I bot the CX-9 Grand Touring Trim model. Mazda advertizes the gas mileage as 24 highway/17 city but it is REALLY 17 highway and 13-14 city. It's a shame how automobile companys STILL get away with unrealistic calculations of MPG very year." Has any other CX-9 owners noticed the same MPG on their driving?
CX-9 Real MPG
- Thread starter 2012cx9
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LexustoMazda
Member
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- 2008 Mazda CX-9 GT Awd
I have the 2008 CX-9 GT Awd. On my daily commute 40 miles round trip i average about 18-19 mpg. I don't know how you drive the car, but if you have a lead foot and mostly city driving, that probably the problems. I also notice that you have a new car, so after few thousand miles, the mpg should be getting better 
RoadKing01
Member
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- 08 CX-9 GT Black on Black
I agree that the mileage is not as advertised. The problem is that the standard test allows for mostly best case scenarios. The gasoline tested does not contain ethanol, I don't believe they run the a/c during the test either.
It would make more sense to me if all manufacturers were forced to use their worst case mileage as opposed to the best case they use currently. That way you would be happy when you exceed their stats on a regular basis as opposed to chasing them and only getting close on rare occaisions. That would be a lot more honest anyways.
It would make more sense to me if all manufacturers were forced to use their worst case mileage as opposed to the best case they use currently. That way you would be happy when you exceed their stats on a regular basis as opposed to chasing them and only getting close on rare occaisions. That would be a lot more honest anyways.
I'm no expert, but my understanding is that the manufacturers don't set the mileage however they want, they're all subjected to standardized testing. I'm not saying it's perfect, but they don't get to slap whatever number they feel like on there.
There is a decent amount of information on fueleconomy.gov. Check out the sections on the left side as well as the links on each page.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/how_tested.shtml
Additional tests were added for the 2008 model year (high speed, air conditioning, cold temperature). You can see old and new ratings on the site as well. For example, the 2007 CX9 gets 18/24 on the old test and 16/22 on the new test.
There is a decent amount of information on fueleconomy.gov. Check out the sections on the left side as well as the links on each page.
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/how_tested.shtml
Additional tests were added for the 2008 model year (high speed, air conditioning, cold temperature). You can see old and new ratings on the site as well. For example, the 2007 CX9 gets 18/24 on the old test and 16/22 on the new test.
i believe any posted mileage on a new car is a lie. They use a controlled environment, not real world. Is the a/c on, hills, wind, outside temperature, number of people in car, luggage, winter or summer tires (I live up north where there is snow). Not everyone checks their tire pressure regularly. I have also heard that a clean car is also more aerodynamic than a dirty one?
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- 2022 CX-5 Turbo
For those who are not aware of how EPA test the MPG ratings,
here might be a few surprises to you:
1) EPA test vehicles AFTER they are warmed up (shocking!). They don't do special modes such as "ECO mode" in Honda/Toyota.
For hybrid/electric vehicles, EPA allow full-charge before testing.
2) EPA test vehicles by putting them on a roller. Fuel consumption is measured by monitoring the exhaust gas (more accurate?!).
3) EPA highway test maintains speed around 48mph (+/- some variations).
4) EPA city test does not contains long idling at lights. (therefore, red-light shut-off technology does not increase EPA ratings... stupid, eh?)
Also, EPA does not accelerate the vehicles as hard as you and I. They probably test them like a grandma would drive.
5) finally, EPA multiply a scaling factor to "anticipate" real world numbers.
The test procedure is known to all automakers. They can duplicate the test in-house before EPA test it.
here might be a few surprises to you:
1) EPA test vehicles AFTER they are warmed up (shocking!). They don't do special modes such as "ECO mode" in Honda/Toyota.
For hybrid/electric vehicles, EPA allow full-charge before testing.
2) EPA test vehicles by putting them on a roller. Fuel consumption is measured by monitoring the exhaust gas (more accurate?!).
3) EPA highway test maintains speed around 48mph (+/- some variations).
4) EPA city test does not contains long idling at lights. (therefore, red-light shut-off technology does not increase EPA ratings... stupid, eh?)
Also, EPA does not accelerate the vehicles as hard as you and I. They probably test them like a grandma would drive.
5) finally, EPA multiply a scaling factor to "anticipate" real world numbers.
The test procedure is known to all automakers. They can duplicate the test in-house before EPA test it.
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The biggest factor in your mileage will be the driving conditions and your driving style. If you drive a lot of highway miles and driven conservatively you will have no trouble reaching the upper range of the EPA numbers. If you drive around town with frequent stops and race from stoplight to stoplight you'll be lucky to get 16mpg.
I have a 2009 Touring AWD and keep track of every tank and usually get 17-19 mpg. My worst tank in 3 years was 16 mpg and my best was 22 mpg (all highway).
I have a 2009 Touring AWD and keep track of every tank and usually get 17-19 mpg. My worst tank in 3 years was 16 mpg and my best was 22 mpg (all highway).
Check out the Detailed Test Information page. I wish it were better, but it covers much of this. It shows that the City test has a 505 second "cold start phase". The detailed comparison tab provides some useful information. For example, the City test says 23 stops with 18% idling time over a 31.2 min test. So average idling per stop would be 15 seconds. Sounds a little light to me, but would be interesting to compare to my experience. Maybe average is 15 seconds but feels like 2 minutes with nothing to do. Max acceleration rates vary from test to test, lowest being 3.3mph/sec and highest being 8.5mph/sec.
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- 2022 CX-5 Turbo
Great info. EPA probably had updated the procedures.
What I listed were from my readings in the past. You certainly provided a better and more accurate source of info.
Warm engine for highway test only, but still at 48mph!
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I get 17.5mpg in town with reasonably easy acceleration most of the time.
Haven't really measured highway accurately, but I think I got somewhere around 19.5-20mpg during my last trip. That included going about 90mph for about 1.5-2 hours of that trip. (Yes, I know that's a little quick but I was in Montana where they don't seem to care much, fines are low, and roads are straight)
On the way TO Montana, I made the 324 mile trip, and drove around for two days before having to fill up for the trip back.
While these highway numbers might not quite be as good as EPA estimates, I still think they are pretty reasonable. My city numbers seem right on par.
Haven't really measured highway accurately, but I think I got somewhere around 19.5-20mpg during my last trip. That included going about 90mph for about 1.5-2 hours of that trip. (Yes, I know that's a little quick but I was in Montana where they don't seem to care much, fines are low, and roads are straight)
On the way TO Montana, I made the 324 mile trip, and drove around for two days before having to fill up for the trip back.
While these highway numbers might not quite be as good as EPA estimates, I still think they are pretty reasonable. My city numbers seem right on par.
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Average of 48mph, top speed of 60. I agree, not at all representative of my highway driving. Southern California average cruising speed must be in the 65-75 range with the #1 lane usually doing 75-80.
I just did two trips recently and averaged between 19 and 21 MPG on the Hwy between fill ups.
Was doing between 75 and 80 most of the time and had to pass a number of people on two lane roads along with slowing down when I came to small towns.
When I'm driving in Town to and from work, etc I get about 17 to 18 MPG.
I know if I had a lighter foot and a few different habits I'm sure I could get better MPG than what I'm doing.
Wish their numbers were better or closer to reality but every driver is different, I use the numbers just for what they are Info.
No car company could figure what the true numbers are as they do not know everyone's habits and how we drive a car.
Was doing between 75 and 80 most of the time and had to pass a number of people on two lane roads along with slowing down when I came to small towns.
When I'm driving in Town to and from work, etc I get about 17 to 18 MPG.
I know if I had a lighter foot and a few different habits I'm sure I could get better MPG than what I'm doing.
Wish their numbers were better or closer to reality but every driver is different, I use the numbers just for what they are Info.
No car company could figure what the true numbers are as they do not know everyone's habits and how we drive a car.
