MPG with 7 speed transmission

[Jason Tucker]

Did a search the site to see if there was another post about this...couldn't find one.

I have the 2010 AWD Journey (five speed) and am really happy and sometimes surprised at the decent milage I get considering the performance underneath my right foot.

I do lots of highway miles with this company car and smile when I load up the tank and get right back on the interstate and see 200 miles later my computer says I'm getting 25.7 mpg...nice weather, not below zero or nasty head winds.

Anyway...the simple question is how much better mileage does the 7 speed transmission get? At 72 mph me not in a hurry highway speed I am doing like 2300-2400 rpm...what's a 7 speed transmission doing?

Any stories to share out there?

[AWGD8]

From my understanding the 6th and 7th gear are over drive (Tall gears). I would say at 2,300-2,400 RPM @ 72MPH cruising will be around 24-25 MPG
Your 5th gear possibly your direct drive gear or 1:1 ratio and 1st-2nd-3rd-4th are pretty much very close gearing ratio for better low to mid range acceleration.

I would assume that 3rd gear pulls hard during acceleration (My experience with G37)

[XIS]

How about a reply from someone with a 7 speed for actual numbers?

[minimo3]

The 7-speed's overdrive probably only helps in highway driving. In suburban driving the computer shows 17.1mpg and my manual calculations indicate 15.5mpg. I haven't had a chance to do a sustained highway run yet.

[Jason Tucker]

I'm just looking for the highway cruising mileage only. The mileage for stop and go driving I'm sure varies greatly from driver to driver based upon how hard you get on the gas vs. the gear ratio between a five speed or seven speed...I can control the rpms it shifts at by how hard I mash it.

[XIS]

I thought I read somewhere that the gear ratio for 7th gear is the same as 5th gear on the 5 speeds...

[ihad1]

I have the 7 speed. I do not remember the RPM's, but I will look this weekend. I do mostly highway driving and I am averaging 25mpg on summer gas / 24mpg on winter gas. I would look up the ratios, but I never got an owner's manual (despite many promises and apologies from the dealer).

[AWGD8]

7 speed:


  Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drive  
  Transmission: 7  
  Trans Description Cont.: Automatic w/OD  
  First Gear Ratio (:1): 4.92  
  Second Gear Ratio (:1): 3.19  
  Third Gear Ratio (:1): 2.04  
  Fourth Gear Ratio (:1): 1.41  
  Fifth Gear Ratio (:1): 1.00  
  Sixth Gear Ratio (:1): 0.86  
  Reverse Ratio (:1): 3.97  
  Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1): 3.13  
  Seventh Gear Ratio (:1): 0.77  

5 speed:


Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drive
Trans Type: 5
Trans Description Cont.: Automatic w/OD
First Gear Ratio (:1): 3.84
Second Gear Ratio (:1): 2.35
Third Gear Ratio (:1): 1.53
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1): 1.00
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1): 0.84
Reverse Ratio (:1): 2.76
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1): 3.69

[AWGD8]

I assume it is the same gearing for the AWD 5 and 7 speed transmission....

[dbobex35]

Recently purchased a 2012 EX35 Journey on March 21st. 2k miles so far....mpg... city 20 mpg for an 8.3 mile commute...... 28 highway mpg at 75 mph with (a/c) on a 1,000 trip from NC to PA. Hope that helps.

[Jason Tucker]

Thanks dbobex....rear wheel drive right?

[atlanta11]

We have a 2011 rear wheel drive journey that my wife drives 95% of the time. She does mostly short distance runs of 5 miles or less and is averaging around 17. On highway trips, we averaged 24 mpg

[Jason Tucker]

For what it's worth...six hour road trip yesterday for work...highway speed 72-74...got 26.5 mpg on all highway...with AWD. Never have done that before. Weather is a factor no doubt and I run Silver gas almost exclusively. No big head wind (really a factor I've noticed) and temps in the 60's so pretty ideal for kicking back and cruising.

As far as increased speed I can't tell as it was pretty much a kick in the pants before the chip was installed if you want to pass someone...you just do!

[dbobex35]

Jason Tucker, yes I purchased the EX35 Journey rear-wheel drive version specifically with MPG's in mind....no sense in hauling around all that extra mechanical bits, weight, friction pieces!

[XIS]

plus you get much quicker 0-60 accelleration and a tighter turning circle too!

[Jason Tucker]

Yeh...living here in snow country can suck in the winter. Considering where I have to drive this is my third AWD car and I have learned that this is the only kind I will EVER have. When you need it and have it is takes the stress out of the day.

I just shake my head when people complain about the gas mileage for this AWD 297 hp vehicle...I think it gets amazing highway mileage with this kind of performance. I am intririgued by the AWD Dodge Charger with the 292 hp engine and eight speed transmission. Suppose to get like 30 mpg on the highway...gonna check that one out for sure next year when this one gets replaced.

[meanie]

Did a search the site to see if there was another post about this...couldn't find one.

I have the 2010 AWD Journey (five speed) and am really happy and sometimes surprised at the decent milage I get considering the performance underneath my right foot.

I do lots of highway miles with this company car and smile when I load up the tank and get right back on the interstate and see 200 miles later my computer says I'm getting 25.7 mpg...nice weather, not below zero or nasty head winds.

Anyway...the simple question is how much better mileage does the 7 speed transmission get? At 72 mph me not in a hurry highway speed I am doing like 2300-2400 rpm...what's a 7 speed transmission doing?

Any stories to share out there?

I'm finishing my third month with a 2011 AWD. I can tell because Sirius goes dark on 5/1 without renewal. At 72 mph it is turning 2200 even, so not that different from the 5 AT. I am not sure the mileage is all that different either. With a mix of city, back road and highway driving in fairly even proportions I consistently get 20.x mpg regardless of how much I get on it ( have a moderate foot) according to the computer. Calculating by fill ups is a different story, and it is almost always 1 mpg less, for 19.x mpg. I'm not sure why and wonder if it has to do with the factory crossbars robbing 1 mpg that the computer curiously misses. I have the Deluxe Touring pack and it could be due to the 19 in wheels, but I would hope the computer would have been adjusted for them. I have tried using regular as well. This seems to mostly result in a little more lag when you hit it and the jury is out, but I think may cost .5 to 1 mpg. Haven't done it enough to be sure. At 1 mpg and 20 cents more a gallon it becomes a wash in terms of fuel economy. The car seems to like even speeds in the 40-75 mph range, and will turn in 26.5 (by computer) whether on back roads or highways if fairly level, without stops and without much acceleration. Cruise control helps with that on the highway, but the mileage drops rapidly when you start hitting stop lights, traffic, or begin accelerating. I must admit I am a little disappointed since I am coming from a 2010 G37 xS that routinely got 22 mpg. The G might have a slightly better drag coefficient, but only weighed about 100 lbs less, and had 30 more HP, yet got 2-3 better MPG. I expected this would be closer, or even the same since I drive the EX much less aggressively.

[Jason Tucker]

I'm finishing my third month with a 2011 AWD. I can tell because Sirius goes dark on 5/1 without renewal. At 72 mph it is turning 2200 even, so not that different from the 5 AT. I am not sure the mileage is all that different either. With a mix of city, back road and highway driving in fairly even proportions I consistently get 20.x mpg regardless of how much I get on it ( have a moderate foot) according to the computer. Calculating by fill ups is a different story, and it is almost always 1 mpg less, for 19.x mpg. I'm not sure why and wonder if it has to do with the factory crossbars robbing 1 mpg that the computer curiously misses. I have the Deluxe Touring pack and it could be due to the 19 in wheels, but I would hope the computer would have been adjusted for them. I have tried using regular as well. This seems to mostly result in a little more lag when you hit it and the jury is out, but I think may cost .5 to 1 mpg. Haven't done it enough to be sure. At 1 mpg and 20 cents more a gallon it becomes a wash in terms of fuel economy. The car seems to like even speeds in the 40-75 mph range, and will turn in 26.5 (by computer) whether on back roads or highways if fairly level, without stops and without much acceleration. Cruise control helps with that on the highway, but the mileage drops rapidly when you start hitting stop lights, traffic, or begin accelerating. I must admit I am a little disappointed since I am coming from a 2010 G37 xS that routinely got 22 mpg. The G might have a slightly better drag coefficient, but only weighed about 100 lbs less, and had 30 more HP, yet got 2-3 better MPG. I expected this would be closer, or even the same since I drive the EX much less aggressively.

Now that's what I'm talking about....thanks Meanie...it took a while but that info is exactly what I was looking for.