I've had my 2013 AWD Tech RDX for about a month and overall have been very happy with the car. However, I seem to be getting terrible gas mileage. If the dash indicator is correct, I'm average only about 14 mpg. I have a very short city commute (5 miles each way) so I expected to get the lower range, but 14 seems abnormally low. Should I consider taking it in to the dealer? Also, I've only used premium gas.

 

I'm in a similar boat, though not quite as bad as 14 MPG. I really like almost everything about our 2013 RDX (ours is FWD rather than AWD), but the gas mileage is a lot worse than I had hoped. When we go on a trip, we often get 30 MPG, which is great, but the rest of the time we get more like 17 to 18 MPG. That seems like a huge difference. In contrast, our 2014 TL gets about 24 to 25 MPG, though it's driven a bit more on the highway than the RDX.

Gregg

 

BrianNY....It is not unexpected for the following reasons:

1. Short commute
2. likely lots of stop/go
3. Colder weather
4. Winter fuels

I suspect that things will improve somewhat this spring/summer.

 

Thanks! I'm not thrilled with the mpg, but my bigger concern was that there might be something wrong with the engine overall.

 

If things don't improve this summer, then I would have it checked. Vehicles are so heavily computerized and sensitive these days that if there would be a problem, you would get some sort of "check engine" light so I wouldn't worry yet.

 

Keep in mind that the EPA numbers are averages and estimates. Consider that when they give the "city" estimate at, for example, 19mpg that number is an estimate. City can mean Des Moines, IA or NYC. Drastically different "city" conditions. A short commute in NYC might yield 13mpg while a little longer commute in Des Moines might yield 20mpg. The can also vary widely based on the way you drive as well as the climate and type of driving conditions. Jack rabbit starts and panic stops a lot of the time will kill mpg. I have averaged 24.7mpg over the last 7k miles and my driving is about half freeway and half suburban type driving but not a ton of stop and go and lots of idling at stop lights. I drive easy but certainly not any kind of hyper miler type crap. In fact I hate those people that coast at 5 mph and prevent people behind them to get into either a right or left turn lane to catch a signal. They saved a penny but cost others more by making them miss the light.

Based on your short commute about 30% of the time your vehicle is not even warmed up. Cold weather affects mpg greatly as well. I would guess if I had the same type of commute you had I would get pretty bad mpg as well.

 

I am going to guess that

A. Your car never makes it out of open loop into closed loop operation. Open loop is cold engine not reaching operating temp running rich for smother operation. Closed loop is full engine management with precise fuel metering and EGR

B. You let the car warm up and that MURDERS your gas mileage

 

Yeah, I'd say your car is never getting warmed up enough. On my 20-minute commute in the ILX (not the same car, but it applies), the Trip B fuel economy which resets each trip, I usually get about 32-36 mpg. But, within the first 5 minutes I NEVER see over 15 mpg, and within the first 10 I usually creep over 22 or 23. So, with the much bigger V6 and higher weight of the RDX, I'd say 14 mpg is about right. Next time you go on a longer trip, see what you get, it'll probably be much closer to estimates.

 

same on my 14 RDX AWD. i didn't get good mpg in summer though I don't remember how it compares to the winter numbers. Make sure your tire pressure is not too low too since it is lower in winter

 

I've owned my 2014 RDX AWD since 4/14 and these are my MPG observations over about 10K miles:
MPG definitely drops in winter with cold starts (even though my car is garaged at night), I generally saw 1-2 avg better mpg in summer.
Overall MPG seems to be pegged around 22.2. Worst I've seen on a 9 mile nose to tail commute has been 16 mpg. Best ever was 32 mpg on a 330 mile freeway drive from Portland OR to Vancouver BC.
In general I see 21 mpg with local urban driving (includes quite a few hills but little heavy traffic) rising to around 27 with more freeway mixed in.
I'm pretty happy with that, considering the fairly pokey 3.5L V6 under the hood.

 

NYC only driving is about 14MPG, going out on long island and driving locally, i can get about 17MPG, highway is very good, I was able to get 31MPG on a straight highway going about 60.
This is 2013 RDX AWD tech.
I would say that your car operates normally.. that's what the dealer told me when I've mentioned the city MPG to them.

 

Metro Atlanta and gf is getting around 20-21MPG average for daily 25 mile each way commute. on roads that have 45MPH limit and lights.

 

I've been averaging 27.9 mpg this winter with snow tires on. In town driving I get 18-20mpg. Without snow tires and warmer weather I've been getting 28.9 average.