Is 11 mpg normal???

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Old 08-17-2012, 07:00 AM
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Is 11 mpg normal???

We had our new 2012 MDX for a couple of weeks now. First tank, we averaged 11.2 mpg. Second tank, we are looking at 11.8 mpg. Will this get better after the break-in period? This is with mix of 70% city, 30% hwy.
Old 08-17-2012, 07:11 AM
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simply put, its a big vehicle.
if you're driving mostly city with lots of stop and go, MPG will take a hit.

Post up your average MPH with the average MPG from the computer located in your dash. as MPH correlates with MPG.
Old 08-17-2012, 07:31 AM
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I understand MPG will be low but I was expecting it to be closer to EPA estimate of 16 for city. With a mix of city and hwy, I should be getting closer to 18?
Old 08-17-2012, 07:34 AM
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^post up the average MPH from your computer in the dash.
if they correlate, that means you're getting the correct mileage.

its a heavy freaking truck.
3500-4000lbs.
it takes a lot for her to get up and go.
Old 08-17-2012, 08:36 AM
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A couple of weeks is just too soon to project what the MPGs will be. Just give it a couple thousand miles and then you can have a better idea. 11mpgs is definitely low, but I don't know about your driving habits or where you live.
Old 08-17-2012, 08:40 AM
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Question

My new 2012 MDX with Tech starts from 16.0 and gradually climbs to about 18 in city - haven't done sufficient highway miles yet.

So 11 mpg sounds very low unless you live in downtown with a light at every block.
Old 08-17-2012, 08:40 AM
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^thats why if he posts up his average MPH, we can tell if its all stop and go/idling.

he needs to post the average mph so that we can get a good indication on what his driving habits look like
Old 08-19-2012, 07:52 PM
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I know the MDX has a larger engine and is heavier, but our Honda Pilot AWD routinely gets about 14 MPG in the city. So 11-12 for an MDX makes sense for a new vehicle that has not been broken-in fully.

Our Pilot doesn't have a MID, but I figure my Wife's avg speed is < 20MPH. My average MPH is routinely < 27 and she has a much worse driving environment than me. She's rarely on highway and lots of stop lights and idle times. I bet the OP is <20 MPH when he gives the data being asked. Most people with sucky MPG will have < 20 MPH.

The best we have done in the Pilot is 25MPG with 100% highway driving- my guess is that would be tops on an MDX as well.
Old 08-19-2012, 09:32 PM
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Originally Posted by LaCostaRacer
I know the MDX has a larger engine and is heavier, but our Honda Pilot AWD routinely gets about 14 MPG in the city. So 11-12 for an MDX makes sense for a new vehicle that has not been broken-in fully.

Our Pilot doesn't have a MID, but I figure my Wife's avg speed is < 20MPH. My average MPH is routinely < 27 and she has a much worse driving environment than me. She's rarely on highway and lots of stop lights and idle times. I bet the OP is <20 MPH when he gives the data being asked. Most people with sucky MPG will have < 20 MPH.

The best we have done in the Pilot is 25MPG with 100% highway driving- my guess is that would be tops on an MDX as well.
25 highway in an MDX would be more difficult to attain than in a Pilot. More engine (displacement), more horsepower, more torque and a much heavier more sophisticated AWD (SH-AWD) system in the MDX makes this a bad comparison.
Old 08-20-2012, 12:26 AM
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We have a 2012 with around 1000 miles and in the city we get around 14mpg and highway around 20-21. But, like others have said, 11mpg isn't necessarily out of line for the first few thousand miles (or more) if your traffic conditions cause for a lot of stop and go. The beast weighs almost 4600lbs, so getting it moving takes a bit of fuel.
Old 08-20-2012, 04:39 PM
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Reset your trip computer or do a manual calculation and see what numbers you get.
Old 08-20-2012, 06:23 PM
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here we go again...

11 mpg can be normal IF you sit in traffic all day. stop and go will eat the MPGs. idling in traffic or in front of your house you will yield ZERO MPGs.

i've seen my MPGs go from almost 25mpg at 65+ mph to 14mpg with the dealer techs stomping on the gas for the however many miles they were trying to reproduce stuff in the car.

my typical avg MPH is about 25-26 with avg MPGs at 16-17 MPGs.

i've gone all hwy (>60+ mph) and avg'd 23-24 mpg. when i avg 45mph the MPGs hover around 21-22 and light on the throttle. lead foot will drop the MPGs.

OP- point being if you avg <15-18 mph, it is very possible to get 11mpg. this just indicates you sit in traffic all day. and the MDX is a heavy beast to get moving. once she gets up to hwy cruising...newton's law...she is quite an efficient animal.
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Old 08-20-2012, 09:12 PM
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That mph display is not accurate, at least not in mine. I've driven on the highway for more than 45 mins at more than 60mph and that display does not go above 18mph.
Old 08-20-2012, 09:15 PM
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Wife took the car for a 50 mile trip before I can get the avg speed prior. The avg speed is now 20mph with avg 18mpg. I will check again after next fill up.

I have no problem with 11mpg if the car was advertised as such. Yes, we live in the city and yes, we are in traffic sometimes. But that's why they have a CITY estimate. What's the point of advertising 16mpg city if it's not true city estimate. Maybe they should call it 16mpg granny slow suburban middle of the night estimate.
Old 08-20-2012, 09:29 PM
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Originally Posted by dominik331
That mph display is not accurate, at least not in mine. I've driven on the highway for more than 45 mins at more than 60mph and that display does not go above 18mph.
Silly question, but do you reset it with every fuel up?

Originally Posted by ninjamyst
Wife took the car for a 50 mile trip before I can get the avg speed prior. The avg speed is now 20mph with avg 18mpg. I will check again after next fill up.

I have no problem with 11mpg if the car was advertised as such. Yes, we live in the city and yes, we are in traffic sometimes. But that's why they have a CITY estimate. What's the point of advertising 16mpg city if it's not true city estimate. Maybe they should call it 16mpg granny slow suburban middle of the night estimate.
Btw, they are advertising and average, and as such there are people hat will get much lower than the numbers there. What they are advertising is a controlled test results, not just a made up number. Driving in manhattan will be different than Cleveland, and they are both "cities". 20mph is a pretty low speed average.
Old 08-21-2012, 01:42 AM
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Originally Posted by wrestrepo
Silly question, but do you reset it with every fuel up?
I do manual reset of the mph when Im trying to get an accurate reading but if I dont reset manually for a few days, it just stays at no more than 20mph.

Reseting the trip display doesn't reset the mph.
Old 08-21-2012, 06:11 AM
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Originally Posted by ninjamyst
Wife took the car for a 50 mile trip before I can get the avg speed prior. The avg speed is now 20mph with avg 18mpg. I will check again after next fill up.

I have no problem with 11mpg if the car was advertised as such. Yes, we live in the city and yes, we are in traffic sometimes. But that's why they have a CITY estimate. What's the point of advertising 16mpg city if it's not true city estimate. Maybe they should call it 16mpg granny slow suburban middle of the night estimate.
one person's city driving can be at 15 mph avg whiile another's at 35 mph.

this is why justn asked for a avg mph over a % of city vs hwy b/c everyone's city vs hwy is different. some people's hwy is city.

i believe the EPA estimates are measured at 25 mph for city. there is a disclaimer on your window sticker (if new) saying that it is an estimate and may vary based on conditions and it gives a range of like +/- 4-5mpg. if you live in a metro area...then you're probably on that low end and a prius would be better for MPGs. for roadtrips and such...the MDX fairs pretty well considering.
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Old 08-21-2012, 06:43 AM
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Originally Posted by dominik331
That mph display is not accurate, at least not in mine. I've driven on the highway for more than 45 mins at more than 60mph and that display does not go above 18mph.
LOL, its an AVERAGE. DUH

This isnt that hard, guise.
Old 08-21-2012, 09:21 AM
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Originally Posted by justnspace
LOL, its an AVERAGE. DUH

This isnt that hard, guise.
Yeah An AVERAGE of "highway" speed, Genius, which should give you a number closer to the speed you've driven. If I drive 3 miles @ 20-25mph and 50 miles @ 65-70mph, the average should not be 17-20mph.
Old 08-21-2012, 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by dominik331
I do manual reset of the mph when Im trying to get an accurate reading but if I dont reset manually for a few days, it just stays at no more than 20mph.

Reseting the trip display doesn't reset the mph.
huh? the first sentence doesn't make sense with your 2nd sentence. maybe i'm just reading it wrong.

it should reset the avg mph you've gone for that given tank or whatever you are measuring against.

i reset mine after topping the tank off. my recent mostly hwy trip (65-75mph) and a few miles to get to the hwy (avg 25-30mph) yielded around 47 mph at it's highest for 35 miles.

Last edited by TLtrigirl; 08-21-2012 at 10:37 AM.
Old 08-21-2012, 11:07 AM
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Originally Posted by TLtrigirl
huh? the first sentence doesn't make sense with your 2nd sentence. maybe i'm just reading it wrong.

it should reset the avg mph you've gone for that given tank or whatever you are measuring against.

i reset mine after topping the tank off. my recent mostly hwy trip (65-75mph) and a few miles to get to the hwy (avg 25-30mph) yielded around 47 mph at it's highest for 35 miles.
This is what I meant on my second sentence, I just reset the trip A (it shows Zero miles) but the Avg Speed stayed the same and even if I start driving on the highway now, it would stay around that number unless I reset the Avg Speed as well.
Attached Thumbnails Is 11 mpg normal???-img_10160.jpg   Is 11 mpg normal???-img_10180.jpg  

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Old 08-21-2012, 12:06 PM
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Originally Posted by dominik331
This is what I meant on my second sentence, I just reset the trip A (it shows Zero miles) but the Avg Speed stayed the same and even if I start driving on the highway now, it would stay around that number unless I reset the Avg Speed as well.
I don't know if it works the same way for all years, but my 2012 can be programed to reset at each fill up (I think that all can be programed for that), and also that the time/speed thing gets reset every time you start the car automatically
Old 08-21-2012, 12:24 PM
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Bump.
I have not checked into shipping them yet as I have been pretty busy. I will do that and post an update. I really want them gone!!!
Old 08-21-2012, 01:00 PM
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Originally Posted by dominik331
This is what I meant on my second sentence, I just reset the trip A (it shows Zero miles) but the Avg Speed stayed the same and even if I start driving on the highway now, it would stay around that number unless I reset the Avg Speed as well.
stay on the avg speed screen. press and hold reset/select. it will zero out.

the speed screen is independent of the trip mileage. so you have to reset the trip odometer (A/B) from the temp/oil life/trip odometer screens (select trip A or B, press and hold reset. then go into trip computer to reset the avg speed from that screen. then all of your trip computer screens wil be at zero.
Old 08-21-2012, 01:48 PM
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Originally Posted by TLtrigirl
stay on the avg speed screen. press and hold reset/select. it will zero out.

the speed screen is independent of the trip mileage. so you have to reset the trip odometer (A/B) from the temp/oil life/trip odometer screens (select trip A or B, press and hold reset. then go into trip computer to reset the avg speed from that screen. then all of your trip computer screens wil be at zero.
Yes, this is how I do it. I guess my whole point was that if you are gonna throw the Avg speed into the equation as suggested earlier to determine the the Average MPG, then it would be wise to make sure that the Avg speed has been reset as well so that it matches the information for the number of miles traveled.
Old 08-21-2012, 05:51 PM
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yes^^^ this would make it much more accurate. this is why it should be based on a tank of gas not short trips. i think your explanation is what confused me. now that you are clarifying...it makes a lot more sense
Old 09-01-2012, 06:22 PM
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Have you reset the MPG since you bought it? It could of spent hrs idleing at the dealer after test drives, waiting to be washed a few times, etc which will make it lower. I average 21.0 mpg according to the computer with an average speed arpund 40mph.
Old 09-13-2012, 10:06 AM
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I have nicknamed my mdx The Beast because it.s a lot more vehicle then I expected. 16 city is what I get with not much better hwy. but my two long hwy trips were fully loaded with people and gear sooooooo. Now looking for a commuter car. Tsx was too much road noise, Tsl was up there in $$ for slamming 25 k miles per year
Old 09-13-2012, 11:59 AM
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10.8 MPG with average speed = 17MPH. I hate Chicago downtown traffic.
Old 09-13-2012, 12:02 PM
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Originally Posted by regmack
I have nicknamed my mdx The Beast because it.s a lot more vehicle then I expected. 16 city is what I get with not much better hwy. but my two long hwy trips were fully loaded with people and gear sooooooo. Now looking for a commuter car. Tsx was too much road noise, Tsl was up there in $$ for slamming 25 k miles per year
Check out something made by Lexus. Better mileage, quieter rides, but at the sacrifice of driving dynamics.
Old 09-13-2012, 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by ninjamyst
10.8 MPG with average speed = 17MPH. I hate Chicago downtown traffic.
^^this is completely normal. 4500lb SUV + stop/go traffic= thristy car.

300 mi roadtrip avg 62mph with almost 23mpg. once the MDX gets going she sips rather than guzzles.
Old 09-13-2012, 08:57 PM
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Originally Posted by vulches
Check out something made by Lexus. Better mileage, quieter rides, but at the sacrifice of driving dynamics.
and more $$$
Old 12-05-2012, 07:50 PM
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Hi i got my new 2012 mdx tec/res last monday.
First my mpg start 11.8 but now on 18~20 on local...
I'm curious too but driving more than set up right mpg.
Old 12-07-2012, 05:32 PM
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Originally Posted by ninjamyst
We had our new 2012 MDX for a couple of weeks now. First tank, we averaged 11.2 mpg. Second tank, we are looking at 11.8 mpg. Will this get better after the break-in period? This is with mix of 70% city, 30% hwy.
My 2013 MDX with 1100 miles is averaging 18 mpg with 70% highway/ 30% city.
A tank or two ago I was I reached 24 mpg on the highway at 65 mph. In the city with traffic I average 14 mpg.
Old 12-12-2012, 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by ninjamyst
I understand MPG will be low but I was expecting it to be closer to EPA estimate of 16 for city. With a mix of city and hwy, I should be getting closer to 18?
That is what I get.
16 - 17 City
21 - 22 Highway
Keep in mind ... your drive style in your home area may differ significantly ..
Old 01-02-2013, 10:39 PM
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Some data points from a 2010 MDX tech/ent with added weight of roof rails and sport running boards, fully broken in at 23k miles. Drove NJ to Asheville NC, then down to Atlanta GA, then back up to Roanoke VA, then back to NJ. Over 10 days. 3 adults and one kid, trunk totally full of luggage. Road trip distance was probably nearly 2000 miles.

NJ to NC : 19.2 mpg running at about 70 mph mostly hwy, a few jams along the way.

NC to Atlanta, GA: 19.5 mpg with a few detours off the highway to avoid jams.

Atlanta GA to VA: 21 mpg highway - no jams doing 70 mph

VA to NJ: 22 mpg highway - no jams 65 mph

Used Costco 93 octane most of the way ( up to 10% ethanol )

Also found that on stretches where I was forced to drive at 55-60 mph highway, mpgs can improve quite a lot - got a 23 mpg reading on a slow stretch of highway where I did 55 mph steady with no stops required for 30 or 40 miles.

And finally, when driving around in city conditions in the various places we visited, it was 14 mpg at best, though more like 13.5 most times.

The only mod I have is a K&N drop in air filter.

Overall, i would say I am satisified that the car meets specifications. While I wish I did not have to drive like a grandma to get the best mpgs, I'll live with it to drive such a capable machine. Really love the response when I stomp on the gas for overtaking.

Hope this data helps a bit.
Old 01-03-2013, 05:08 AM
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I averaged a bit over 18 mpg on my excursion between Central NJ and Cincinnati. As I have a fairly "heavy foot", I think that fair enough for a 4,600lb SUV with AWD, four passengers and luggage.
Old 01-09-2013, 10:24 AM
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Yes it will improve, and once you first see 22-24mpg jump 4joy lol.
Old 01-09-2013, 12:07 PM
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" This is with mix of 70% city, 30% hwy. "

You'll see around 15 with that mix after break in.
Old 01-09-2013, 12:43 PM
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Originally Posted by fxcarden
" This is with mix of 70% city, 30% hwy. "

You'll see around 15 with that mix after break in.

I am really hoping the new MDX will have a significantly better mileage than this...


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