Observed on another trip with the CX9

[stsmith]

Hey ya all. Had to make another trip from Houston to Orange County. With all the wierd weather, chose to drive the CX9 GT and not the Vette. First off, still love this car, sav, suv what ever. It still drives like a dream. Rolled over 15k miles on it with no major problems. BUT, I have one question. This trip I decided to check the mpg on zoom zoom. Avg 21 mpg for the trip out here. Is this normal? I understand this is a large (for me) car, but I get better mpg with my vette and 500 hp! Understand, not complaining. Zoom zoom is meant to cruise. Does this real nice at 75 - 80. Just thought the mpg would be a little better. Still love this car. Handles everything I throw at it and can swallow all of my camera gear with ease. Can't do that in my vette.
Cheers
Steve

 

[kosh2258]

Sounds about right. It's comparable with what I'm getting on mine.

It's not about horsepower so much as it is about total weight and aerodynamics. A 'Vette is a considerably lighter vehicle and more aerodynamic so it takes a lot less energy to get it moving and keep it moving than a 9 does.

Now if you kept the your foot mashed to the floor in your 'Vette all the time then things would change.

Ted

 

[stsmith]

Ted
Tried that the last trip out west with the vette. Lets just say Arizona PD got me twice. I realize the fact about weight and aero. Just didn't know what the CX9 was suppose to be able to get on MPG. I bought it for it's comfot and long distance cruising. This is excels at. Also, a lot more comfortable than the vette.
Cheers
Steve

 

[sp535]

I envy you guys..... with my CX9 Touring on 13mpg on highway.

 

[Marin Mazda]

I'd agree.. from what I've experienced...and heard in general... 21 is a very good avg... for our car ( being so big )...

 

[kosh2258]

I envy you guys..... with my CX9 Touring on 13mpg on highway.

I live in a more rural area and it's a relatively flat territory. I spend almost no time in heavy traffic and stop and go driving. I think that probably has something to do with the average I'm getting.

Ted

 

[ceric]

Three tanks of gas for me since new.
It has been consistently around 16mpg in suburban driving with 50/50 mixed.
I will try a K&N filter and see what happen. 1mpg gain? We will see.

 

[stsmith]

While out here in So Cal, I'm going to install the K&N for the drive back to Houston. We'll see if any improvment. Stay tuned!
Cheers
Steve

 

[Force-1]

I just completed a round trip from ABQ to Denver (about 900 miles) in my '08 CX-9 AWD GT, and got just over 21 MPG at average speed of 80 MPH. Sounds like you are where you should be.

I also have a Corvette (C6), and my last major road trip was ABQ to Vegas. I got about 28 MPG at average speed of 85 MPH.

 

[clarko]

While out here in So Cal, I'm going to install the K&N for the drive back to Houston. We'll see if any improvment. Stay tuned!
Cheers
Steve

(uhm)

Not being from the States, I'm guessing it must be a really, really long way?

 

[drogers]

(uhm)

Not being from the States, I'm guessing it must be a really, really long way?

Just a bit less than 1600 miles, or 2575Km, depending on route. As for the AZ PD, yeah - they used to tag me a lot in my s2000 and eclipse. They didn't seem to care about me on my last drive out there in an lx450 ;-)

 

[caspeed]

Gas Mileage

I'm coming up on 3,000 miles on a CX-9. My worst tank was 16mpg and that was all stop and go. The best was 22 on the highway 55-60 because of traffic. I am getting 18ish in my normal driving some highway and some city.

BTW I tried coasting down down a hill and the RPMs were higher than with it in gear. Don't know if that is normal or not.

Mike

 

[Infymus]

I was able to get 26 MPG with my CX9 during a 2500 mile trip from Salt Lake to Oregon and back. Never went over 80 MPH.

My CX7, OTOH, on the highway, 500 mile trip got 17 MPG, and never has gotten better than 16.4 around the city. That of course is why my CX7 is sitting parked in my side yard, covered with plastic until November of this year when I plan to dump it. Been driving my Miata MX5 now that the snow is gone.

The 9 gets better mileage and is so worth it on long trips. The NAV is awesome, the dual climate controls, the MP3 player, the works. It is sweet.

Next year when my lease is up and I pick up a 2009 CX9, the wife is going for the DVD combo rather than the sunroof. The 9 is her daily driver.

 

[broomco]

I was able to get 26 MPG with my CX9 during a 2500 mile trip from Salt Lake to Oregon and back. Never went over 80 MPH.

That is incredible. In 2000 miles on our 08, we have yet to get over 18mpg (usually around 16.5), although 90% has been city driving. Hope to take a road trip soon and check out highway miles. Since the CX9 is rated at 15/21, I wouldn't expect much more than 21/22 on the road, especially at 80 mph.

 

[logicalfaith]

Avg 21 mpg for the trip out here. Is this normal? I understand this is a large (for me) car, but I get better mpg with my vette and 500 hp!

I don't think it's unreasonable at all. 500 HP for a 3200 lb car is totally different than 275 HP for a 4300 lb car. Second of all, at highway cruising not all of the 500 HP is used. That's why the Vette can be rated at 26 highway MPG. You can say the same thing for the 275 HP not being used at all times in the CX-9, but the third factor came into play the most in highway cruising speed... aerodynamics. The drag coefficient on the CX-9 is just so much bigger than the Vette. Thus you'll have a harder time conserving gas unless you drive 50-60 mph instead of 75-80 mph.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[100$ GUY]

After all its been said and done about aerodinamics and weight, things we all know, Ill say this:

Vette has great highway mileage.

CX-9 averages 12 mpg in city driving. (idhitit)

 

[CX9 SportOwner]

We'd have to punch a hole in the gas tank to ever get close to 12 mpg