Does mileage increase on the CX-5 after break in period??

[Bon Scott]

Hello folks,

Proud new owner of a 2014.5 CX-5 GT AWD (black exterior / tan leather interior). Absolutely love the vehicle but was curious if my mileage would get any better than what I currently get. Initially, I was getting 11.9 liters / 100 kms (1st full tank of gas gave me approx 400 kms before the blue gas light came one). I expected better. I now have it averaging out at 10.9 liters / 100 kms....with the gas light coming on around 450 kms....but I'm still expecting better. A Mazda service guy told me that I would get better mileage after the car is "broken in". I've never heard of this before (then again, this is my first ever new vehicle). I've had the vehicle for just over a month now....and I realize driving in cold weather will affect the mileage with the engine revving higher on startup. I now coast a lot more when I'm driving, and I use the cruise control whenever possible as that conserves fuel as well. I also have the display set to show current mileage (liters / 100 kms) so I'm constantly monitoring my driving. However, is there any validity to this theory that mileage will increase after the vehicle is broken in?? How long is the break in period?? I only have around 1800 kms on her so far. Will there be a significant increase in mileage that will be noticeable over time??

Zoom Zoom!!

Bon

 

[PhoenixINX]

Yes... My CX-5's mileage both got noticeably better, as well as performance, once I crossed over the 1,000+/- mile marker.

 

[Beefy]

Absolutely love the vehicle but was curious if my mileage would get any better than what I currently get.

There is a big thread elsewhere on the forum, but I will say that I get worse than what you do in Winnipeg. Stop/start driving and short trips in the cold are a killer, and no amount of break in will change this. But take a big, long trip on the highway and you will find your economy skyrockets.

 

[davesxx01]

Sadly, a LOT of people are upset with the fuel mileage of this vehicle. It seams that SkyActive engines do NOT like cold weather. I am almost ready to trade my car in (and take a beating) on a different one. I cant seem to break 25 MPG and I drive mostly highway miles.
We had 1 warm day here (53*) and I went on a 50 Mi highway trip and was shocked to see my reading finally break 30 MPG! I could not believe it! My car has 5500 miles and is the 2.5 AWD.
I'm thinking my car figured out it was at the dealer ready to trade it in!

Had my dealers factory rep looking into this matter and of course the answer is they never heard of any problems so I sent him a link to Edmunds.com long term review of the same car and how even in sunny Cali weather they even complain about not even getting EPA rated mileage.

Still waiting on an answer on that!

Edmund's link: http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/cx-5/2014/long-term-road-test/2014-mazda-cx-5-fuel-economy-update-for-february.html

 

[erhayes]

I just checked the www.fueleffency.gov and found the average mileage for a FWD 2.5L was 27.MPG with a range of 24 to 31. That is only slightly less than I'm getting for a 3-5 tank average of 28.4. I think the biggest variability will be the owners right foot.

 

[Surfsup]

Sadly, a LOT of people are upset with the fuel mileage of this vehicle. It seams that SkyActive engines do NOT like cold weather. I am almost ready to trade my car in (and take a beating) on a different one. I cant seem to break 25 MPG and I drive mostly highway miles.
We had 1 warm day here (53*) and I went on a 50 Mi highway trip and was shocked to see my reading finally break 30 MPG! I could not believe it! My car has 5500 miles and is the 2.5 AWD.
I'm thinking my car figured out it was at the dealer ready to trade it in!

Hmm I'm in Chicago and have been tracking my mileage, same GT 2.5 AWD. Our weather is basically the same (Madison/Chicago). I am getting 26-29 on each fillup. 29 was my last fillup - maybe warmer weather, IDK. You probably drive with a lead-foot. When I see a red light I coast rather than continue to feed fuel to the engine only to waste brakes. My tires are 40-42PSI, check that too.

 

[mentalcase]

Sadly, a LOT of people are upset with the fuel mileage of this vehicle. It seams that SkyActive engines do NOT like cold weather. I am almost ready to trade my car in (and take a beating) on a different one. I cant seem to break 25 MPG and I drive mostly highway miles.
We had 1 warm day here (53*) and I went on a 50 Mi highway trip and was shocked to see my reading finally break 30 MPG! I could not believe it! My car has 5500 miles and is the 2.5 AWD.
I'm thinking my car figured out it was at the dealer ready to trade it in!

Had my dealers factory rep looking into this matter and of course the answer is they never heard of any problems so I sent him a link to Edmunds.com long term review of the same car and how even in sunny Cali weather they even complain about not even getting EPA rated mileage.

Still waiting on an answer on that!

Edmund's link: http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/cx-5/2014/long-term-road-test/2014-mazda-cx-5-fuel-economy-update-for-february.html

Are you going to be able to find a vehicle with better mileage that will make up for the hit you are going to take thought? It's bound to warm up in WI sooner then later. Right?

Go packers, BTW!

 

[Beefy]

I cant seem to break 25 MPG and I drive mostly highway miles.
We had 1 warm day here (53*) and I went on a 50 Mi highway trip and was shocked to see my reading finally break 30 MPG! I could not believe it! My car has 5500 miles and is the 2.5 AWD.

If you include any stop/start traffic, 25 MPG is really good. 30 MPG on the highway for the AWD is also good. I don't understand where the problem is. I am also curious what car you think will do better under the same circumstances.

I am almost ready to trade my car in (and take a beating) on a different one.

Be rational, and calculate it out. Lets say you spend an astronomically high $5000 a year on fuel. If you manage to buy a car with 10% better efficiency (I'm skeptical), you are saving $500 a year. I would wager you would lose $5000 in a premature trade-in, so your payback time is 10 years. That's just nuts.

 

[dougal]

If you include any stop/start traffic, 25 MPG is really good. 30 MPG on the highway for the AWD is also good. I don't understand where the problem is. I am also curious what car you think will do better under the same circumstances.



Be rational, and calculate it out. Lets say you spend an astronomically high $5000 a year on fuel. If you manage to buy a car with 10% better efficiency (I'm skeptical), you are saving $500 a year. I would wager you would lose $5000 in a premature trade-in, so your payback time is 10 years. That's just nuts.

What beefy said is 100% correct. If you are getting 25 MPG on a AWD vehicle and are not happy, what would make you happy, 27 mpg? By saving That may save you $150 per year but you will lose a ton more by trading it in now.

Yes, I find the CX-5 likes warmer weather (>40 is good) - but that is true of most cars. I would never trade the car for just that reason.

 

[davesxx01]

Well, just traded it back to the dealer for a 6 GT! Cost me $500 and the two payments I already made! I did get the $1k owner loyalty bonus too.

I will miss the AWD and head room, trunk space but,,,,,

Yes, my dealer was dying to make a deal!!

 

[Bon Scott]

Thx for the replies, folks. Can anyone give me more insight as to my fuel economy getting better as the vehicle gets broken in?? What is the average break in period?? Are we talking 2500 kms....5000 kms....10000 kms?? Will my fuel economy improve??

Bon

 

[CC58]

I wonder if header wrap would help CX-5 gas mileage in frozen north? Race cars wrap headers to keep heat out of engine bay and keep heat in the exhaust. Wrapping CX-5 exhaust header and pipe leading to catalytic converter should shorten time raw gas is burned in the header to heat it up.

The computer continues burning gas in the header until it detects O2 sensor working. This long heat up time is what is killing gas mileage. Most Race shops carry header wrap. Only downside I can see is that in hot weather the retained heat may cause detonation requiring higher octane gas.

On second thought, interior ceramic coating of CX-5 header would be better option than header wrap. Many speed shops do this.

 

[Beefy]

Well, just traded it back to the dealer for a 6 GT! Cost me $500 and the two payments I already made! I did get the $1k owner loyalty bonus too.

Wait wait wait...... in less than 12 hours you decided your fuel economy was bad enough to sell your car, managed to sell your car, buy a new one...... but the new one you bought has the same engine that wasn't economical enough for you?!?

The mind boggles. I am boggled.

 

[davesxx01]

Wait wait wait...... in less than 12 hours you decided your fuel economy was bad enough to sell your car, managed to sell your car, buy a new one...... but the new one you bought has the same engine that wasn't economical enough for you?!?

The mind boggles. I am boggled.

Na, been thinking about it for a while and the dealer general manager is a friend. He knew about my issue as did the regional manager. Last day of the month and at 5 PM they called me and asked me to come in. (they needed to sell one more car!) A couple weeks ago they told me it would cost me $2470 to upgrade to a fully loaded 6, and as stated, yesterday it only cost $500!
Also, the threat of me filing for a lemon law buy back (Wisconsin law is 3 repair tries for the same issue, already been in twice) kinda helped. We drove 2 CX-5's back to back, same route, 30 miles, and my car showed 24.6 while another car showed 27.3. So they admitted something was up.
My trip back to work and then home (38 Mi) and the display was at 37.6 MPG!

Apology's to Bon Scott for jacking his thread!!!!

I'm sure you will love your new CX-5!! Especially when the weather warms up!

 

[pt00323i]

Yes it does get better, also cold weather doesn't help mpg

I've been ave. 32mpg, but is only FWD, manual , CA car. I get 34-35 on long trips, driving around 75-80mpg. can't complaint. next best thing to Prius and TDI

 

[gova]

Sadly, a LOT of people are upset with the fuel mileage of this vehicle. It seams that SkyActive engines do NOT like cold weather. I am almost ready to trade my car in (and take a beating) on a different one. I cant seem to break 25 MPG and I drive mostly highway miles.
We had 1 warm day here (53*) and I went on a 50 Mi highway trip and was shocked to see my reading finally break 30 MPG! I could not believe it! My car has 5500 miles and is the 2.5 AWD.
I'm thinking my car figured out it was at the dealer ready to trade it in!

Had my dealers factory rep looking into this matter and of course the answer is they never heard of any problems so I sent him a link to Edmunds.com long term review of the same car and how even in sunny Cali weather they even complain about not even getting EPA rated mileage.

Still waiting on an answer on that!

Edmund's link: http://www.edmunds.com/mazda/cx-5/2014/long-term-road-test/2014-mazda-cx-5-fuel-economy-update-for-february.html

25MPG. I have 2 CX-5s and we drive in Chicago's traffic and winter. I don't know what to do to get below 25MPG.

Usually, we get ~27 in the Winter and ~30 rest of the year. Both 2.5 AWDs.

 

[MikeM.]

25MPG. I have 2 CX-5s and we drive in Chicago's traffic and winter. I don't know what to do to get below 25MPG.

Very short trips with extended idling and warming up will likely return less than 25 mpg.

Usually, we get ~27 in the Winter and ~30 rest of the year. Both 2.5 AWDs.

I averaged over 30 mpg all winter driving through snow, slush and ice mostly to the local ski area. What helps me achieve that is minimal warm-up idling and the fact that my shortest regular trip is at least 17 miles.

I love how seldom I need to stop at a fueling station and the fact that, when I do need to fuel, the tank is not big enough to make the number$ on the pump get to scary levels.

 

[bmarsh]

I love how seldom I need to stop at a fueling station and the fact that, when I do need to fuel, the tank is not big enough to make the number$ on the pump get to scary levels.

The price of gas has gone up so much in SoCal lately, that even filling up my wife's Mini makes the numbers get to scary levels!