ALH MPG Check in

[kaizenveryfast]

Figured I would start one of these threads since Hybrid owners are almost non-existent here. I got my new 08 Hybrid last month, although I've been splitting the driving with my 240sx. Its a base model with cloth seats and no Nav. I currently drive 80 miles commute a day, so you can see why I would try the Hybrid. After the second tank I hit 34.8 mpg. I put 16 gallons in the tank, so I'm sure the car will go 600 miles on 1 tank.

My driving each way consists of about 25 miles of freeway driving 80 mph and 15 miles of stop & go traffic jam. One thing I wish it would do is not be so eager to kick in the gas engine. I can get the car in EV mode up to 40 mph, but if you are accelterating from a stop, it definitely wants to kick in the gas engine with any more than the slightest touch of the pedal. I would be happier if it would move itself on the electric motor only until you gave it half or more throttle.

While not 100% perfect, I've gained 10 mpg over my other car, and I'm driving a functional, good looking sedan without looking like a cheese wedge in the process.

So, post your best MPG, or other stories.

[cbolitho]

I first stepped into my 08 Hybrid 4 days ago and after one and a half days or so of, what I call "regular driving", and the rest of the time driving "gas consciously" the meter on the car is displaying just over 25 MPG. I haven't even gone through a full tank to figure it out manually yet but I sure hope it ends up being a bit better than that.

Has anybody else experienced the same thing, or is it just too early for me to be concerned?

I want to get the 33-40 like the other posters are quoting.

[kaizenveryfast]

Next time you fill up, clear the information on the display to reset everything back to zero. Then do your regular driving routine, this will give you the most accurate reading from the display. I did find that my display gave a constant 35.2 mpg but after a filling up and checking the trip meter I got 34.8.

[cbolitho]

Yeah, I was going to do that...the dealership reset everything right before they gave it to me (only had 10 miles when they handed over the keys). But I am just concerned with showing 25 when it should be around 35, that is a big difference (and the reason I chose a Hybrid over the regular Altima)

Oh well, I guess only time will tell.

What kind of mods do you plan on doing? It's hard to find anything engine related that is designed to fit on the Hybrid model. Maybe manufacturers will start making more parts for them soon as they become more popular.I was thinking about running a new exaust (and increasing HP and MPG) but I don't know if the Hybrid exaust is special in anyway, and therefore can't use the exaust system from Stillen.

[banshee08]

My first gas up yeilded 35.4 MPG (587 miles for 16.57 gallons). I am still on my second tank but the display is telling me 36.2 MPG right now. I drive pretty conservatively now as I am breaking in the car and I usually drive 90% highway with no traffic anyways. I am saving about 17 MPG over my q45 and am very happy with the car.

I too wish the system did not kick start the gas engine so soon. It takes practice to be able to get the car to 35mph in EV mode. Hope they can do software update to change this or give us a EV Mode only switch similar to the current prius and highlander hybrids.

[cbolitho]

I am also breaking in the engine and so that is why the low MPG. I never keep the engine at the same rpm speed which usually equates to lower MPG (due to the heavy on or off the pedal), i figured driving conservatively doesn't typically do well for breaking in the engine.

[Jinxzer]

Hi all!

I've owned my 2007 Altima Hybrid since the beginning of this year. When I first got it I drove like an old man. Never took it over the speek limit and made sure to use the EV mode as much as I possibly could. I was easily getting 700 mi to the tank without the needle being on E. This of course was mostly highway driving.

Surprisingly when I do more city driving I get way less gas mileage when technically it should be more. Even If I drive it as moderately as you possibly can without getting too many finger flybys I get better overall gas mileage off the freeway. Which btw if you coast it just right at 80mph you can get 40mpg so long as nobody makes you slow down or have to speed up.

Anyhow, I have 33k miles on this car now and haven't reset my avg MPG since I got it. It's avg is 32.9 mpg and let me tell you, I'm far from driving it anywhere near moderately. With the way I drive it now I get 600 mi a tank if I push it to E. On avg 525 - 550 mi per tank. After I found out the power of this car, I find it very hard to drive it moderatley anymore.

Keep in mind there is a learning curve for the system that is about 3 months worth of driving. My suggestion is baby it for those 3 months becuase that will determine how effecient the system is in the future.

I did however swap out the stock filter with an K&N. No noticeable gas difference, can't really prove any performance gain, but I have beaten a few other Altima hybrids from stop. Not sure it's worth trying to replace the airbox with an aftermarket shortram because nissan already has a big diameter tube to the airbox which is basically a stock CAI. Replacing it with a shortram may increase airflow slightly due to the cone airfilter, but at the same time, sucking in hotter air.

cbolitho - 25mpg is not good. Only thing I can think of is you drive short distances? Hybrid cars do not help people who drive short distances as the hybrid system does not work effeciently when you first start it up. It needs to warm up before it works effeciently and if you only drive a few miles < than 10, your not going to get very good results. Either that or you do a lot of city driving? The worst I've ever gotten was 450 mi to tank and that was due to driving in the city the whole time. The engine just starts and stops to much due to the super sensitive sensor when pushing on the pedal. And driving too long in the city in a day runs your batter down which means using your gas engine more to keep charging it. Because you can't get enough breaking friction or coasting friction to charge it that way while in the city. Temperature also plays a role with your MPG. Cold = bad under 65. Warm = good 65 - 90, hot 100 degrees plus = bad. The extreme heat kills your battery faster and when its too hot the charging system will not fully charge. If any of you live where it gets above 100, watch your charge meter as you break or coast you'll notice it will barely drop even with full braking.

Keep in mind these are just from my experiences from driving the car 33k miles. Oh and I also live up in the hills.

The only thing I hate about the car is its aerodynamics and the hood. When you open the windows @ 65 mph its like a super loud vacuum. And the hood vibrates like its loose which annoys me cuz it looks cheap. Not that anybody else can see it but me or my passanger.

[cbolitho]

Jinxzer, That is right, I typically drive less than 10 mi at a time and I drive about 90% city so that must be why. Temperature is not an issue here in so cal, doesn't get cold and rarely gets above 100.

I am going to reset after my 1st fill up, it looks as though I will be getting about 500 miles out of my first tank.

[victore1123]

I got my hybrid in December of 07, and my average mpg can range anywhere from 25-39. It all depends on how I drive (aggressive vs. conservative). The hybrid system does have an adaptive learning curve which takes a while to get used to. I've noticed when I drive conservatively for a period of time, EV mode will kick in much sooner and remain in the 'sweet-spot' for much longer than when I drive more aggressive for a period and let off. It seems to take a few trips to 'relearn'...

Has anyone noticed their regenerative-charging instrument gauge needle not dipping all the way down during braking on occasion. I don't know if it's a glitch in the system or just my car. The hybrid batteries stay relatively charged so I'm not too concerned, but it seems odd that the regenerative system appears to not be working optimally.

[banshee08]

I got my hybrid in December of 07, and my average mpg can range anywhere from 25-39. It all depends on how I drive (aggressive vs. conservative). The hybrid system does have an adaptive learning curve which takes a while to get used to. I've noticed when I drive conservatively for a period of time, EV mode will kick in much sooner and remain in the 'sweet-spot' for much longer than when I drive more aggressive for a period and let off. It seems to take a few trips to 'relearn'...

Has anyone noticed their regenerative-charging instrument gauge needle not dipping all the way down during braking on occasion. I don't know if it's a glitch in the system or just my car. The hybrid batteries stay relatively charged so I'm not too concerned, but it seems odd that the regenerative system appears to not be working optimally.

I just notice that the regenerative system not dipping all the way down today for me and I think it has to do with battery temperature. It has been about 108F for that last 2 days here in LA and I notice my braking meter is not dipping also. But once I get on the Highway and enough cooling is going into the battery then it starts working again. Not sure if this is the same thing you are experiencing.

[victore1123]

hmmm.... I've had it happen while it's both hot and cool. At least now I know it's not just my car.

[victore1123]

banshee,

I think you're probably right. After posting the same issue on a different forum, the replies were also about the battery temp. I drove around with the a/c full blast to keep the batteries cooler, and the regen braking was working normal.

Thanks again...

[kaizenveryfast]

You both must have the energy monitor. I've used it on other Altima Hybrids before, however mine does not have it. I only can see when the vehicle is in EV mode on the instrument cluster display.

BTW, a Sales Manager at a Nissan dealer told me one of his technicians has an Altima Hybrid and he is up to 42 mpg. He is only driving in the city though, and is very easy on the throttle to keep it in EV mode as much as possible. Lately for me the freeways have been more open, and I've actually seen a slight mpg drop. I never would have thought being stuck in traffic would have any advantages!

[Wormwudd]

Hey guys,I just bought a USED 2007 NAH. It had 2500 miles on it and I got it for 20,500, which I thought was a steal. Anyways, I drive 40 miles each way to and from work (80 miles per day), 100% highway (luckily my job is right off the highway), every day for the past 3 months and I have been getting great gas mileage. Was up to 36.5 mpg but I was also driving like a old man: lots of coasting, cruise control as often as possible, never going faster than 65 mph, etc. It adds about 10 minutes onto my drive to and from work but its worth the little extra money I save. However, I did drive to Montreal, QC this past weekend and was driving very aggressively: average 80 mph, quick starts and stops, three people in the vehicle instead of the usual one, etc. I was driving aggressive because I wanted to see the difference between conservative and aggressive driving. Needless to say there was a difference, but not very much. By the end of the 600 mile trip I still had a quarter of a tank left and was averaging 35.2 mpg. I think the biggest thing that I've learned so far with driving an NAH is that you need to use the cruise control as often as possible. Keeping those RPM's consistent is the key to better gas mileage. The car doesn't like jumping up and down from slow to fast and vice versa. So far I love the car!!! Better then my 2002 Tacoma I had 3 months ago thats for sure.....