I have a 2010 MDX Tech. I am getting observed MPG per tank of 17.2 MPG per tank and about 14 MPG since I bought the car (used with 24,000 miles). This appears to be low compared to the spec MPG. What are others getting?

 

The vehicle is rated 16/21/18 (City, Highway, Combined). That is NOT with spirited driving, by any means.

Your average of 17.2 isn't far from the estimated value of 18. That could easily be an issue of idle times, traffic lights, etc.

This is why we moved back to a sedan (2012 TL) recently. We had been in SUVs since the 90s, but just didn't feel like contributing so much at the pumps.

 

depends on how you drive and where.

around town mixed, 15-17 mpg, avg speed 24-25 mph. all hwy avg speed 70 mph, upwards of 23-24 mpgs.

what are your avg mph per tank?

 

For my last 1/2 tank (about 110 miles, 90 of which was highway), I got 17.2

 

I get 17.5 in the city of Austin with summer blend of Shell and Exxon. Note - not all cities are the same and NYC stop and go would be worst.
Appears I get 1 MPG less w winter blends.
It depends on how agressive you drive and where.

 

do you "warm up" the car? any idle time? what is your avg speed? anything else int he car except you? gunning it from light to light? using premium like you're suppose to?

i've taken my car to the dealer and i know they stomp on the gas. they avg'd 14 mpg. or they idled it a while too.

to get a fair assessment, you really need to get a tank or two of gas of consistent driving conditions and type fo mileage (ie road trip).

we did a 1200 mi road trip over the summer, avg 23-24 mpg at about 70 mph first half. the trip home was in a driving rain with bouts of stop and go got 22-23 mpg at 65 mph avg. cargo was full of gear, hitch rack on back with two racing bikes.

 

I have been driving it gently (to save gas), so no stomping. 2 people, some luggage, sometime a little bit in the trunk. There has been some lights/idling. I have only owned the car for less than 30 days. However, I have even reset the trip/mpg while on the highway and the car only reads 18 or so MPG. I wonder if the engine is damaged or if something else could be causing the less than advertised MPG.

 

the car's computer is learning your driving habits. the loads you have in the car is nothing that the car cannot handle. give it a few more tanks of gas to give a fair assessment. a lot of new 3G TL owners get alarmed when their MPGs are horrible at first. half a tank is NOT a fair assessment.

make sure you fill up with top tier premium fuel NOT regular. get another month's driving under your belt with the X, and then perhaps you can begin to be concerned.

18 mpg for mixed driving...is good. your MPGs will be dependent upon the avg mph you drive per tank.

in the TL, i can avg 25-26 mph (mixed driving), but MPG's are around 18-19 mpg (which is on par with EPA specs) and this is WITH a gas guzzling roof rack. avg mph goes up, so does your mpg to a point (avg 65 mph, you'll get 30+ mpg in a TL).

what is your avg mph? (see trip computer).

 

I have been driving for a month, only using premium. And I am getting 14mpg overall during those 30 days. I will have to check on average speed.

 

We have averaged roughly 18.2 MPG since we bought our 07 MDX used almost 2.5 years ago. It's the "family car" and does most of the running around. We can get between 22 and 23 on the highway, but don't believe we have ever seen anything below 16 on a full tank of gas. In addition to what TLtrigirl has said, check your tires.

Tire pressure - as ambient temperature drops, so does your tire pressure. Your TPMS will only alarm if there is more than 10%(I believe) difference between one of your tires and the others.

Tire alignment - you will want to make sure you new MDX is tracking straight and not off to an angle or have too much camber or toe - all of which will cause premature tire wear and drag down your MPG.

Tire wear - If you are or have been out of alignment your tires are wearing / worn. Even older evenly worn tires can rob you of MPG, but that's hard to imagine at 24K.

You may also want to replace your engine air filter. I doubt in just 24K miles it is that bad off but if it is gummed up or blocked, you are starving your engine of air and making it work harder.

I know you said you are not stomping on the gas, but we have found that even relatively quick acceleration up to speed vs. going at it easy can make a difference. I know it sounds crazy that you would need to do this, but remember you have 300 HP under the hood moving a 4500+ lb vehicle through SH-AWD. Once up to speed you will find that the MDX rolls pretty well and long - again 4500+ lb generates a fair amount of momentum.

These are just some things to look at / for.

 

I have a 2011 Advance and am seeing 19.7 on the "A" milage and 19'2 for the "B" milage. That's probably a 35% city and 65% highway. I drive it fast in the curves, still can't believe how well it handles. Straight line I usually keep it light on the loud peddal.

 

I get 18 mpg in combined highway/city driving. On road trips that are 100% highway, I get well above the EPA rating, 23-24 mpg, and I drive 75 mph. I have only seen mileage as low as 14. I was towing a U-haul box trailer at the time.

 

I also run higher than recommended tire pressure - typically 34-35 psi.

 

Getting a month old mdx around 16 mpg on average, 70% city, 30% highway. Surprised city only has 15 mpg.. But highway doesn't improve mpg much. Resetting trip B at the entrance of highway gives me never more than 19mpg... Too low mpg for highway drive (10 -20 miles long).

Is it somewhat related with the roof rack/crossbars and/or the running board i have? They are all acura oem brand..

 

the corss bars probably will suck 1-2 mpgs. the roof rails not likely and not the running boards. again...what are everybody's AVG MPH for given MPG? just HWY or a percentage of HWY, does not give enoguh specifics. to determine if this is normal for your driving conditions and habits.

i get around 16 mpg with mixed driving avg 25mph. if you avg 70 mph you can get 23-24mpg (<--this is pure hwy). if you avg 45 mph, your mpgs will most likely be around that 19-20 mpg range.

idle time will eat MPGs and make your avg mph suffere since you going 0 mph during that time. i get 19 mpg in the TL with an avg speed of 25 mph. if i avg 28-29 mph, then the mpg's go up to 21 mpg. mind you, i'm also running a roof rack on my TL ( which is a MAJOR mpg sucker). if i avg 60mph (all hwy), my mpgs will go up to 25-26 mpg (again with roof rack). most other TL owners will get 30 + mpg.

so if you avg 14 mph, your MPGs will be BAD (yes this would most likely be all city driving). hence this is why you need to look at your avg speed per given MPG claim to see if its normal for you and the conditions in which your car drives in to make a fair comparison.

 

I just did a 500 mile (each way) trip with 5 adults + the car stuffed with luggage and beach gear, and got 21 mpg on average. That was using 89 octane most of the way because I didn't feel like paying for 93 (normally use 91), and also driving at high speed (about 80) on I-95.

 

Not too bad, but I probably would have sprung for the the 91. You probably saved about $10 in gas, but may have gotten better mileage too.

 

91 wasn't available the 2 times I refueled....it was either 93 or 89......I wanted to see if the engine would ping under heavy stress and high heat (100 degrees)......it did not.

 

Gotcha.

The ECU intevenes and retards the timing to prevent predetonation (pinging).

 

If I ACC freeway at 70 MPH then the best I can do is 19.7.

 

I found that ACC is annoying with the car constantly coasting and then accelerating which leads to lower MPG. I turned ACC off completely, and only used CC for short stretches. I think ACC is fine if you live in Wyoming.