPG per car.

If you're not happy, that's one thing, but that doesn't equal that your car is bad or not getting what it's supposed too.

[kam327]

Originally Posted by Tra1969

I have a fellow employee with a 2012 SE with 17" rim, pretty much the same as mine with out the MFT and some bells and whistles, and she gets 42 to 44 mpg's at 70 mph.

No way, my own testing and experience is 37-38 mpg at 70 mph with light wind and little elevation change. Popular Mechanics reported only 33mpg on a 70 mph trip, compared to the Elantra's 39mpg. And that was with the SFE package.

[Tra1969]

The little bit of extra room and some of the better stuff that came with it and the sporty look. I only did so after seeing the 2012 window sticker was only one or two MPG less then the Fiesta's window sticker was in 2011. To be totally honest with you, I drove the fiesta like a go-cart. I expected a drop in fuel mileage, just not this much. Looking a Fueleconomy.gov I don't understand why half the cars perform well and half perform poor. Seems like with the cruse control on with similar cars the results should be similar with in a few MPG's, not ten MPG. If I got 38 mpg on the highway I would have a celebration. Remember Min. speed on Michigan interstates is 55 MPH and you would be ran over at that speed. I heard the new escape's are getting my mileage and are AWD and bigger. This just frustrates me. I 'll Just wait to see if the dealer finds something out. Probably won't find anything, but at least they and I tried. And They also gave me a loaner a while back and for two days, Computer said it was getting better mileage they my car, but I didn't have it long enough to really see if it stayed like that.

Thanks for the input. I will have to look at my rpm's the next time I'm on the highway to see what they are, so at 70 mph I should be around 2600 on the tac.

[jamesy628]

I have had my SEL for a month now and do about 60/40 City/Highway driving and am not getting over 25 mpg. Prior to adding highwaymiles in, I was getting 15 mpg with 100% city driving.

Is there something wrong that I should bring up with my dealer? Is it just because I am in constant stop and go or because it is winter?

What gives?

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by kam327

Popular Mechanics reported only 33mpg on a 70 mph trip, compared to the Elantra's 39mpg. And that was with the SFE package.

Christ! Not that it matters, Fuelly has the 2012 Elantras at 30mpg average - which is even less than the 2012 Focus average. I'd hold out on the 2013 numbers because it's winter and they're still breaking in - plus it includes the STs.

[kam327]

Originally Posted by PratoN

Christ! Not that it matters, Fuelly has the 2012 Elantras at 30mpg average - which is even less than the 2012 Focus average. I'd hold out on the 2013 numbers because it's winter and they're still breaking in - plus it includes the STs.

Yeah such a disparity doesn't make sense, given all the other data out there which show the 2 cars much closer.

Consumer Reports shows 43 mpg in their highway testing of both an SFE and SE Sedan, but then they show 39 mpg for a SE hatchback they tested. Problem with them is they don't explain the test conditions, most importantly speed.

[PratoN]

Originally Posted by kam327

Problem with them is they don't explain the test conditions, most importantly speed.

Yup... one time I had 48mpg at about 65mph right after I put on my LRR winter tires with my aero hubcaps. I was so happy - then realized there was a 15mph tailwind. But I'm still averaging 37mpg, so I can't complain.

[dan50]

Originally Posted by jamesy628

I have had my SEL for a month now and do about 60/40 City/Highway driving and am not getting over 25 mpg. Prior to adding highwaymiles in, I was getting 15 mpg with 100% city driving.

Is there something wrong that I should bring up with my dealer? Is it just because I am in constant stop and go or because it is winter?

What gives?

Driving conditions, driving style, temperature, terrain, wind, winter gas all make a huge difference in fuel economy. Try this: get to a reasonably level highway where you can hold a constant speed for a fair distance. Set the cruise control at 60 moh and reset the mpg part of the trip computer. After 5 miles or so you should show average mpg in the high 30s. If so, your car is in all likelihood fine; your disappointing mpg is because of your driving conditions or style.

Unless you have a sticking brake or grossly under inflated tires, there are a very limited number of mpg harmful things that can be wrong without the car throwing a code.