psteng19

Link

TSX 6MT gets real world gas mileage of 27.3 according to Consumer Guide testing.
EPA estimates were 21/30.

for the TSX.

Audi A3 next at 26.1 (25/31)
Saab 9-3 2.0T at 24.0 (22/31)

godfather2

thanks for the update

drunkenbuda

I love my TSX>

pbjpb

well i'm only averaging 21.5 for some reason..wtf.

yuhoo22

I wonder if the 5AT is getting better mileage since it was rated to

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Well that should put to rest any doubts about the TSX's ability to produce exceptional gas mileage for those people so utterly concerned about saving every dime that they are actually thinking of putting regular in the tank.

derbaff

Anyone have a copy of the article? CR seems to have taken it down already.

mrgold35

I've noticed an increase of a little over 1/2 mpg since I switch over to Mobil 1 last week, about 27.9 avg mpg (60-70% hwy).

LuvMyTSX

I think it is. The '04 5AT was rated at 23/31 and I'm getting 26-27 mpg in suburban (no highway) driving.

BulldogHockey

I'm up maybe 1 to 1.5 after the switch to M1. We've gone through about 4 tanks now and it seems pretty consistent. And we probably average right around the same: 27 for my mixed driving and 31.5 for my wife's drive which is 90% hwy.

And to utter what someone said above, let's stop talking about the regular vs premium gas debate. If we're getting that good of mileage let's just let it go.

mjtsx

New link:

http://auto.consumerguide.com/articl...EL_CHAMPS.html

And I agree that the real-world economy of the TSX is unreal. I used to get 29-30 mpg with my old car's 140 hp engine. Now I get 29-30 mpg in a heavier car that has more power.

What's sad in this article is the mileage of some of the hybrids. The Camry gets only 31.2 mpg, despite Toyota's claim of 38 at the low end. The Civic, only 38 mpg, despite a claim of 49.

dalieu

is it just me? i get this crap going to the second link too:

"The page you have requested is no longer available.
Please use the links below to navigate through the site."

LuvMyTSX

Ditto.

curls

Here's the article. http://auto.consumerguide.com/Articl...EL_CHAMPS.html

Mods feel free to remove this if it infringes on copyrights.



Consumer Guide's Real World Fuel-Economy Champions
08.23.2006
By Tom Appel
Forget the EPA. Consumer Guide's editors drove 150,000 miles last year. We drove to work, to day care, to the grocery store, and on vacation. We drove through record heat, blinding snow, driving rain, and confounding road construction, keeping track of every drop of fuel we used along the way.

The EPA admits its fuel economy numbers are estimates. Ours are real. A typical Consumer Guide test car is evaluated by at least four editors, and all account for their individual fuel usage. Here are the vehicles in each class that used the least fuel while in our care.

A few notes about this list: Though Consumer Guide takes pains to drive every version of every car; we may not have tested some combinations of engines, transmissions, and body styles. This list represents the best out of the vehicles we have evaluated. In the event that our testing was inconclusive, typically because time limitations precluded achieving a balanced mix of urban and highway driving, that vehicle was excluded from our list.

Click hereto read about Consumer Guide's Real World Fuel-Economy Losers.


Also, we avoided listing multiple versions of a specific car. If the sedan version of a car made the list, the wagon will not be listed--even though its mileage might be similar. Hybrids and diesels are the exception to this rule.

Not listed below is Toyota's Prius. In our care Prius averaged a svelte 45.2-mpg. Though technically a compact by Consumer Guide standards, the roomy hybrid rivals most midsize sedans for interior space. Prius is also pricey by compact standards, approaching $30,000 well equipped. For those who place miserly consumption above all else, Prius deserves a look.

An * indicates that the manufacturer either recommends or requires costlier midgrade or premium-grade fuel for that vehicle. Consumer Guide always follows manufacturers' fuel recommendations.

Subcompact Cars

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Toyota Yaris sedan Auto. 36.6 34/39
2. Honda Fit Manual 35.6 33/38
3. Scion xB Manual 33.3 30/33


For best results, put a small engine in a small car. Each of these misers features a 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, and weighs less than 2500 pounds. As an added bonus, they all start under $16,000.

Compact Cars

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Volkswagen Jetta TDI Manual 40.1 36/41
2. Honda Civic Hybrid CVT 38.0 49/51
3. (Tie) Kia Spectra sedan Manual 28.5 25/33
3. (Tie) Toyota Corolla Manual 28.5 30/38

Volkswagen diesels are almost legendary for their frugality, and our test Jetta lived up to the hype. The bad news: VW isn't offering diesel cars for 2007. The good news: VW has promised to build enough '06 models to keep shoppers happy until a redesigned diesel engine becomes available for 2008.

Can't find a VW diesel? Well, the ultra-frugal Civic Hybrid isn't much easier to get a hold of. At the time this article was published, demand for Honda's compact gas miser far outstripped supply. Expect to be placed on a waiting list, and expect to pay full sticker price.

Premium Compact Cars

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Acura TSX Manual 27.3* 21/30
2. Audi A3 SMT 26.1* 25/31
3. Saab 9-3 2.0T convertible Auto. 24.0* 22/31

Engines in this class regularly exceed 3-liters, but this trio all make do with a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. <WRONG!> There's no shortage of power here, however. The Acura and Audi both check in at 200 horsepower, and the Saab at 210.

It may seem odd to see a convertible representing the 9-3 lineup. But the numbers are the numbers, and in our testing, the 9-3 sedan with an identical drive train came in slightly thirstier than our drop top at 23.3 mpg.


Midsize Cars

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Toyota Camry Hybrid CVT 31.2 40/38
2. Honda Accord 4-cyl coupe Manual 30.6 26/34
3. Honda Accord Hybrid Auto. 27.5 25/34



Midsize cars represent the largest single segment of U.S. new vehicle sales. Despite the volume, the segment includes only two hybrids, Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Camry Hybrid tops our midsize list, breaking the 30-mpg barrier while comfortably seating four adults. The V6-powered Accord Hybrid uses its hybrid drivetrain to add muscle as well as pump up mpg. At 27.5 mpg it is certainly frugal, but perhaps thirstier than the Hybrid moniker implies.

Also breaking the 30-mpg barrier was our test Accord coupe with the 4-cylinder engine and manual transmission. Buyers willing to shift for themselves take note; our test coupe averaged 5.4 mpg better than a similar Accord sedan with an automatic transmission.

Premium Midsize Cars

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Acura TL Auto. 23.0* 20/29
2. Volvo S60 T5 Manual 21.5* 21/28
3. Jaguar S-Type 3.0 Auto. 19.6* 19/28



It's tough to call any of these cars fuel thrifty, but they are the most fuel-efficient cars in the premium midsize category. All break the 200-horsepower barrier, and cost over $35,000. For the well-heeled looking for lean conveyance, these cars merit consideration.

Large Cars

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Dodge Charger V6 Auto. 20.7* 19/27
2. Chrysler 300 V6 AWD Auto. 19.7* 19/27
3. Mercury Montego AWD CVT 19.2 19/26




For big cars, this group's top three go reasonably far on a gallon of gas. Equipped with weight-adding AWD, our test Chrysler 300 trails the mechanically similar rear-wheel-drive Dodge Charger by 1.0 mpg.

However our AWD Montegos, and mechanically identical Ford Five Hundreds, actually bested their front-drive siblings in fuel economy. Credit this to the AWD models' CVT transmission. Front drive versions make do with a conventional automatic.

Premium Large Cars

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. BMW 750i Auto. 19.0* 17/25
2. Jaguar XJ8 Auto. 18.4* 18/27
3. Mercedes-Benz S550 Auto. 17.6* 19/26



You'd think it would be expensive to feed a 300-plus horsepower large luxury car, but these premium sedans have relatively modest appetites. Note that with fuel tanks in excess of 22 gallons, each of these cruisers will travel more than 400 miles before needing a fill up.

Sporty/Performance Cars

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Honda S2000 Manual 24.6* 20/25
2. Mazda MX-5 Sport Manual 23.8* 24/30
3. Hyundai Tiburon SE Auto. 22.1 19/26






Fun can be frugal, especially for the owners of any of these gas sippers. At 237 horsepower, Honda's S2000 can boast some serious muscle along with its judicious use of fuel. Nearly as efficient was our test Mazda MX-5 (formerly Miata), though at 170 horsepower, it's the weakling of the three.

Not much more potent despite packing the only V6 of this group, our 172-horsepower test Tiburon rounded out the top three.

Premium Sporty/Performance Cars

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Porsche Cayman S Manual 22.7* 20/28
2. Mercedes-Benz SLK350 Manual 22.6* 18/25
3. Chevrolet Corvette convertible Auto. 20.7* 17/27



It's hard to imagine any conversation including these three cars turning to fuel economy, but frugal they are--relatively speaking. With efficient, high-output 6-cylinder engines, it's not too surprising to find Porsche and Mercedes on this list. But the Corvette's 400-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 has all the makings of a gas-guzzler. Credit goes to Chevrolet for the 'Vette's light weight and a 6-speed automatic transmission with two gas-saving overdrive gears.

Compact SUVs

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Mercury Mariner Hybrid AWD CVT 28.8 33/29
2. Ford Escape Hybrid AWD CVT 28.4 33/29
3. Subaru Forester Auto. 24.2 23/28








Though failing to reach their optimistic EPA ratings, the Ford Escape Hybrid and clone Mercury Mariner Hybrid still top the category for thrifty petroleum usage.

Also frugal, though down the list by more than 4 mpg is Subaru's spunky Forester. If a compact SUV serves your needs, any of these three will spare you some anxiety at fill-up time.

Midsize SUVs

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Toyota Highlander Hybrid AWD CVT 26.4* 31/27
2. Mazda CX-7 AWD Auto. 21.4* 18/24
3. Pontiac Torrent 2WD Auto. 20.5 19/24



You can't tow a 20-foot boat or carry a roll-top desk with these midsize SUVs, but you can get a family of four and a lot of their stuff into one.

Toyota's Highlander Hybrid takes the guilt out of SUV ownership. It accelerates with V8-like surge and seats up to seven passengers, all while breaking the 25-mpg barrier. A hefty $34,000 starting price is this SUV's only real drawback.

Mazda's new CX-7 uses a turbocharged four-cylinder engine to keep things frugal. Potent as needed, the 244-horsepower CX-7 wastes little fuel in daily driving.

Though we haven't driven a 2007 Torrent with its new interior and revised suspension, its drivetrain carries-over intact. Though short of outright spunk, Torrent's V6 moves this smallish midsize ute along ably, all while breaking the 20 mpg barrier.

Premium Midsize SUVs

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Lexus RX400h AWD CVT 21.5* 31/27
2. Volkswagen Touareg V10 diesel Auto. 18.3 17/23
3. Volvo XC90 V8 Auto. 17.8* 16/20



Here we have respectable mileage, served three ways. The Lexus RX applies hybrid technology to achieve class-leading fuel economy.

Volkswagen's burly Touareg boasts one of few diesels available for 2007, and it's a big one. At 5.0 liters, this V10 monster pushes VW's 5000-pound SUV to 60 mph in around seven seconds, but still gets better than 18 mpg.

Volvo's lively V8 comes from Yamaha, the motorcycle company. Though good for more than 300 horsepower, the XC90's efficient powerplant rivals the Touareg for frugality, and doesn't require a special trip to a filling station that sells diesel fuel.

Large SUVs

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. GMC Yukon 2WD Auto. 16.7 16/22
2. Toyota Sequoia Auto. 15.6 15/17
3. Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD Auto. 14.8 15/21




Okay, there's nothing here that approaches frugal. Among the thirstiest of vehicles, these are the most efficient.

The GMC and Chevrolet benefit from GM's Active Fuel Management, a system that shuts down four of the engine's cylinders during light-load conditions to conserve fuel.

Toyota Sequoia is the light-weight of the bunch, literally. Sequoia is 500 pounds lighter than the GMC Yukon, and its 4.7-liter V8 is trim compared to the 5.3-liter engine in the Yukon and Tahoe.

Premium Large SUVs

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Land Rover Range Rover Supercharged Auto. 15.6* 13/18
2. Cadillac Escalade AWD Auto. 15.5* 13/19
3. Mercedes-Benz GL450 Auto. 15.2* 14/18

It would be damning with faint praise to note that all three of these big rigs get 50 percent better mileage than a Hummer H2.

At $3.25 a gallon for premium-grade gas, it'll cost you close to $90.00 to fill one of these brutes. And at 15 mpg, you'll be filling them 3-4 times a month. That's roughly the lease payment on a Honda Accord VP.

Compact Pickups

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Toyota Tacoma Double Cab 4WD Auto. 16.6 17/21
2. Nissan Frontier Crew Cab 4WD Auto. 14.5 15/20
3. (Tie) Ford Ranger Ext. Cab 4.0 V6 4WD Auto. 14.4 14/18
3. (Tie) Mitsubishi Raider Crew Cab V8 4WD Auto. 14.4 14/18

Take the Toyota Tacoma out of the picture, and the news here is pretty bad. Compact trucks aren't that compact anymore, and our fuel economy numbers reflect the relative girth of these large-truck pretenders.

At 16.6 mpg, the Tacoma easily bested the next truck in our testing. It is also worth noting that the Mitsubishi Raider sports the only V8 on the list.

Probably because of their tepid performance, manufacturers have been loath to supply us with 4-cylinder versions of their small trucks, so we cannot report on their fuel consumption.

Note that we have not yet tested the Chevrolet Colorado or GMC Canyon with their newly enlarged 4-and 5-cylinder engines.

Large Pickups

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Chevrolet Silverado Classic Ext. Cab "Hybrid" 4WD Auto. 16.7 17/19
2. Chevrolet Avalanche 2WD Auto. 15.2 15/21
3. Nissan Titan Crew Cab 4WD Auto. 14.5 14/18




This list pits General Motors' technology against itself. The Avalanche is based on the redesigned 2007 Chevy Tahoe/Suburban, and is the first pickup truck to incorporate GM's Active Fuel Management. Simply, AFM shuts down four of the engine's cylinders during light-load conditions to conserve fuel. In the case of Avalanche, and the already discussed Chevy Tahoe, the system seems to work.

Being sold alongside the soon-to-be-introduced 2007 Silverado (and mechanically identical 2007 GMC Sierra) is the Silverado Classic. Classic versions of the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra retain the previous generation's design. The Silverado Classic Hybrid lacks true hybrid electric power assist, but does have an engine shut-off feature that reduces fuel consumption during around-town driving. Chevrolet claims the Silverado Hybrid enjoys a 10-percent boost in fuel economy compared to the same engine without the shut-off feature.

Minivans

Vehicle Transmission CG mpg EPA city/hwy mpg
1. Dodge Caravan 4-cyl Auto. 19.8 20/26
2. Chrysler Town & Country 3.8 V6 ext. length Auto. 18.5 18/25
3. Toyota Sienna Auto. 18.5* 19/26



One way to save gas is to give up performance, and driving a 4-cylinder Caravan is an excellent way to do that. Available only in the standard-length Caravan--and not available in the similar Chrysler Town & Country--the over-worked four will get you where you're going, but not in any particular hurry.

Nearly as frugal in our testing were the V6-powered Town & Country and Toyota Sienna--fine minivans both.

Agent11br

In my old Eclipse GSX I noticed an overall 2mpg increase when I switched over to using Shell 93 V-Power 100% of the time. I use it 100% of the time in my TSX now, I love that gas!!!

My old roomate's fiance (back in college) worked for Shell for a while (chemical engineer) and she showed me some of the testing and stuff they did with 10 different retail brand gasolines, it was astounding to see the differences in MPG, cleanliness, enviromental effects, performance, etc. I was already using V-Power at the time but now I will go out of my way, even if it is like 3-5 miles, to get it. Only the best of the best for my TSX

DJ2000

thats good to know.

jesuswalks

Ive only been getting 16 mpg...only city. I have more then 1600 miles on it so its past break-in what the problem? Its an 06 AT. And im easy on the petal becuase ive been trying to get better mileage....

Still Water

Amen!

LuvMyTSX

Only city driving is definitely part of your problem. The stats in the above article are based on part city and part highway driving, so they will be different. Also, is this mpg according to your MID or are you calculating it yourself? It shouldn't be a huge difference, but I'd calculate it yourself and see if you get another number.

jesuswalks

no this is the MID. But i read some other parts of this thread and people were saying only city driving, and their mpg was much better then mine.

LuvMyTSX

Yeah, I get right around 27 mpg and don't ever get on the highway. I drive in suburbia....it's not exactly city, but definitely not highway, and I only have a 2 mile commute to work, so that's not exactly easy on the car. Not sure what your problem could be, but 16 seems especially low.

mrgold35

Getting about 16-20 mpg sound about right for driving in Miami. I spent 2 weeks in the south beach area over the summer and I would be lucky to get to top gear in an AT, make 3 green lights in a row and get over 35 mph between lights. All that will kill your gas mileage.

That is why hybrids with electric motors do so well in city driving compared to reg cars.

psteng19

Fixed link, hopefully

Or not...

*copy/paste*

http://auto.consumerguide.com/Articl...EL_CHAMPS.html

*nm, forget it*

EuRTSX

I get 23-24 on my MID. Have about 6k miles on my 06. The more you drive it, the better it will get.

foolioness

Its all in the driving habit.

When I used my TSX for daily driving, I was able to get 30 mpg.

Now I only get to use it during leisure time, I get 21 - 26 mpg. (that's because I step on the gas more on weekends... )

CGTSX2004

iTrader: (1)

Sounds to me like you have some bad habits that need to be broken. Can you describe your driving style during your daily commute? Also, what's the total distance, types of roads, number of lanes, volume of traffic, and are there stop lights or stop signs along the way?

I do mostly city driving and still manage to easily average around 25 mpg according to the MID.

junktionfet

I normally get mid-20s with my mostly city commute now... I am a pretty sedate driver but occasionally I'll exercise the engine a bit. The other night it got down to like 47F here and the engine felt especially energetic.

Today at lunch I went out and had some fun in 1st and 2nd gear... The engine produces a very unique and distinctive sound when it is wound up. I've come to like the way it sounds. It isn't like a race car or even a high performance European or domestic car... but I'd classify it as being a very healthy and addictive roar.

However that fun comes with a price:

xizor

it really annoys me that all of the Toyota hybrids were no where near the EPA estimates, I thought it was just the Prius, but top to bottom the Toyota's aren't even close (neither was the Civic Hybrid either). At least the Accord Hybrid got it right.

jesuswalks

I mostly drive to school and back. School is about 2-5 mins away, but with traffic it can take awhile. Its 2 lanes, its busy, also it is sometimes 3-4 lanes in some places. I really want to get good mpg so i try not to rev the engine and stuff. There are some stoplights n stop signs on the back roads but i try not to sprint of the line. I gently go faster and i never have put the petel to the floor so i dont get why i get such bad mileage.

jlukja

Geez, those are probably the worst kinds of conditions for good gas mileage. Short trips, stop-and-go traffic. By the time your car gets warmed up you're already there.

Just as a test you should go on a roadtrip for a day on a weekend. Fill it up till it shuts off, hop on the highway and drive to a nearby town (about 100mi RT), then come back and fill it up again. Divide the miles you just traveled by the number of gallons you just put in. I'd be really surprised if you don't get around 27-28mpg under those conditions.

NosniboR80

I'm concerned that my MID might not be functioning properly. First, the estimated mileage left is always way off until i'm almost empty.

Secondly, I've only seen it below 30 mpg avg once, and I was definitely having some fun then. It's at about 1600 miles.

Now, I do drive a lot of hwy miles, but I do have some city traffic in my commute. I'm definitely not a slow accelerater (It's my first stick ). Shouldn't I be getting lower mpg's?

Texas

A Service manager told me he had a TL in that had the same poor MPG as your TSX...the owner lived close to work like in your case and the car never did come out of "Closed Loop"...the service manager drove the car for a few day to home and around and the MPG came up to what is normal...???? It may be the short, low speed drive?? Run a manual check on your MPG...try to use the same station and pump to get a more accurate read...I would let Acura know if it is low...

xenonhid

Yerrr! The TL is also in its class too!



Errrrrrbody in the club get Tipsy!!

S14 n Tsx

hahaha. You crazy ass.

shockwave1111

I get 24 MPG in Miami with primarily city driving. People getting lower MPG probably don't cruise to the next red light and little heavy on the right foot. I accelerate moderately, and when I see a red way in front I would let off gas soon. The TSX is really able to cruise far!

curls

Yeah, closed-loop would definately produce piss poor mileage readings. Until the car is nearly warmed up, it isn't nearly as efficient (cat isn't hot, things aren't sealing as well as if they were hot, etc...), which causes it to consume more gas.

I can guarantee the person(s) getting under 20mpg are staying in this zone too often (too many very short trips, which are also killer on oil), or, are total leadfoots.

LuvMyTSX

I also have a super short drive to work - takes me about 6 minutes to go about 2 miles. There's one traffic light and the speed limits are 35 and 25 on the 2 roads I use. I guess what saves me is my drive to the gym - about 40 minutes give or take, but they're all back roads, too, with speed limits around 40-50 and plenty of traffic & lights. I honestly don't know how I've been managing over 26 mpg!

Mokos23

Impressive and smart commuting, yeah baby

horsetrdr

A few weeks ago I got over 31 mpg going 70-80 mph on 95% highway to and from the mountains of NC. I have 15k on my '04 5AT using synthetic blend 5W-30. That's great in my book. Around town I get around 25 mpg. Even with premium gas, the great mileage makes it a bargain.

bgriffin

I get about 26mpg with about 70% hwy miles. I took a scenic route over the weekend and set the cruise on 50. I got 42.6mpg. I have an '04, so I actually have to calculate my mileage. I am amazed.