Hyundai/Kia caught over stating mileage

[fielderLS3]

This story is no surprise in the car world for anyone who's been paying attention. Motor Trend, Car and Driver, Popular Mechanics....all have done comparison tests of all the "40 MPG" cars, and the Hyundais in every comparison were about 5 MPG short of all the other cars with the same rating.

I suspect it's not over for Hyundai, either. Another of their claims that is fishy is the 274 hp rating of their 2.0 Turbo engine, which consistently turns in the performances numbers of a 200hp engine at best every time it is tested. A year ago, a Camry hybrid outran a 2.0T Sonota in a large comparison test (and, ironically, the non-hybrid Sonota got better observed fuel economy than the non-hybrid Sonota in the same test).

[DaBears]

I think when we start seeing these 9 speed transmission it will help a lot.

[fielderLS3]

Originally Posted by DaBears

I would rather a company underestimate by one or two mpg and surprise people when they do better than advertised.

It all depends on how you drive as much as what you drive. I have never driven a car that I didn't get better mileage out of than the EPA rating. My Alero has a 28 rating, and I consistently get mid to upper 30s every time. I've even managed 30 with my 5.0 a few times.

[DaBears]

In my opinion there is one company who is willing to sacrifice power in favor of MPG. That company I Subaru. A lots offers their cars are only 150hp and still get great MPG even being AWD

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by fielderLS3

It all depends on how you drive as much as what you drive. I have never driven a car that I didn't get better mileage out of than the EPA rating. My Alero has a 28 rating, and I consistently get mid to upper 30s every time. I've even managed 30 with my 5.0 a few times.

Same thing with my Grand Am. I think I average 36.5 mpg while in Indy during the Fest this summer. And that was a mix of highway, country, and aggressive city driving.

[derklug]

Fuel economy is getting down to the point where people will have to start accepting some reduced driveability. Start/stop motors that shutdown when not in motion, poorer acceleration, smaller a/c systems, and lighter smaller cars. Automakers will not be able to meet the higher CAFE standards after 2015 without a generous mix of hybrids and all electrics. And as far as diesels go, the EPA is doing their level best to make them too expensive for passenger car use.

[archtaan]

Originally Posted by Mr Twisty

Something I don't understand..... I had a 1981 VW pickup that HONESTLY would get 40+mpg easily with that sweet little 4cyl diesel engine. Dad would get much better than that with his Jetta diesel... That was 30 years ago.

I know big brother has his thumb on auto makers, but it seems like we're going backwards.

Full disclosure... it did 0-60 in 7 minutes, but still... what's wrong with this picture?

I am guessing that 2100 pound curb weight didnt hurt that little VW either.

[Stew]

Originally Posted by oklapike

I can't help but wonder if/when we'll see similar news come out about the new Altima.

From what i have seen the Altima has no problem matching or bettering it's numbers for fuel economy.

[KMPrenger]

Not to mention that highway speeds have picked up. Some roads today that are 70MPH might have been 55 or 60 years ago. If we were all driving 10 - 15 mph slower than average today the mileage of most vehicles would soar.

[RiCorvette]

Nash Metropolitan owner's I meet at car shows tell me they get 40+
It's always been doable with the right PWR (pun intended).

So, the Koreans aren't smarter engineers, just better at promulgating fiction.

[drummer5679]

Originally Posted by derklug

Fuel economy is getting down to the point where people will have to start accepting some reduced driveability. Start/stop motors that shutdown when not in motion, poorer acceleration, smaller a/c systems, and lighter smaller cars. Automakers will not be able to meet the higher CAFE standards after 2015 without a generous mix of hybrids and all electrics. And as far as diesels go, the EPA is doing their level best to make them too expensive for passenger car use.

I cant wait for everyone else to do this thus driving down the demand for gas thus lowering prices thus enabling me to drive gas guzzling v8's at 6000 rpm everywhere I go at $1.50/gallon.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by drummer5679

I cant wait for everyone else to do this thus driving down the demand for gas thus lowering prices thus enabling me to drive gas guzzling v8's at 6000 rpm everywhere I go at $1.50/gallon.

That would be nice, but its not going to happen. Any reduced demand for gasoline caused by CAFE in the United States is going to be more than offset by increased demand in the rest of the world.

[trademaster]

I doubt we will ever see $1.50/gal gasoline again in the US. We would have to see a massive decrease in demand coincide with a substantial increase in supply AND strengthening of the USD.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Good they caught this....never liked their cars much...and I don't like cheaters.

Originally Posted by DGthe3

That would be nice, but its not going to happen. Any reduced demand for gasoline caused by CAFE in the United States is going to be more than offset by increased demand in the rest of the world.

That...and our own vices...

Correct me if I'm wrong....but in the 80s and 90s...when the first CAFE law started producing real results....did American's not choose to go out and buy enormous gas-guzzling trucks and SUVs for 2-person families simply because they could? Did US fuel consumption not continue to rise despite cars becoming more efficient...because people just drove more?!

Honestly, I think CAFE is a pure attempt at something worthwhile...but the entire concept is flawed in believing Americans truly care about fuel economy. All we want is cheap gas and big fuel tanks to put it in.