2011 was not only a banner year for Hyundai sales, but also for the automaker’s fleet-wide fuel economy. Last year Hyundai achieved a corporate average fuel economy of 36mpg, putting the automaker four years ahead of the federal government’s mandate.
Automakers will be required to maintain a 35.5mpg corporate fuel economy average by 2016, but Hyundai can cross that requirement off its to-do list. Thanks to a growing lineup of fuel efficient vehicles, Hyundai’s corporate average topped 36mpg in 2011.
However, despite that sparkling achievement, all is not well for Hyundai in terms of claimed fuel economy. Several owners have complained about the real-world mileage of the company’s Elantra compact, prompting watchdog group Consumer Watchdog to petition the EPA to re-test the sedan.
Hyundai is reaching out to those customers concerned with their car’s fuel economy, but Hyundai America CEO John Krafcik says most discrepancies can be chalked up to driving habits.
“Typically, what we find is these are urban drivers who have a lot of time, much more time than they realize, just sitting and idling at a stop sign,†Krafcik said. “When we show them that’s much more severe than the EPA city-cycle, and that here are some tips on how you can drive the car, the light bulb goes off.â€
Those complaints don’t seem to be weighing Hyundai down as the automaker’s U.S. Sales rose 20 percent to a record-setting 645,691 units last year.
References
1.’Hyundai hits CAFE…’ view
