BlackDogRDX

100% correct. Not all "highway" driving is open road 60-70mpg driving and no one is disputing that. If you want an RX hybrid, buy an RX hybrid.

backwoody

After 1000 miles of mixed city/highway driving, probably 75% highway, I've averaged 29.4 mpg. Top trip mpg has been 32-33, for strictly highway trips cruising smoothly at 65 or less.

smarty666

There is no problem, I was just responding to someone else who said 22-23 mpg avgs per tank were okay with mostly highway driving. I was saying, that with 27-28mpg highway quotes, I think 25mpg avgs per tank should definitely be doable considering the EPA numbers.

You just prove my point that your doing better than the EPA numbers. It should be possible in this day and age.

raviola4

Thanks to all who responded. I have checked Fuelly.com as well. Obviously MPG depends on driver etc. conditions etc etc. My TSX as noted gets above posted MPG, as does our 07 ES350. (probably trade it on an RDX), and hoping to get similar MPG as the ES (22/32).. Even our 03 TL got 33-34 on trips with Reg. gas. Now that we're leaning to go RDX, next is the color.... My TSX is black. Royal PITA to keep clean, but looks great clean. May go totally 180 to a white one? Anyway, that's the next decision. probably busying in Oct/Nov. time frame as of now.
thanks again.

weather

^^^ Can't go wrong with a WHITE vehicle but what do I know

analogkid

Just got on Graphite Luster Metallic. I saw a few and I felt this one was the best looking one. I have two other cars white and black. Before washing it yesterday it did not look bad. My white car and black car looks great when they are clean but for only a short while. Its all a matter of opinion but when my wife and I saw this color we changed our mind fast. By the way not to beat up the subject but under constant speed I do not have a hard time getting 30 mpg on the highway. I cannot feel the deactivation except my mpg jumps on the computer. I was worried at first about the technology but now I really appreciate it. Keep us posted on what color you choose. Ebony looks sportier to me. Thats what I have.

BlackDogRDX

Just tossing this point out there but all the MPG numbers that have been posted have been basically from the summer (since this model went on sale in April) so once we get cooler weather you might see a jump as owners will be turning off their AC and closing their windows a bit more. I've noticed about a .5 to 1 MPG increase since the weather has cooled here in New York.

MardiGras

MPGs usually decrease 5% or so in the winter months due to reformulated winter blends of gasoline. Also, cold temps increase the time it takes for engine to reach optimum operating temperature.

weather

^^^ and the fact that some also will let their vehicle idle a bit longer too.

MardiGras

True. Letting a vehicle idle for more than 30-60 seconds after a cold start is TERRIBLE for the engine, not to mention getting 0 mpg in the process.

weather

You won't get any argument from me on your point....I am fortunate to have a two car garage (heated) for my 2 Acuras....the little Hyundai is on its own *lol* I always try and keep the idle at a minimum and always go very easy on acceleration when really cold to ensure the vehicle properly warms up.

Mikey Dallas

Just finished a one gas tank trip from Dallas through Oklahoma and back. Almost all highway and 65 to 80 mph. Used the cruise much of the time. Some hills, but mostly gentle rolling type. Averaged just 23.9 for the trip. Was hoping for more, but still had fun.

wizardjjr

I've found that around 65mph is where I get the best mpg. It's too bad because I like to go a little faster than that. The posted speed limit is 70-75 around here on the freeways.

analogkid

I also agree. During a machine design class while studying undergrad engineering the professor showed us a bearing wear vs temperature graph. Later during his office hours I learned he was a design engineer for VW in Germany early in his career. Anyways he mentioned they did empirical testing on the subject. Talk about a cool conversation to have. I stopped doing unnecessary warming up after that.

smarty666

Update to report. The last two tanks with Shell premium I've gotten 23mpg avg each tank. I'm really hoping as the car gets a few thousand miles on it, I can get it up to 25mpg per tank. If so, I'll be really happy with that number on this little CUV.

Dorsey

First road trip report. Wife has been driving the RDX 100% in city and getting ~22.8 mpg over 3200 miles. We took it from Tampa to Murphy NC which is about 550 miles each way and averaged 31.4 mpg driving about 5 mph over the speed limit. Some of the trip was in the north georgia, western nc mountains. Mid grade gas, may have up to 10 percent ethanol. I am more than pleased with the mileage. It is a FWD base, tires are at 35 psi cold. The only other RDX I saw in 4 days was a 1G in Atlanta.

backwoody

Just an update on mpg, after 2K miles. Highway - I'm getting 30+; in the city 21. Overall average to date has been 29mpg, per the dashboard computer.

dcpc08161992

In the ten days I own this 2013 RDX AWD, it average 21mpg mostly city driving and commuting to/from work (No highway).

boogerdood

doing more street driving now and seeing 18-19. When a bit more freeway mixed in, say 20%, I see 20-21. 100% freeway, I still see 27-29 @ 70-75 mph

myserver57

Hmm.. wonder how come I'm getting "bad" mileage so far. After almost 700k of about 90/10 city to "highway" (here in BC our "highways" aren't real highways), I'm stuck at about 13.8L/100km or about 17mpg! And I'm using premium gas from Esso. I don't think I'm that inefficient a driver... blah

aks1972

A quick update on the mileage numbers:

Just got back from LA - Roundtrip from San Francisco to LA and back. 900 miles total drive including within LA city rush hour driving. Total trip MPG = 28.5. While going there (highway only I got 28.4; and while coming back 29.9 - highway). Those who know the area, I went 101 S to 152 E to 5 S and same drive back.) Pretty pleased with the drive as well as mileage. Especially, going from 60 to 80 while on a 6% grade...Nice engine!!!

Sculldog3

About 3200 miles total to date, mostly city, a few longer trips in the 100 mile range, figure the engine is nicely broken in at this point. Average to date is 22.2mpg, got 29+ on some highway runs with the cruise control set. Pretty good since it's hard not to get on the gas with this engine, or keep it below 75 on the highway! Figure I'm 80/20 city vs highway, so could easily see hitting the mid to high 20's with this if I did more highway or was a little calmer off the line. With the exception of one or two half tank fill-ups with 89, I've done exclusively 93 (91 is tougher to get here.).

Al Bundy

I'm getting roughly about 26 mpg, 75/25 highway vs city driving. So far pretty good for a vehicle this size.

backwoody

[When I commute to work 20 miles each way, my economy is barely 22. I commute on the highway (101 in Northern California), but I am driving at or below 30 mph throughout in stop and go traffic. I should be suing Acura and EPA for misreprenting the numbers? After all they claim 28 for highways![/quote]

For what it's worth, driving 55-70mph in light traffic on the highway for 100+ miles, I'm getting 30-31 mpg consistently. City driving is less - more like 22. Sounds like you're doing what most would call 'city' driving.

woody

Ukalum

I'm averaging 26.4 mpg over the past 4k total miles. Avg speed is 50mph, which is about 75% highway driving.

aks1972

That statement was made in a satirical tone!!

I am a mech engineer that worked in auto world (Michigan) many moons ago. I understand the concept of mileage, speed etc etc.

BlackDogRDX

I just filled up with 93 again after having 2 fills of 87 due to the Hurricane up here in NY. With regular grade I was getting 20.5 or so with almost exclusively city conditions. Thus far on the new tank it's been closer to 21.5. It could be any number of factors but the 1 MPG difference between gas grades seems about right. Anyone else have any different findings between grades?

kfar09

I'm averaging between 23.5 - 24.5 (manual calculation) with mostly highway driving. I hate sitting at lights and just seeing the MPG drop.

juice13

Just recently with the AWD tech package RDX loaded for bear we squeaked out 28 mpg on nearly all highway mileage on I-95. This was with a full tank of 93 octane mostly going 73 to 78 mph.

It's interesting to see the cylinder deactivation work great up until about a constant 80 mph where at that speed only longer downhills (not many driving through SC) will allow it to engage.

So there is a real, measurable advantage to setting the cruise closer to 70 than to 80 mph. Like 5-ish miles per gallon over a long trip.

After about 7000 miles of a good mix of city and highway mileage we are getting BETTER combined mileage with the RDX than the '07 TSX we traded in. You really had to stomp on the gas in that TSX to get any sense of urgency out of it. The RDX doesn't require flogging to get up and go.

rdx2go

I'm averaging 23.9 mpg using premium and drop to 23.6 mpg after 5 refills of regular. But again it can be number of factors of mpg drop (cooler weather). I did noticed vcm frequently kick-in on highway with premium. So I'll stick with regular unless I'm on road trip (highway driving) to maximize MPG.

NutznBoltz

After 3 fill ups, I am averaging 20.2 of mostly city (75%) driving. I use premium on the FWD/Tech CUV.

kkumar99

Have an AWD model, done about 2000 miles, mostly highway. MPG is a little disappointing based on my previous Acura experience. Between 50 and 70 I get about 28-29 mpg, but there is a significant drop off above 70 (70-80), where I only get about 23-24 mpg. Comparatively, my 08 TSX (20/28 rating) would easily get 33-35 mpg between 50 and 70, and about 30 mpg above 70.

geocord

What did you expect? It's a V6 with over 70 more hp and AWD. It's also heavier and less aerodynamic. It's height off the ground and shape probably effects MPG more at high speeds than it does the TSX. Add in that it is hardly even broken in and I think you're doing ok with it.

CoachRick

Not so much about mileage; but I drove into seriously gusty NW winds last night for 20 miles or so(tail end of that nasty front that moved through the US). The winds were 30mph plus gusts and the RDX was confused with managing cylinders and actually downshifting at times while I tried to maintain ~65mph on the highway. At times, you could feel the cylinders cut off, then on, then with the strongest gusts, the vehicle would actually downshift(on a flat road). Quite interesting. Would have been fun(?) to get a mileage check under those conditions!

its_ikon

how accurate is the mpg calculator in the car? my audi was always off, but it was something you could adjust to make it accurate.

ipribadi

I think ur expectations are too high for a luxury SUV with 273hp and AWD.

For hwy cruising, keep it under 75mph. Above 75mph VCM typically turns off (all 6cyl firing) at the slightest inclination or head wind, thus mpg suffers a lot.

Micapeak

Bought 2013 RDX Tech AWD two weeks ago. Got 18mpg mixed driving first two weeks. Took road trip Spokane to Seattle yesterday at 65-70mph and only got a disappointing 22mpg with a 10-15mph head wind most of the way. Is there something wrong with my RDX? Based on this thread I should have gotten 27mpg. Time to trade it in?

I already posted this on another MPG thread before I found this one.

Mike_TX

See my reply HERE.

c0v3rr1d3

iTrader: (4)

After 3 fill ups, all city averaging 18-19mpg with my AWD Tech. Right on the nose for epa ratings. Taking a all highway trip this weekend, going to see what it can do then. From what i'm reading i am gonna have to try to keep it between 70-75 for the VCM to kick in.

Micapeak

Bought 2013 RDX Tech AWD two weeks ago. Got 18mpg mixed driving first two weeks. Took road trip Spokane to Seattle yesterday at 65-70mph and only got a disappointing 22mpg with a 10-15mph head wind most of the way. Is there something wrong with my RDX? Based on this thread I should have gotten 27mpg. Time to trade it in?

It seem like my VCM isnt working. So is it safe to say based on my brief experience that the baseline V6 highway mileage is probably about the highway 22-23mpg I am getting with no VCM while crossing the mountains in a headwind. If you drive faster than 70, go up hills, or have a headwind the VCM wont kick in to get you up the EPA highway rate of 27. Does that sound right or is something wrong with my RDX?