Real World Gas Mileage

[ggunners]

Just topped over 1300 miles on my Versa S with 6spd manual.

Day-to-day driving is mixed stop-and-go in the morning followed by highway miles on the trip home with the AC mostly on.

First couple of tanks were at about 29.5 MPG with mixed spirited acceleration and calm and sedate grandpa driving.

The last tank I switched to shifting much earlier at about 2200 RPM if on level or downhill. MPG went up to 31.8.

I've also found skipping 3rd and 5th gear to be a normal shift point for level and downhill with 5th gear used at 30 mph and 6th gear used at 40 mph.

The only time I have over 2500 RPM is when accelerating up hills or entering a fast highway.

I'm very pleased with my mileage.

-- ggunners

[Ever Victorious]

Tank 7 just went in this afternoon. 287 miles on 9.02 gallons... just barely shy of 32 MPG!

[toby]

First refill today. Got 35.18mpg on the first tank of gas, having driven 387 miles. Note, the last thirty miles of that, I drove with the gas light on, having been told by the dealer (and knowing from previous cars) that I could drive sixty miles with the light on, provided I didn't pound the gas pedal (so I drove those last thirty in constant cruise). By the way, I've got the SL with CVT, and keep the AC on continuously.

[XterraVersa]

4th tank. 40/60 city/hwy 39 mpg

[craigv]

I'm getting killed on the mileage! I'm averaging about 24mpg. Mostly stop and go, and it's been 95+ degrees here everyday since I bought the car, so the AC hasn't been turned off yet. I really hope cooler weather and the ac shut off make a big difference. I have an SL 6m, and have been shifting at 3000-3300rpm consistently. I'm worried.

[electech]

I do not understand how we can have one Versa out of all the ones here that is seemingly getting 8 to 10 mpg better than anyone else. I vote to take it apart and find out why!!! Seriously, I done my first full tank fillup today. I waited for the light to come on which is supposed to mean 2 gallons left. After stopping and packing as much as I could in, it held 11.4 gallons. If I had stopped at the second cutoff, it was at 11.02 gallons, just about spot on for the two gallon warning light. I had 338 miles at fillup. If you go with the last figure of 11.4 gallons, that comes out to 29.6. If you go with the second figure of 11.02, that comes out to 30.7. I will split the difference and call it 30 mpg. I hope for even better as the miles roll up. Every last mile was with AC on, as it has been in the 90's for a while here. It was a combination of about 70 percent highway/ 30 percent city and more than normal periods of idling without going anywhere!! I am not too upset, just not turning back flips over the mileage. Hopefully it will improve.

[skoobahead]

Like you posted, 70% highway driving got you about 30MPG so it makes perfect sense that those driving 100% city are gettiing 24MPG. This is a far cry from the EPA ratings of 30/36.

Personally, I truly believe the Versa is quite capable of the EPA highway (36MPG) figure. Unfortunately for those that do the majority of their driving in the city I highly doubt you will ever see the EPA city (30MPG) figure.

To date my driving has been 100% city and I am averaging 24-25MPG.

2007 PowderCVT Transmission1100 miles to date

[rwanttaja]

I do not understand how we can have one Versa out of all the ones here that is seemingly getting 8 to 10 mpg better than anyone else.

Seems pretty common. If you glance at the Honda Fit forum pages, you'll see some folks bemoaning the fact that they're only getting 22 or 23 MPG, and others claiming near 40.

It all depends on your personal commute. MPG is zero if you're idling in traffic. I get a pretty consistent ~25 MPG on my commute, but if the car gets a chance to get on the highway, the number rises nicely.

Ron

[XterraVersa]

I do not understand how we can have one Versa out of all the ones here that is seemingly getting 8 to 10 mpg better than anyone else. I vote to take it apart and find out why!!!

Keep your hands off my Versa

I just want to add, I don't use the AC, even when it was 90+ today. I would rather sweat a little than fork over more dough to the ragh...err..oil companies.

[toby]

Who's getting 8 to 10mpg better than everyone else? I got 35.1mpg on my first tank, my dealer saying 11 gallons were put in the car when I bought it. I do the overwhelming majority of my driving on the highway, and have taken advice I got from someone elsewhere (who also had an SL with CVT) to let the car "coast" whenever possible. By maintaining a speed of about 65mph, using cruise when possible, and "coasting" here and there, I'm getting great mileage I'd say, and would be highly pissed if I don't see XterraVersa's mileage soon... By the way, from what I've seen here, I'm getting the second best mileage of anyone, though I did do some driving on "E"! But I have yet to see where anyone got 8mpg more than me... Do tell!

[Ever Victorious]

You're pissed at 35 mpg? What exactly are you shooting for? I'm ecstatic to be averaging 30!

[toby]

Of course I'm not pissed! I'm just wondering who's getting 8 to 10mpg better than that! I've seen XterraVersa's mpg, which I imagine I'll get on subsequent tanks. But if not, of course I'll settle for 35mpg, are you kidding? The dealer says I'll eventually get used to the CVT, which should see me approach 40mpg. I told him about XterraVersa's claims of reaching that, and he asked sarcastically if all that driving was downhill. That said, Xterra... please shed some light on your driving style, including your average speed. I'd love to prove the car will actually reach (and hopefully slightly surpass) 40mpg.

[emperor_lunchbox]

he drives his car like a grandmother and runs without the ac on in hell like conditions.

[electech]

Ok, ok, so one car is 8 to 10 better and you are 5 better!!! Of all the cars listed here, we have a grand total of 2 at or over 35, come on!!!! I have a feeling that once the engine gets broken in and is put on the highway, it might come close to 36. I am hoping for at least 33 or 34. We shall see. And, I am sorry, I ain't sweating for a few more miles on a gallon of dinosaur carcass!!!

[XterraVersa]

he drives his car like a grandmother and runs without the ac on in hell like conditions.

No I just drive in rush hour like there is no race. I rarely come to a complete stop. I don't race to the next stop light or backup, just to sit & burn gas.

I am a highway engineer & know how lights are timed. Go the speed limit & you would be surprised that they are actually timed for the speed limit. There is a little lag in the lights so going 5 below will get you through.

In Colorado you don't need AC unlike the high humidity regions. You barely sweat in 90+ F up here.

I shift at 2400-2700 rpm and try to keep it under 2500 while cruising.

On one tank I went ~ 250 miles at 80 mph and still got 36 mpg. The key is to drive like there is an egg on the gas pedal. Watch traffic 1/4-1/2 mile in front of you. You see brake lights, let off the throttle and let a gap build between you & the car in front of you so you can drift to a slower speed. When the speeds picks back up, slowly ease onto the throttle.

Leave enough space between you & the car in front of you, so that they don't dictate your braking. If you find yourself going from the trottle to the brake continuously, you are to close.

It is simple to save gas. You just need to grow out of the speed racer mentality. I did, so can you. I learned most of it on my Xterra where I went from 15 mpg stock to 20 mpg with all the extra weight from the mods I made.

The Versa is a econobox, not a race car. Drive it like a race car & get 25 mpg or drive it like what it was made for and get the EPA numbers plus.

1681 miles on 43.464 gallons equals 38.68 mpg.

[philmcneal]

Like you posted, 70% highway driving got you about 30MPG so it makes perfect sense that those driving 100% city are gettiing 24MPG. This is a far cry from the EPA ratings of 30/36.

Personally, I truly believe the Versa is quite capable of the EPA highway (36MPG) figure. Unfortunately for those that do the majority of their driving in the city I highly doubt you will ever see the EPA city (30MPG) figure.

To date my driving has been 100% city and I am averaging 24-25MPG.

2007 PowderCVT Transmission1100 miles to date

never say never! EPA testing is unrealistic, but being able to meet is possible, it just takes a little tuning to your driving style. Take me for example I'm 122% better than the combined EPA for my car and I'm a 100% city driver with a 8.5 mile commute. I have a little device called a scangauge which helps me improve fuel economy greatly. If I can do it, you can do it too!

here's my sig to show you that I'm not pulling magic numbers out of a hat

[toby]

No one ever really seems to consider their driving style might be the reason they're not getting the mileage the car is supposedly capable of. The CVT is somewhat different than the automatic trans I've gotten used to, but I do alot of "cruising" to a stop on the highway, which often results in me not having to come to a dead stop, as Xterra's saying. That means when I increase speed, I'm burning less gas to get back up to speed... and the AC is on all the time. My advice is to modify your driving style, as I would expect those with manual trannys to be doing better mpg than I am.

[skoobahead]

So far my experience with the Versa has shown large differences in fuel economy. I have the CVT trans and have found this summer running the AC in stop and go traffic can produce figures from as low as 21 to 25 MPG. I have also gotten 37 MPG on the tollway at 70 MPH. Personally I think thats quite a swing and numbers not at 30MPG consistantly are irritating.Knowing the car is capable of mileage in the high 30's is great. Driving this car in the city takes somes skill to get good numbers. This is quite the opposite of my Nissan Maxima. I can drive the car like I stole it or baby it along the highway and the difference is only minor.

My Versa range in MPG (21-37) 16MPG!My Maxima Range in MPG (22-28) 6MPG

Stop and go driving with the AC really kills mileage on this car. Although it may do the exact same thing on other small 4 cylinders.

My .02

[toby]

33.8mpg on second tank of gas, down from 35.1 on first tank. Drove at a higher average rate of speed (@5mph faster), due to getting a late start heading to work. Even so, I'm sure by modifying my driving style I'll do better on the third run. If not, close to 34mpg ain't bad, considering...

Superblack Versa 1.8SL CVT141 mile daily commute (Monday-Friday), NJ TurnpikeNew shocks (recommended!), tint

[Ever Victorious]

I've run into absolutely attrocious traffic the last two days, and my mileage suffered as a result. Down to 28 mpg. Not as bad as my worst tank at 26.

Yeah, stop and go really doesn't do these cars good.

[JeppAbando]

yoh, toby.. see u got your new shocks installed. when u havin them pics taken?

yeah, i actually bought mine with 812 miles on it, since it was the only super black in the lot, and i wanted the color.

the first full tank when i finished it, i averaged about 38 MPG, driving 120 miles roundtrip, cuz i use the highway and windows down since AC does use up some fuel economy.

so i will post this numbers as i have just filled it up again from E and by the time i get to E again, i will post the final numbers and see the real world MPG of our VERSA (1.8 SL XCVT)

gas price: 2.74 pertotal gallons filled - 12.50 (guess there's 0.7 to go)total sale : 34.25ill let it go down to a quarter a tank.

[XterraVersa]

5th tank... 38 mpg.

Love this gas sipping car

[toby]

I plan to get foglights installed within the next three weeks, and will finally break down and get into the modern age and buy a camera then and post some pics! Not that there's much to see, as the car is still largely stock, but whatever. The tint isn't as dark as I might want, but it's legal here in PA, and that's what matters at the end of the day for me, so I'll live with it. Anyway, again, I'll try to put those pics up the minute I get the foglights put in, provided there's no setbacks there...

[ilusha55]

25 MPG here (CVT, AC, 100% city). I was idling at the garage for average of 2-3 hours reading the manual, so that might played on numbers...Looking to improve that mileage...

[FlightNurse]

WOW I'm impressed that people on this forum getting an average of 8 MPG better then the people over on the Edmonds forums...

I have 2500 miles on my VErsa SL with CVT and the BEST I can get out of it on a trip to San Diego from PhX was 30 mpg... I am averaging 27 MPG so far total, I'm not impressed with this at all...

Tony

[will1911a1]

I've gotten about 38MPG out of my last two tanks. The two before that I was getting 36. I drive a 6 speed.

[ilusha55]

May be it has something to do with how people are calculating their mileage per gallon, some do it without emptying the tank (1\2, 1\4) others make suppositions as to how much gas they have left when they are refilling... i pretty sure it changes the result.

[skoobahead]

Only one sure way:

Fill that tank until you can physically see fuel at the filler neck.

Drive it and count the miles.

Fill that tank until you can physically see fuel at the filler neck.

Do the math (miles/gallons)

Doesn't get any easier than that. I get a kick out of those who look at their fuel gauge and say, "Wow, I'm only at a 1/2 tank and I've gone 300 miles!"

[FlightNurse]

I think that is how most people are doing it on t his forum....

Over on edmonds most everybody is getting about the same, 26-28 combind freeway/city and about 30-31 on the freeway..

Tony

[electech]

That is correct!! I didn't know there was any other way to do it!!! I used to have an uncle years ago that would always try and beat us on mileage. We both had Suburbans and towed 28 foot campers that were near identical. We both would fill up the night before leaving and then we would go out to eat and tool around for last minute shopping before leaving. Then, early the next morning, he would sneak off and go top off his Suburban!!! Then, we would stop to fill up later in the day and he would always take a gallon or two less!!! He was so tickled. Then, when figuring mileage, he would drop the tenths and just figure the number of whole gallons. Guess who appeared to get better mileage!! Anyway, with a CVT, the way you drive makes a big difference as the engine will rev quickly and willingly with this transmission. There is a learning curve to be sure. I know after a few tanks in mine, still with only 1400 miles on it, it appears to be in the 30 to 31 average.