City MPG is lower than expected

[ALafya]

If the current mpg meter is not lying, then with mine I can get pretty good MPG even in 20-30 MPH range *provided* I am able to coast at as constant speed as possible, or more accurately, maintain a very light and constant pressure on the gas pedal.
The lower the speed, it becomes harder to maintain this high efficiency coasting and any minor movement will upset it. So, in traffic, I'd get pretty good MPG if I can avoid stop-and-go, e.g. if the traffic is slow but flowing. Of course, this does not work going up hills.

 

[CC58]

Winter blend gas gets less mpg. In the winter it takes much longer for blue warm up light to turn off, and it eats a lot of gas in that mode. If you are making short city trips, you are probably spending most of your drive time in warm up mode. I can see low 20's due to this. That said, if you take long city drive (1 hour) you will be amazed at 27mpg in stop and go traffic.

 

[cybercruiser]

I have the 2015 CX-5 Touring FWD, and I average around 31.5/mpg during the Summer, with a mix of highway and city driving. But, and it's a big but, that's when I drive very conservative, trying to squeeze every mile per gallon out of her. If I drive aggressive(or fun) at all, the mileage drops below 30 pretty quick.

 

[Bon Scott]

I've had my 2014 CX-5 GT AWD for 1 year now....and I gotta admit, I expected better mileage. On average, I get 10.2L / 100KM which is approx 23 mpg on a 60/40 city/highway mix. I don't drive aggressively, I coast often so that I use minimal gas, and I use my cruise control often (even in the city). I've just resigned myself to the fact that the mileage on the 2.5L AWD isn't fantastic....but average.

Bon

 

[madar]

Also from Pa. here. Been unusually cold, was near zero this morning. I drive 25 miles to work one way and in this cold weather the engine doesn't get really hot until a good 7 to 8 miles and an engine not fully warmed uses more fuel. If you're just driving city then you're mileage is really not that off target in this weather. I usually average close to 30 in warmer weather as my drive is combo of city and highway. Right now during this cold snap I'm averaging about 26 with snow tires. Gets much better when winter is over.

 

[Big_T]

I wonder how the manufacturer gets those EPA numbers on the window sticker? I get 21.8mpg but its mainly short 10 minute trips with the blue light on most of the time.
I'm sooo disappointed and just don't care about mpg anymore, next time I'll just get a Tesla X when it arrives next year- just need to save my pennies.

 

[Kedis82ZE8]

I wonder how the manufacturer gets those EPA numbers on the window sticker? I get 21.8mpg but its mainly short 10 minute trips with the blue light on most of the time.
I'm sooo disappointed and just don't care about mpg anymore, next time I'll just get a Tesla X when it arrives next year- just need to save my pennies.

I gotta say if my driving was limited to that I would probably get a Nissan Leaf... I know... not exciting at all but those types of trips IMO aren't good for any internal combustion engine or MPG.

 

[madar]

I wonder how the manufacturer gets those EPA numbers on the window sticker? I get 21.8mpg but its mainly short 10 minute trips with the blue light on most of the time.
I'm sooo disappointed and just don't care about mpg anymore, next time I'll just get a Tesla X when it arrives next year- just need to save my pennies.

As long as the blue light is on your engine isn't running at peak efficiency.
Telsa X...pretty pricey for a 10 minute drive...

 

[Sekmor]

I wonder how the manufacturer gets those EPA numbers on the window sticker?.

10 minute drives with the blue light on will kill any good mpg on any vehicle.

Here's some trivia about EPA testing.......our '14 (FWD 2.5) had a window sticker reading 46mpg hwy. In 2015, the canadians changed the EPA rating system to more realtime driving and that same vehicle now read 39.8 mpg. So when people were shopping, it got real confusing seeing both vehicles on the lot, one being more efficient than the other.

I'd bet if you drove 80-90kph on a nice flat road in ideal weather, you should get close.
We've had a few trips, driving those slower speeds, 2-lane hwy through the mtn national parks, and recorded 42-43 mpg.

So I can beat the 2015 numbers, but pretty much impossible to get that 46 that was posted on my window sticker.

 

[Aetherial]

We've been getting around 28.8 with a 90/10 mix of stop/go and freeway. When I did a manual calculation on my last fillup, it was over 30. I can't imagine what you guys are doing to get mid/low 20s. We have a 2014 Touring FWD, so even with the grossly overpowered 185 hp 2.5 engine, I'm breaking 30 mpg in traffic! It has been nearly perfect so far.

My very first tank I got 21.5 MPG US.

I drove like a grandfather. That included a very long idle at the dealership and some very cold mornings. There were only a couple short drives and my drive to work is what I would call "light" city, i.e. not quite highway but not always stop and go.

So, it is possible that the mileage can get "that" badm, even driving conservatively. I was really disappointed. My 8 year old Rav4 V6 got about the same mileage, driven normally (not like a grandpa).

So far my second tank seems much better but I have been taking it even easier on the gas and taken the longer, but fewer stops, route to work. I am guessing I am hitting about 26 MPG (US)

I suspect at this point that my mileage long term will be at least 10% less than the estimates and probably even worse than that.

 

[bxpretzel]

My very first tank I got 21.5 MPG US.

I drove like a grandfather. That included a very long idle at the dealership and some very cold mornings. There were only a couple short drives and my drive to work is what I would call "light" city, i.e. not quite highway but not always stop and go.

So, it is possible that the mileage can get "that" badm, even driving conservatively. I was really disappointed. My 8 year old Rav4 V6 got about the same mileage, driven normally (not like a grandpa).

So far my second tank seems much better but I have been taking it even easier on the gas and taken the longer, but fewer stops, route to work. I am guessing I am hitting about 26 MPG (US)

I suspect at this point that my mileage long term will be at least 10% less than the estimates and probably even worse than that.

You need to break the car in first. I've had mine for about 7 months now and have averaged 25.6 mpg over the life of the car. Currently at about 7500 miles and finally seeing better tank-to-tank calculations. My daily commute is mostly stop and go traffic.