Real World MPG Numbers

Cruise control 70-75mph into a headwind, below 50 degrees, low tire pressure, I'd say that was gen 3 average mpg's, the opposite of hyper-miling actually

 

This was just set (cruise control) and forget.

 

The MFD is off? or could you have got more gas in the first fill up? I don't know about that first click deal. This is still very good MPG.

 

I have been averaging low to mid 50's, overall, but will post something more definitive after my 3rd fillup -- I am at 1350 miles after 2 weeks.

The thing that I am noticing is that the gauge MPG is rather low for the first few miles.

On a good 42-mile commute I might end up with the guage showing 58 mpg by the time I arrive at my destination, but invariably it would be MUCH less if I turned off the highway earlier. Working from memory, it shows about 40 mpg after 8 to 10 miles of the route, and perhaps only 30 mpg for the 4 to 5 miles it takes me to get to the on ramp.

While I am delighted with what I am averaging overall (even if it does not approach krmcg's brilliant results) under different circumstances, my review could be way different. I would have thought the "city" mileage (if you can call metrowest Boston City) portion of my route would have been higher.

 

Are all these reported MPGs on 15 inch wheels? I would think so...

 

Mine are 17".

Still curious why Toyota states the mileage is identical for 15" vs 17" when conventional wisdom is the 15" is better.

Did they game the system?

 

Makes sense. The start and warm up are averaged over a shorter distance then.

 

In the winter also u might get lower mpgs in the city versus spring/fall

 

I have 17s on Michelin Premier A/S.
I am only averaging 50-55 MPG.

I can't seem to get any better than this.
Given these tires are non LRR tires

 

Tread width is also an inch (+/-) more than a 15" tire. 20% more rubber on the road.

 

I think at the previous fill up you also stopped at the first click? Then this tank is a good benchmark. And those are astoundingly good numbers.

The one thing that bugs me, at least if those numbers continue per above: looks like Toyota is still cooking the books: there's a nagging 7% optimism of displayed, comparing to calculated.

 

they don't test them. they use the same mpg for all the vehicles. of course, they've made an exception for the two eco.

 

this is the first we've seen/heard of gauge being higher than actual. one fill up won't tell the story. stopping at the first click doesn't guarantee stopping with the same amount of gas in the tank. more reporting will give us the answer.

 

^ There's that. Wayne Gerdes at cleanmpg found the dash displayed mpg was actually slightly low.

Knowing his hypermiling fanaticism, maybe the car just couldn't believe what it was seeing, lol.

 

I get what you are saying, but isn't it common wisdom than one of the reasons they omitted the spare tire from the 4 Touring was to save weight to keep the same MPGs as the other models?

That suggest the model is being tested along with the others.

Seems crazy that the 4 Touring (which only comes with 17" tires) can be marketed as having the exact same MPG as "the tested models" when it has not been tested at all.

 

the problem is, they test them in japan first. so they do all their funky weight/option shifting to get what they want over there. it's pretty complicated and from reading all the posts, i don't think anyone here really understands it, although some will claim they do.
then they come over here and do whatever the epa requires, which doesn't appear to be much. it's like doing your taxes, the proof is only if you get audited.
now the epa has come up with something new for 2016, but no one understands these new rules either.

 

The 3 touring (with 17" rims) does have a spare, tho.

 

Yes, but it lacks other features the the 4 Touring has, which presumably makes it lighter in weight.

 

There is a weight component to the EPA rules; being the same weight is the loop hole Ford used to have the same rating on the Fusion and C-max hybrids at first. The Carmy XLE and XSE hybrids have a separate rating. We assume it's because of the different tire sizes and Toyota not wanting disappointed customers getting lower than the LE rating in them, but perhaps they are simply heavier enough to require their own test.

Other markets are stricter on the testing and different wheels, but the EPA is not. Skipping the test on a model saves cash, so the car companies do it when they can.