EPA mileage ratings

[mginsa]

Anyone else surprised/disappointed by the 33 City/41 Hwy mileage recently released by the EPA for the U.S. version of the ForTwo?

The European version gets around 45/50 mpg and I was hoping for something close to that. At 33/41 the Smart Car is just "in the pack" with several other mini/micro cars.

Although I didn't order mine just for the mileage, that was a factor. I currently drive 4,200 lbs of metal to work everyday and park it for 9 hours and drive home, I am averaging 24 mpg. I was really hoping for city mileage in the 40 mpg range. 33 mpg is still a 37% increase from current, but I was hoping for more.

I'm still going to take delivery of my Smart Car next month, but I'm a little disappointed that the mileage isn't something to write home about.

Anyone else feel the deflated about the mileage rating?

[t-bone]

I think it's low partly because the EPA changed how they do the mileage ratings now. Compare some other cars from 2007 to 2008, and you'll notice that the mileage ratings decreased.

If you want to compare 2007 numbers, then those numbers are 40 city, 45 highway for the smart.

However, I think the ratings are more realistic now.

[Karl Roth]

Think t-bone has it right, and they make you smile
karl

[mfoster]

It'll all come down to how you drive it. I think I can constantly beat the 2008 ratings. I have a mini cooper and never get less than 30 mpg where my son never gets greater than 25 mpg.

[SmartBob]

Originally Posted by mfoster

It'll all come down to how you drive it. I think I can constantly beat the 2008 ratings. I have a mini cooper and never get less than 30 mpg where my son never gets greater than 25 mpg.

Very good point. Hopefully our new fortwo owners will keep a light foot and let us see what the car is capable of.

[Old smart]

After I went to the EPA mileage website and tweaked my personal driving situation I had some concern about the “city driving� definition. I had in mind my 75% driving in Boston, Manhattan, D.C, etc.. But the very small, old, narrow City of Williamsburg is a little different – we have less than 20 traffic lights in the whole city, and most stops are for people in crosswalks. The maximum speed anywhere in the City is 35, and many areas considerable less than that. After analyzing the EPA city driving “schedule� I could see that it wasn’t greatly different from my own situation with regards to speeds, times at speeds, acceleration rates – just a little bit more “urban.� I also looked at the highway schedule for personal differences. In the end I think my city/highway adjustment could be 65%/35% EPA, even though my actual on-road experience will still be 75%/25%.

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/fe_test_schedules.shtml

[Gortok]

So, if my average drive consist of two-lane curvy roads at speeds of 40-50, will I ever make it to top gear? Won't it kill my mileage if I can't?

Maybe SPD can now give us some of the gearing particulars since he got his...

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by Gortok

So, if my average drive consist of two-lane curvy roads at speeds of 40-50, will I ever make it to top gear? Won't it kill my mileage if I can't?

Maybe SPD can now give us some of the gearing particulars since he got his...

In auto it goes to top gear when you stop accelerating now add hills to the mix (load) where you drive is almost as important as how you drive. bad pavement will reduce your milage, the key is to focus on the things you can control and you should be more than happy.
karl

[jonnysan]

Originally Posted by t-bone

I think it's low partly because the EPA changed how they do the mileage ratings now. Compare some other cars from 2007 to 2008, and you'll notice that the mileage ratings decreased.

If you want to compare 2007 numbers, then those numbers are 40 city, 45 highway for the smart.

However, I think the ratings are more realistic now.

You are the kind of person who hammers the hell out of the car light to light and pedal to the metal where ever you go. I guess I can't be any clearer than that, can I.....

[t-bone]

Originally Posted by jonnysan

You are the kind of person who hammers the hell out of the car light to light and pedal to the metal where ever you go. I guess I can't be any clearer than that, can I.....

I won't say I'm light on the pedal, but I am saying it is more realistic with respect to the mileage I'm getting on my Honda Fit. The Government Fuel Economy website currently lists my Honda Fit with a combined mpg of 30. That is about exactly what I get now. In 2007 they listed the combined as 34 and I only got that driving on the highway. That's why I say it's more realistic.

However, I sometimes do push the car a little harder than most folks may. And that's what I plan on doing to the smart.