Sudden MPG increase?

[mazdadude]

I tried E-10, and I tried Ethanol-free for a few tanks. I noticed zero difference. What is different about the winter blend?

There are a lot of articles to choose from but here is one I found simple and to the point.

http://newsroom.aaa.com/2013/06/what-is-the-difference-between-summer-and-winter-blend-gasoline/

However the OP noted a recent increase. So that negates the seasonal blend argument, unless the recent gas station changed to was using a different blend? I guess you could return to the original cheap stations and see if your mileage decreased again?

 

[frenchbiker]

Well I'm over 700 miles now and I've noticed a very nice mileage increase! I was averaging 22-24mpg in mixed driving, recently I've begun seeing 26-28 and today 30mpg in the same mixed driving! I did check tire pressure and found it at 38-39, dropped it down to 36. I have also started using the more expensive gas stations in the area, Stewart's and Sinco, still using 87. Not sure if this is a fluke or things are breaking in! As love as it lasts, I love it!

Well, I'm over 2,200 miles now and I have not. I'm still in the 23mpg-23.5mpg in mixed driving. Maybe it'll get better after the 1st oil change but at this point, I don't see how I could reach an average of 30mpg on highways because I barely hit 30mpg on the flat and as soon as there's the slightest inclination, my instant mpg drops to 15-17mpg. Maybe I should move to FL where it's always flat? Or maybe an AWD model doesn't get the same mpg? I don't know.

 

[Unobtanium]

Well, I'm over 2,200 miles now and I have not. I'm still in the 23mpg-23.5mpg in mixed driving. Maybe it'll get better after the 1st oil change but at this point, I don't see how I could reach an average of 30mpg on highways because I barely hit 30mpg on the flat and as soon as there's the slightest inclination, my instant mpg drops to 15-17mpg. Maybe I should move to FL where it's always flat? Or maybe an AWD model doesn't get the same mpg? I don't know.

Your mileage is identical to what I see in my 2.5L AWD 2015 CX-5, and I have the lightweight, high-performance version.

 

[yrwei52]

Well I'm over 700 miles now and I've noticed a very nice mileage increase! I was averaging 22-24mpg in mixed driving, recently I've begun seeing 26-28 and today 30mpg in the same mixed driving! I did check tire pressure and found it at 38-39, dropped it down to 36. I have also started using the more expensive gas stations in the area, Stewart's and Sinco, still using 87. Not sure if this is a fluke or things are breaking in! As love as it lasts, I love it!

The gas mileage on our 2016 CX-5 GT AWD has actually dropped a bit from 27 mpg when new to 26.5 mpg at 4.500 miles right now in mostly city driving. We use Shell regular only and keep the tire pressure at 38 psi. Summer blend gas should help the gas mileage but apparently it didn't in our case in the past summer months.

 

[banjos-n-beer]

My CX5 tells me I've been averaging 28 MPG. It got as high as 28.2 this summer, but has dropped a tad recently, which I attribute to the winter gas blend.

But its been consistent the entire 5k miles I've put on it so far. One of these days I'll measure my mileage between fill-ups and see how accurate the vehicle computer really is.

 

[frenchbiker]

Your mileage is identical to what I see in my 2.5L AWD 2015 CX-5, and I have the lightweight, high-performance version.

Thanks. I won't lose sleep over it but I'd like to know why our numbers are not close to what Mazda advertises and what other owners of the same model experience.

 

[yrwei52]

Well, I'm over 2,200 miles now and I have not. I'm still in the 23mpg-23.5mpg in mixed driving. Maybe it'll get better after the 1st oil change but at this point, I don't see how I could reach an average of 30mpg on highways because I barely hit 30mpg on the flat and as soon as there's the slightest inclination, my instant mpg drops to 15-17mpg. Maybe I should move to FL where it's always flat? Or maybe an AWD model doesn't get the same mpg? I don't know.

Your mileage is identical to what I see in my 2.5L AWD 2015 CX-5, and I have the lightweight, high-performance version.

I'll echo both of your experiences on gas mileage for an AWD CX-5 GT. I know the EPA estimates are 2~3 mpg less than a FWD CX-5, which is already the worst of any CUVs on EPA differences between FWD and AWD of the same model as all others are having 1 mpg difference or less. Mazda also claimed they did some changes for 2016 AWD so that the real-world MPG will be improved. But I have exactly the same feeling as frenchbiker while driving on the highway. Just by instant MPG reading I have been having a hard time to keep it at 30mpg on the highway! Kind of disappointed for the gas mileage on the AWD although it's still pretty good than most other CUVs.

 

[mazdadude]

What is a HWY?

To some HWY is flooring it on the onramp and going 80 mph until it is time for another fuel stop, to others HWY is a 55 mph cruise, and to some HWY means bumper to bumper traffic, a stop light, and a drive thru. What becomes clear is that manufacturers will develop vehicle to suit the government tests, and not real life usage. A local example to this is Mazda's I-E Loop system and idle stop tech which gives great real life mpg increase, but fails to show the increase in the government tests, therefore is deemed economically not viable in North America.

 

[yrwei52]

What is a HWY?

To some HWY is flooring it on the onramp and going 80 mph until it is time for another fuel stop, to others HWY is a 55 mph cruise, and to some HWY means bumper to bumper traffic, a stop light, and a drive thru. What becomes clear is that manufacturers will develop vehicle to suit the government tests, and not real life usage. A local example to this is Mazda's I-E Loop system and idle stop tech which gives great real life mpg increase, but fails to show the increase in the government tests, therefore is deemed economically not viable in North America.

My highway MPG testing was trying to get the best gas mileage possible, hence there was no bumper-to-bumper traffic, driving at 55~60 mph as much as I could. But it's hard to keep my instant MPG reading at 30mpg most of time like frenchbiker experienced.

It's too bad we don't get those nice real-world fuel-saving devices like Mazda's i-Eloop and i-stop due to EPA's questionable testing procedures.

 

[MikeM.]

Maybe I should move to FL where it's always flat? Or maybe an AWD model doesn't get the same mpg? I don't know.

AWD does not get the same MPG as FWD because the rear wheels don't roll as efficiently as FWD models. Also, small air pressure differences in your tires can cause more drag and lower MPG. Keep them all the same pressure for best MPG.

Hills don't have to kill your mileage, about half of my 27,000 total miles have been in hilly/mountainous terrain here in the PNW and I'm getting over 32 MPG lifetime average.

My advice: If you don't need AWD, don't pay extra for it.
If you're not towing a trailer or carrying a big sportbox/rack on the roof, get the 2.0L engine. Your fuel bill will thank you. I've gotten over 500 miles on a tank (manually calculated to over 37 mpg) and the trip included a major mountain range crossing (North Cascades).

 

[erhayes]

I noticed maybe a 1 mpg measured increase during the first 2,000 miles or so. I think any more than that comes from the AT algorithm that learns how you drive and make small shift point adjustments. Ed

 

[craigo]

AWD does not get the same MPG as FWD because the rear wheels don't roll as efficiently as FWD models. Also, small air pressure differences in your tires can cause more drag and lower MPG. Keep them all the same pressure for best MPG.

That's also a good one. I was surprised at what a difference keeping the tires at the door spec makes. Being 3 psi low will drop it a couple mpg. Friction.

 

[Unobtanium]

Thanks. I won't lose sleep over it but I'd like to know why our numbers are not close to what Mazda advertises and what other owners of the same model experience.

I live in a very hilly area. No flats, all inclines. On the highway doing 70 I average around 23 to 24mpg, maybe 25. I also have a ton of traffic and the highway often stops which harms mpg as well for obvious reasons. My overall mileage hovers around 23.5, 70% highway. When I go out of the area, this jumps to 28 to 29 even pushing up to 75ish, and is around 25 to 26 mixed.

 

[ALafya]

I saw no difference in MPG after my first oil change or even later. I did not keep track of MPG while on break in.
Our Mazda 3 with SkyActiv did not have any improvement in MPG as well.
For me, the MPG is directly dependent on the type of driving I do. Freeway driving gets me about 30 MPG and suburban drives, with lights/stop signs and traffic can get as low as 24 MPG (all calculated).
My instant MPG meter can go above 30 on the highway, even at > 65 MPH, but is very sensitive. Any tiny hill or slight breeze can get it to drop. Climbing the Sierra and returning back down usually evens out, because the way down requires less fuel, but stopping completely then accelerating again kills the MPG. Interestingly, after WOT efficiency seems to improve, either this is because thermal efficiency is improved after WOT or that the meter is lying

I intentionally waited for the 2.5L to be available. The 2L in our 3 is a good match for its size and weight, a 560lb lighter vehicle.
Of course, in other parts of the world, the 3 is sold with 1.5L and the CX-5 with the 2L engine (and Diesel ). So, I am sure people manage.

 

[GAXIBM]

Things that reduce mileage after 4 wheel drive include: low tire pressure, roof top luggage bars, add on mud flaps, hood mounted bug deflectors, extra weight, winter gas blend, cold startup temp, short trips - The faster the speed the more impact, none of the above are included in the EPA quoted "estimates".

 

[yrwei52]

Things that reduce mileage after 4 wheel drive include: low tire pressure, roof top luggage bars, add on mud flaps, hood mounted bug deflectors, extra weight, winter gas blend, cold startup temp, short trips - The faster the speed the more impact, none of the above are included in the EPA quoted "estimates".

As I mentioned in my previous post, I understand AWD will use more fuel. But compare to other AWD CUVs, such as Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4, and Nissan Rogue, CX-5 has the worst 2~3 mpg decrease from FWD to AWD while others have only 1 mpg decrease except Toyota RAV4. Only Toyota RAV4 has manual differential lock for true full-time 4WD which will be less efficient but the difference between FWD and AWD/4WD still better than CX-5 for highway MPG! Apparently Mazda was aware of its AWD system is not as efficient as others and claimed they had made some changes on 2016 to improve its AWD "real-world" MPG. But I just don't see it base on my own MPG calculation.

EPA Estimated MPGs City / Hwy:
2016 Mazda CX-5 GT FWD 26/33 AWD 24/30
2015 Honda CR-V Touring FWD 27/34 AWD 26/33
2015 Toyota RAV4 Limited FWD 24/31 4X4 AWD 22/29
2015 Nissan Rogue SL FWD 26/33 AWD 25/32

 

[MikeM.]

Apparently Mazda was aware of its AWD system is not as efficient as others and claimed they had made some changes on 2016 to improve its AWD "real-world" MPG.

I haven't seen that. Do you have a reference?

 

[frenchbiker]

I live in a very hilly area. No flats, all inclines. On the highway doing 70 I average around 23 to 24mpg, maybe 25. I also have a ton of traffic and the highway often stops which harms mpg as well for obvious reasons. My overall mileage hovers around 23.5, 70% highway. When I go out of the area, this jumps to 28 to 29 even pushing up to 75ish, and is around 25 to 26 mixed.

Same here, it's very hilly around Pittsburgh, but when I take a highway, it's generally outside of rush hours so I assume that people only get higher MPG than us because they live in a flat area.

 

[frenchbiker]

Mazda also claimed they did some changes for 2016 AWD so that the real-world MPG will be improved.

I have a 2016 AWD GT so whatever MPG improvement Mazda claims to have made are not having any impact.

@Mazdadude. My HWY driving is 65mph, never flooring it, no bumper to bumper traffic. I have never seen my instant MPG above 30mpg in these conditions on the flat and as soon as I hit the smallest inclination, the instant MPG goes down in the high 10s.
I live on top of a 35% hill, say 1/2 mile from a flat road. Going up the hill from the red light at the bottom, the instant MPG is 7mpg all the way to the top, pretty much the same as what my Landcruiser measured! Very disappointing for a 2.5l engine.

 

[Unobtanium]

I have a 2016 AWD GT so whatever MPG improvement Mazda claims to have made are not having any impact.

@Mazdadude. My HWY driving is 65mph, never flooring it, no bumper to bumper traffic. I have never seen my instant MPG above 30mpg in these conditions on the flat and as soon as I hit the smallest inclination, the instant MPG goes down in the high 10s.
I live on top of a 35% hill, say 1/2 mile from a flat road. Going up the hill from the red light at the bottom, the instant MPG is 7mpg all the way to the top, pretty much the same as what my Landcruiser measured! Very disappointing for a 2.5l engine.

I am averaging around 23.5-24.5mpg each tank. My Grand Jeep Cherokee with AWD and a 5.7L HEMI averaged around 15-16mpg in Louisiana, and around 12-14 here (hills + I always used remote start because it was cold when I moved here to NWA). So, basically, I am getting about 7-8mpg more, at the cost of around 1-second slower 0-60 times, and the benefit of using 87 octane instead of 89. Since I don't tow anything, or stump-jump or offroad my CX-5, I'm very pleased with the improvement in economy over the Jeep. Whether or not the AWD system is as good remains to be seen this winter, though.