Following complaints from Hyundai Elantra owners about disappointing fuel economy and a petition from Consumer Watchdog for the EPA to re-evaluate the sedan’s gas mileage, a new study has confirmed the Korean compact’s efficiency rating to be accurate in real-world testing.
Looking to settle the Elantra’s mpg controversy, Popular Mechanics took an ’12 unit out on the open road and was able to replicate the car’s 40-mpg EPA highway rating – and then some.
The magazine’s test consisted of taking the Elantra on a 133-mile highway loop around Detroit as well as a 64.5-mile city-driving route. Though the driving was performed in the middle of the day with relatively light traffic, the testing nonetheless was done in real-world conditions. “We made no effort to be overly frugal—no drafting, no excessive coasting—and we made a point to keep up with traffic,” wrote PM editor Ben Wojdyla. “Sure, we were a little light with the pedal, but slowpokes we were not.”
Because gasoline can vary in volume based on temperature, the magazine weighed the Elantra before and after the driving to determine how much gas was consumed (E10 gasoline weighs 6.4 pounds per gallon) and to help calculate fuel economy. With outside temperature at about 40 degrees Fahrenheit, A/C was not necessary and thus switched off. The magazine also elected to take a Ford Focus SFE, another sedan with a 40-mpg highway rating, along on the test as well.
The Results
Conducting the highway loop twice – once at 55 mph and again at 70 mph – the magazine found that both the Focus SFE and Elantra averaged nearly 50 mpg at 55 mph. Neither car could peg its 40 mpg rating at the brisker pace, though “they were very close,” PR reported. The city test resulted in about 35 mpg for each car.
Though mileage will always vary (wildy, sometimes) based on a host of factors like speed, driving style, weather, vehicle load and even air density, PM‘s study suggests that it is possible to match the EPA’s official ratings for the Elantra and the Focus SFE when keeping up with traffic, and even to exceed them when keeping a moderate pace.
