Honda Fit Fuel Economy :'(

[KnifeEdge_2K1]

Have about 800kms on the car and so far the fuel economy is nowhere near the rated figure. Got 11.25 km/L on the first 270km, the 2nd 100km was the worse 7.69 km/L and just made a 400km trip with it getting around 14km/L.
It's rated at 12.8km/L city and 17.9km/L highway.

Hopefully it gets a bit better once i pass the 1000km mark ...

Any other fit owners experience nething like this ??

Mine's the LX model btw. American equivilant would be base model equipped with A/C, and power window/locks.

[Quiggs]

EPA (and whatever their Canadian equivalent) ratings are rarely accurate to real world situations.

But yes, typically engines get better economy after a few thousand miles. Give it some time.

[Slicks]

what RPM are you switching at? Are you blasting the A/C?

[Egg Nog]

When you had your Corolla (another car known for extremely good milage) you also posted threads about getting fuel economy far worse than the rated number.

So basically, if you want to acheive very low numbers like the ratings, change the way you drive. Either that or somehow randomly two notedly reliable and economical cars just happen to be gas hogs when you own them ;)

[my porsche]

EPA ratings are stupid. I read an article in C&D about how they acheive those numbers, they do 45mph for the highway mpg, accelerating to that unrealistic figure in an unrealistic amount of time (30secs or something) and like 15mph for city MPG rating...so if you thought that's what you were going to get...you're sorely mistaken :D

[Niko_Fx]

My Civic gets almost the same mpg as its EPA rating when shifting at low rpms.

[KnifeEdge_2K1]

what RPM are you switching at? Are you blasting the A/C?

moderate use of A/C

funny cuz the first 270 km's i used a/c pretty liberally and decided to back off a bit next time ... but the 100kms after that were even worse without a/c on ... and i was driving like i stole it for the first 270kms as well, backing off on the 100km trip afterwards ...

[KnifeEdge_2K1]

When you had your Corolla (another car known for extremely good milage) you also posted threads about getting fuel economy far worse than the rated number.

So basically, if you want to acheive very low numbers like the ratings, change the way you drive. Either that or somehow randomly two notedly reliable and economical cars just happen to be gas hogs when you own them ;)

i figured out what was happening in the corolla, it's cuz i was measuring mileage for extremely short trips <2km, and it was during winter which is bad for fuel economy as well

when i took it into london earlier this year i got an amazing 5L/100km

the same trip with the fit used about 1/3rd of the tank (41 litres) which translates to about 6-7L/100km

[KnifeEdge_2K1]

as for the way i drive, i'm still not quite sure as to how you should drive to get best fuel efficiency

the most common theory is drive like there's an egg under the throttle but ive heard that hard acceleration with early shift points up to cruising speed is best since it removes the throttle plate obstruction during accelleration, effectively wasting less energy due to pumping loss

as i dont have a manual i cant really determine shift points on my own, was wondering if anyone has had some real life experience with these 2 methods and what the results were

[coolieman1220]

they can be wrong because my G35 just got 25 MPG, 310 Miles, 12.9 Gallons of gas. it was driven hard too. all highway, A/C on at times, window down at times. Some over taking where the car would hit 6,000 RPM, doing 70-85 MPH, 2500-3000 RPM in fifth gear. thats really good mileage. for a 3.5 V6 that was driven hard.

[kingofthering]

shit. i actually told my friend's mother to buy one instead of a prius.

[The_Canuck]

shit. i actually told my friend's mother to buy one instead of a prius.
I would too.

[NSXType-R]

The EPA fuel mileages are barely ever accurate. it's off by at least 40% because of outdated standards. The Fit's a good car and few cars can beat its mileage, besides diesels or hybrids. Like other members said, break it in and its mileage will probably increase. Remember to jettison all uneeded cargo, keep tires properly inflated, and no open air cruising at top speeds.

[pimento]

Are the EPA figures based on the CVT? Given they're usually set up around fuel saving and it seems you have a manual, that could make a difference also.

[Gtek-i]

Is your Fit manual or auto? If it is manual, stop revving the engine so high, it is auto, how fast do you drive anyway?:p And stop blasting your A/C...

[KnifeEdge_2K1]

Is your Fit manual or auto? If it is manual, stop revving the engine so high, it is auto, how fast do you drive anyway?:p And stop blasting your A/C...
it's an auto, hvn't blasted the a/c in a bit, using it sparingly now

and not that fast ... :rolleyes:

like 120kph cruising on freeway, with bursts up to 140kph and back just to prevent the engine from turning over at a constant rpm

i was drafting trucks and stuff the entire way so i thought that would offset the extra fuel used for the bursts of acceleration

btw i just filled up the tank

446.4 km with 28.8 L of gas

that works out to 15.5 km/L or 6.45L/100km
off from the 17.857km/L or 5.6L/100km rated figure

considering the fact it's still pretty new and how i'm expecting quite a bit from the diminuitive engine the figure is pretty good. what's worrying me is how i got 13L/100km last week in city driving, i wasnt driving particularly fast or making short trips which would have messed with the fuel economy

[fpv_gtho]

Wheels Magazine drove one from Sydney-Melbourne awhile ago, and IIRC the economy figures they got back were something like 4-5L/100km

[jcp123]

I got better fuel economy in my Bronco than the EPA rated it for, and that was on a somewhat tired engine with 120k miles on it already. How? It's all about your driving style, and letting the engine break in thoroughly will help too. Wait till you have 15k KM's on it, it should get a little better on its own, too.

[Egg Nog]

like 120kph cruising on freeway, with bursts up to 140kph and back just to prevent the engine from turning over at a constant rpm

Well that's it right there. Most newer cars get maximum fuel economy doing about 100km/h. That's about when the air drag starts taking a significant toll (for most passenger cars). 120km/h is substatially less efficient, and any bursts to 140km/h from an already high velocity obviously aren't going to help that.

Try driving at a constant lower speed, do the same test, and get back to us. Remember that the most important factor in highway milage is a constant efficient cruising speed, and the most important factor around town is is how efficiently you accelerate.

[KnifeEdge_2K1]

Well that's it right there. Most newer cars get maximum fuel economy doing about 100km/h. That's about when the air drag starts taking a significant toll (for most passenger cars). 120km/h is substatially less efficient, and any bursts to 140km/h from an already high velocity obviously aren't going to help that.

Try driving at a constant lower speed, do the same test, and get back to us. Remember that the most important factor in highway milage is a constant efficient cruising speed, and the most important factor around town is is how efficiently you accelerate.

ill try that, but going 100kph on the 401 is pretty hard, 120 is what most cars cruise at

the same trip with same driving style in the 01 corolla produces 5L/100km so i was expecting more or less the same with the fit

[Egg Nog]

ill try that, but going 100kph on the 401 is pretty hard, 120 is what most cars cruise at

the same trip with same driving style in the 01 corolla produces 5L/100km so i was expecting more or less the same with the fit

I don't see how it's difficult to drive 100km/h rather than 120km/h. It's called the slow lane, people will pass you. :) Try 110km/h. That's what got the best cruising efficiency in my old 944.

Let me know how it goes, I'm interested to know exactly how much of a difference it will make.

[Coventrysucks]

shit. i actually told my friend's mother to buy one instead of a prius.

What makes you think that the Prius' quoted fuel economy is any more accurate?

[KnifeEdge_2K1]

I don't see how it's difficult to drive 100km/h rather than 120km/h. It's called the slow lane, people will pass you. :) Try 110km/h. That's what got the best cruising efficiency in my old 944.

Let me know how it goes, I'm interested to know exactly how much of a difference it will make.

ill give it a shot, goin in on friday so ill be reporting in pretty soon, hopefully this time mileage improves, thanks for all the input and support guys

[KnifeEdge_2K1]

woo hoo 37mpg for the trip
around 120 miles was city, 250 highway

[Egg Nog]

woo hoo 37mpg for the trip
around 120 miles was city, 250 highway

Sweet :D

[NSXType-R]

Are the EPA figures based on the CVT? Given they're usually set up around fuel saving and it seems you have a manual, that could make a difference also.

The Fit doesn't have a CVT. The Versa does.

[PerfAdv]

woo hoo 37mpg for the trip
around 120 miles was city, 250 highway
It's brand new, right? Once it's properly broken in the mileage figures will improve. The Fit should easily better 40 MPG on such a trip.

[KnifeEdge_2K1]

It's brand new, right? Once it's properly broken in the mileage figures will improve. The Fit should easily better 40 MPG on such a trip.

i'm using US gallons not imperial

the city driving really lowered the mileage

highway's rated at 42 but city's only 30

[PerfAdv]

i'm using US gallons not imperial

the city driving really lowered the mileage

highway's rated at 42 but city's only 30
The car gets 42 for HWY so aerodynamics aren't the issue, revs are. In the city if you can keep revs below 4K, you could probably better 30.