CX-5 Fuel economy

[mikeee2]

Mike, may we tape an uncooked egg to your gas pedal?

Not gonna help. I have all season mats. Just smash it and rinse it off later. LOL (no)

 

[CXVille]

SayNotoPistons - You are not normal. 39 mpg on a long trip? Wow!! You are definitely getting better mileage than most of us. However, it shows that driving style goes a long ways to gas mileage. But, folks, he drove slow (50-55) and works at understanding how to accelerate, how to slow down, and he gets great mileage in return.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

Very true. Some may think it's a nuisance to drive in such a manner, accounting for in coming traffic, hills, etc etc. Sometimes I get so paranoid, I check the weather report for wind speeds and direction when I am not averaging over a certain MPG on my daily route. Believe it or not, headwinds of 10-15mph (not including much stronger gusts) can decrease average highway MPG of around 3-5mpg when you're moving at a steady 55mph. With direct tailwinds of over 15mph, 40mpg can be obtained at a steady 60mph on a flat road.

At this point, it has turned into a MPG game. A hunt for a "high score."

 

[New CX-5]

This was from a single trip from a gas station in Bay Ridge Brooklyn to Elmont L.I.. This is practically my daily commute, of course with much more local mixed in than this trip. A bit of psychological manipulation and throttle control can go a long way. Though I must say, I did go relatively slow on the highway (50-55mph) and was in closed loop mode for as long as possible while approaching redlights.

Take a glance at my sig with datalog from Fuelly and Ecomodder. Don't get me wrong, every now and then I mash the pedal in frustration when someone cuts me off or whatever it may be in NYC, granted it's slow as a snail. I usually average 55-60mph on the Belt, SS, LIE, GCP, BQE, etc. I don't block the road (be it local or highway) either like your typical "grandpa" on the left lane.

May sound like a stupid question but what is "closed loop mode"

 

[mongo2004]

Very true. Some may think it's a nuisance to drive in such a manner, accounting for in coming traffic, hills, etc etc. Sometimes I get so paranoid, I check the weather report for wind speeds and direction when I am not averaging over a certain MPG on my daily route. Believe it or not, headwinds of 10-15mph (not including much stronger gusts) can decrease average highway MPG of around 3-5mpg when you're moving at a steady 55mph. With direct tailwinds of over 15mph, 40mpg can be obtained at a steady 60mph on a flat road.

At this point, it has turned into a MPG game. A hunt for a "high score."

I'm the same way. After driving multiple sports cars (Porsche, Honda S2000, BMW, etc) I really struggle to find a way to keep myself entertained with this no torque car. Buying the CX-5 with a MT helps and the MPG game "high score" is also providing entertainment.

 

[mikeee2]

Very true. Some may think it's a nuisance to drive in such a manner, accounting for in coming traffic, hills, etc etc. Sometimes I get so paranoid, I check the weather report for wind speeds and direction when I am not averaging over a certain MPG on my daily route. Believe it or not, headwinds of 10-15mph (not including much stronger gusts) can decrease average highway MPG of around 3-5mpg when you're moving at a steady 55mph. With direct tailwinds of over 15mph, 40mpg can be obtained at a steady 60mph on a flat road.

At this point, it has turned into a MPG game. A hunt for a "high score."

Just curious, have you thought about getting Prius? Leaf? etc.

 

[dad of jon]

Very true. Some may think it's a nuisance to drive in such a manner, accounting for in coming traffic, hills, etc etc. Sometimes I get so paranoid, I check the weather report for wind speeds and direction when I am not averaging over a certain MPG on my daily route. Believe it or not, headwinds of 10-15mph (not including much stronger gusts) can decrease average highway MPG of around 3-5mpg when you're moving at a steady 55mph. With direct tailwinds of over 15mph, 40mpg can be obtained at a steady 60mph on a flat road.

At this point, it has turned into a MPG game. A hunt for a "high score."

surely I've won?(wink)

ok, ok.... I know, it's a diesel and I'm cheating.(peep)

 

[SayNoToPistons]

May sound like a stupid question but what is "closed loop mode"

Definitely not a stupid question. This should explain open/closed loop. Simply said, being closed often = good for gas mileage.

I'm the same way. After driving multiple sports cars (Porsche, Honda S2000, BMW, etc) I really struggle to find a way to keep myself entertained with this no torque car. Buying the CX-5 with a MT helps and the MPG game "high score" is also providing entertainment.

Yes EXACTLY, the CX-5 is one of the most fun CUV/SUV's on the market. Unfortunately that only applies when there are twisties. Even at full throttle (in any gear), I could fall asleep. In my RX-8 or any other car with decent power, I have never bothered checking my gas mileage nor cared about driving in an efficient manner.

Just curious, have you thought about getting Prius? Leaf? etc.

Negative. I love my cars that can handle well. I also hate the fact that I would have to go hybrid or an unresponsible and small F.I. petrol car to get anywhere near the same utility and gas mileage I do in the CX-5. I have considered TDI's and BMW's 335d though. My friend has a Jetta TDI and the 335d. Both very different cars, though providing hybrid like gas mileage, plus much more power. My previous daily was an Infiniti with the familiar 3.5 V6, VQ35DE that averaged around 15mpg if I was lucky.

My next purchase may very well be a Mazda SkyActiv-D. Hence the reason my CX-5 is financed instead of fully bought out.



dad of jon - Very impressive . May I ask about your driving style and your usual gas mileage with your 2.2 SkyA-D CX-5?

 

[dad of jon]

dad of jon - Very impressive . May I ask about your driving style and your usual gas mileage with your 2.2 SkyA-D CX-5?

cruise control at 62 mph and never use the brakes. If catching up on the car ahead and there are cars behind gaining on me a gentle acceleration to get past the car in front before the cars behind catch up with me. foot off the gas to slow to original cruise speed. Air con off or on eco as well, fan only on a few bars.

45mpg around town. Again very little braking and lots of space from car in front. i-stop helps here too. Because the diesel isn't recommended for short & slow stop-start trips, I do those mpg killing trips in a small petrol engined car. my shortest trip is my daily commute of 6.5 miles / 20 mins. Normally on the freeway I get 55mpg or thereabouts.

The torque on the D is superb.

 

[JohnJr]

Very true. Some may think it's a nuisance to drive in such a manner, accounting for in coming traffic, hills, etc etc. Sometimes I get so paranoid, I check the weather report for wind speeds and direction when I am not averaging over a certain MPG on my daily route. Believe it or not, headwinds of 10-15mph (not including much stronger gusts) can decrease average highway MPG of around 3-5mpg when you're moving at a steady 55mph. With direct tailwinds of over 15mph, 40mpg can be obtained at a steady 60mph on a flat road.

At this point, it has turned into a MPG game. A hunt for a "high score."

"I check the weather report for wind speeds and direction"


I guess I was trying to protect the wrong person(help) LOL JK....

 

[STE92VE]

Third fill up today and average MPG has been steadily increasing, as expected.

 

[JTNY]

I plan to fill up tomorrow - warming weather and the fact that there probably isn't any more winter fuel blends at the pumps should translate to better MPG's.

 

[Gio26NJ]

Maybe you guys get off that winter blend or whatever before we do. Just filled up 2 days ago, waiting for the results but my last 2 tanks only averaging 24-25 MPG. Usually it's 28-29.

 

[New CX-5]

I averaged 33-35 mpg highway on my commute doing 55 with cruise control on, I have been driving incredibly carefully trying to nudge it up. I have a 2014 GT with AWD, it is definitly possible but trust me it's boring as heck.

 

[rcs914]

Well I just got back from a road trip to Las Vegas and back from Tucson, and my MPG wasn't terribly good. There are a lot of hills though, and elevation change going north from Tucson. On the way up I averaged 28.6, around Vegas I only got 26.9, and on the way back home I got it up to 30.3. You can see the fill-ups though Fuelly below. Through a long stretch just over the border from NV I was only getting 23.6MPG on the readout when doing 65, but there was a strong headwind. This is the same tank I got 30.6 overall on, so I am guessing that it would have been a bit better if the wind had been calmer.

 

[STE92VE]

I averaged 33-35 mpg highway on my commute doing 55 with cruise control on, I have been driving incredibly carefully trying to nudge it up. I have a 2014 GT with AWD, it is definitly possible but trust me it's boring as heck.

Don't know about anyone else, but I did not buy the CX-5 to be boring.

 

[Gio26NJ]

Yes, everything comes into play. Our CX-5 gets driven in Staten Island mostly and with all the traffic, badly timed lights at every corner, very uneven surfaces and hilly areas I am surprised that we see 24-25 MPG to be honest not complaining at all.

 

[SayNoToPistons]

Maybe you guys get off that winter blend or whatever before we do. Just filled up 2 days ago, waiting for the results but my last 2 tanks only averaging 24-25 MPG. Usually it's 28-29.

True.

The extended warm up period greatly reduces fuel economy as well. When below freezing, it would take at least 10 miles of driving before my ambient intake temp is warm enough to bump my MPG up to the usual 35+ mpg at steady 50-55mph. Of course lets not forget the car running extremely rich when it is still cold.

The CX-5 is a boring car on the highway, even at wide open throttle. "Doesn't have enough power to pull down your sister's panties." Hence the reason I play the high mpg game.

 

[JohnJr]

Just got back from a few hour trip to cabelas and my average back in forth from work is 24-25 but I busted out 29.1mpg to from Cabelas going about 60mph.

 

[Sally_C]

I'm at just over 1000 miles and seem to be between 26-28 mpg with a mixture of city and highway. I'm wondering at what point the car is broken in and your mileage stops improving?