Mpg not very good - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

CMPVEGAS · 09-02-2009, 06:05 PM

I have two tanks now with this thing and I am only averaging 30 MPG. This is not impressive at all. Come on, no back seat, premium gas and 30 MPG? There are at least 20 cars that can best this and they all have back sets and can run on 87 octane. Not very pleased, and no I do not have a lead foot.

Godfather · 09-02-2009, 06:11 PM

Believe it or don't, extreme feather footing doesn't seem to work with a smart. Mine seems to like 3000 rpm. Like a sweet spot. Will get 42 mpg or so running 60/65 mph all day.

Ptero · 09-02-2009, 06:12 PM

Don't worry about it. It has to break in over the first 800 to 1500 miles. My first tanks sucked but now, after 25000 miles, it's easy to get 50+ mpg using hypermiling techniques.

Turbo42 · 09-02-2009, 06:12 PM

you have to break your car in when u see about 3000 miles the mpg will be alot better

NCC1701 · 09-02-2009, 06:13 PM

Sorry about your disappointment. 30 MPH is only slightly below the EPA estimate for City mileage. And, you can expect your mileage to improve a bit when your motor has been broken in. The fact remains, however, the smart fortwo does not get stellar MPGs. Surely you knew that before you bought it.

CMPVEGAS · 09-02-2009, 06:15 PM

I have 7000 miles on it, I purchased used from a Smart dealer.

**jwight** · 09-02-2009, 06:17 PM

And the other shoe drops...

Vegas? Downtown, on the strip, all in town? Lots of stop and go driving? Heavy A/C use. Tire pressures off? Many, many factors affect mileage - would help to know more about how the car is driven.

Turbo42 · 09-02-2009, 06:18 PM

then you need to learn how to adapt to the transmission and you will be fine it takes a little while to get used to

forestacademy · 09-02-2009, 06:18 PM

Short trips are a killer, and the car usually does better after about 3000 miles.

Our driving is 55-60 on two lanes roads with 1 stoplight a day and we get 40 on average.

Two tanks mean you are 10% broken in. And in case you didn't notice before you purchased the car the EPA on the car is the highest gas only car on the market today, But the low end for city driving is still higher than I can get on my best days in my Versa.

Yes the Versa is one of those low octane cars with a back seat and its high end is 33 mpg

CMPVEGAS · 09-02-2009, 06:22 PM

Not the strip, better than So. California traffic but some stop and go, And yes the AC is on. This car should at least get he MPG of 33 as on the sticker. A standard Honda civic or Toyota can beat the milage of this. What does this car offer if not stellar gas milage?