Topic: Real World Fuel Economy Web-site..

[rrocket]

Yea.....I think, ultimately, you'll be splitting hairs for fuel economy on a cute ute.  BUT..the Forester is better equipped to handle the worst conditions..so at this point..the Forester is at the top of our list.

[johngenx]

Yea, I have.  Looks like most Foresters are in the 9's...

I usually get 9.5-10.5 depending on traffic conditions in city driving.  My worst tank of all time was a couple winters ago during a -30C cold snap where we also got a 50cm dump of snow Sunday night and spent the better part of a week sitting in traffic.  My 30 min commute was 90min each way for the week and I saw 15L/100km.  Ouch!!

Best city tanks are 9.0, worst are 11.  Most 10.

[rrocket]

What about highway?  Steady highway?

[johngenx]

What about highway?  Steady highway?

In the mountains, it suffers on the steep hills and I don't see much improvement.  Usually 8.5-9.0.  For some reason, the Corolla doesn't get hurt by the mountain passes the way the Forester does.  However, on the prairie, the Forester usually close to 8.0 at 100-110.  Go 120 or more, and that upright windscreen sucks gas and we're back in the 9's.

In the spring in BC, thanks to lots of 90 limited highways, we saw 7.5 or so.

The best ever highway tank in the Corolla (4.eight) was on 90km/h mountain roads with tons of up/down.  Must have much lower rolling resistance, allowing it to take more advantage of the downhills compared to the Forester.  On the same stretch, the Subaru barely broke 9.0...

[rrocket]

It's odd thought.  The Impreza Outback, the Subaru Legacy Sedan or Outback all seem to get the same mileage.  Why is that?

[johngenx]

It's odd thought.  The Impreza Outback, the Subaru Legacy Sedan or Outback all seem to get the same mileage.  Why is that?

Same 2.5L driveline exactly.  All our 2.5L cars have been pretty much the same.  The Forester is lighter than our OBW, but the OBW offset that on the highway with better aerodynamics.

Also, AT and MT versions seem to get the exact same mileage.

[PMREdmonton]

Another website I have found useful is fueleconomy.org which spits out the adjusted EPA ratings of cars (data output in mpg or L/100kms).

Yea..but what find about that web-site is it doesn't accurately reflect real-world use.  For example, in my Echo, I regularly get significantly more MPG than the web-site. EPA rates it at 37 MPG (6.35 L/100km) vs. my 45 MPG+ (low 5 to high 4's L/100km).  A very significant difference....But a god site to get baselines...

There is a feature where you can enter in your fuel economy for your car.  They then give the range for all the people who have reported.  You can see that for some vehicles there can be quite a difference - some of that probably due to hwy/city split, but a large part also likely due to driving habits.

I also honestly think some cars/car manufacturers real-world fuel economy is better than EPA and some are worse.  I know some people believe Toyota/Honda regularly get better than listed fuel economy.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

I've only seen a couple bloated figures.....FWIW, most of the Outbacks average is about 24-25 US MPG (9.5L/100km or so).

Is that about what you're getting??

City driving is pretty consistent at ~9.2 (~30 Imp mpg). I've made a few trips to Moncton and have been getting in the low 7's (~39 Imp mpg). (100kms/hr on the "old road")

I drive the way I always have, and usually have the display switched to exterior temperature. I check the mileage only occasionally.

[johngenx]

I've made a few trips to Moncton and have been getting in the low 7's (~39 Imp mpg). (100kms/hr on the "old road")

That's really impressive for the 2.5L.  Subaru must have improved the engine management system over time.

[rrocket]

I think the best MPG of any AWD car we've looked it so far has been a 1998 Eagle Talon TSi turbo...

[johngenx]

I think the best MPG of any AWD car we've looked it so far has been a 1998 Eagle Talon TSi turbo...

I know a fellow with a very clean 1995 AWD Turbo Talon for sale.  160K, one owner, $6500.  Big money for a 14 year old econo-based car, but they are amazing.  Tempting to pick it up...

[rrocket]

That's the thing...how is it possible that a 14 year old car..turbocharged with 200+ HP...gets better fuel mileage than just about ANY modern car with AWD?  Makes no sense...