How Accurate Is Your Range?

[SnowStorm]

The last car I that I drove which calculated range was my Dad's 2002 Taurus. It was terrible at estimating, and it ended up making me wary of this feature.

However, that was 13 years ago. I'm sure technology has advanced. So let me ask you, how accurate have you found your CX-5's estimated range to be?

Thanks

 

[MidwestCX5]

The range estimate on mine is precise because when it says 1 mile to empty I always have 2 gallons of fuel left in the tank. I wouldn't necessarily say that it is accurate since 2 gallons is not empty, but Mazda probably doesn't want us to be driving around with less than 2 gallons in the tank.

 

[brillo54]

I agree. It's not absolutely accurate but it does seem very repeatable. If you take DTE to zero you won't be on fumes. You'll have a reserve left.

 

[craigo]

Range is a difficult thing to calculate because you need knowledge of the future. It's only accurate from a full tank if you maintain a constant speed and fuel usage for the entire tank. For example, if you drive the first half of your tank of gas in stop and go traffic, and the second half on the highway, the computed range during the first half will be much lower than your actual end result. Once you get on the highway though, you'll see the 'range' tic down more slowly than the actual miles passing by as it continuously recalculates based on current use.

The calculation will become more accurate as you approach the bottom of the tank. And then finally as mentioned above, there is about a 2 gallon reserve left even at 0.

 

[JbCalg]

gassed up yesterday after warning light first flashed
48 litres on a 58 litre tank to fill, so approx 2.5 us gallons remaining

 

[MikeM.]

Range is a difficult thing to calculate because you need knowledge of the future. It's only accurate from a full tank if you maintain a constant speed and fuel usage for the entire tank. For example, if you drive the first half of your tank of gas in stop and go traffic, and the second half on the highway, the computed range during the first half will be much lower than your actual end result. Once you get on the highway though, you'll see the 'range' tic down more slowly than the actual miles passing by as it continuously recalculates based on current use.

The calculation will become more accurate as you approach the bottom of the tank. And then finally as mentioned above, there is about a 2 gallon reserve left even at 0.

Spot on!

 

[Unobtanium]

I just fuel up after I hit 3 bars left. I don't pay much attention to range. However, it SEEMS accurate enough with a solid safety margin built in. I continue to be frustrated that my highway range is the same in my CX-5 as it was in my HEMI powered Jeep. Mazda shouldn't have used a damn mo-ped gas-tank.

 

[Tom 6-6]

The range might be the same but the CX 5 went through 14 gallons (leaving a couple for safety) and the Jeep probably used 25 gallons, plus you should be glad you didn't break down with the Fiat, oh I mean Chrysler product. Fiat = Fix It Again Tony

 

[ColinX-5]

Mazda shouldn't have used a damn mo-ped gas-tank.

Don't forget larger tank means more weight, I have known people who only half fill to safe weight and increase mpg !!

 

[Unobtanium]

Don't forget larger tank means more weight, I have known people who only half fill to safe weight and increase mpg !!

Weight doesn't matter that much. Another 5 gallons of fuel is what, 35# or so? Add in another 5# for the tank...40#. Really? Yeah, that's not going to matter for beans. If it did, EPA rating drivers would be built and paid like horse jockeys, lol!

 

[craigo]

I routinely carry 300-400 lbs of equipment cargo and it doesn't matter nearly as much as speed and air resistance.

 

[piotrek91]

Weight doesn't matter that much. Another 5 gallons of fuel is what, 35# or so? Add in another 5# for the tank...40#. Really? Yeah, that's not going to matter for beans. If it did, EPA rating drivers would be built and paid like horse jockeys, lol!

40lbs won't make any noticeable difference in MPG, but I'm sure that if the Mazda engineers were given an additional 40# to play with it would have been put to better use than adding a bigger fuel tank.
They could use that 40# to reduce road noice, or fit a stronger windshield, or add extra strength to the drive train, or save a few dollars on each car by using lower grade steel for the body.