In the wake of the Hyundai/Kia mileage brouhaha—in which the South Korean automakers stated that “procedural errors” had led to inflated fuel-economy numbers for more than 70 of their 2011-13 models (read the story)—we decided to examine the mileage that we got on our 2011-13 test vehicles. We found that Hyundai and Kia were correct: Their original numbers were much higher than what we averaged on the highways and city streets in and around Chicago.
Even more notable is that Hyundai’s and Kia’s revised EPA numbers still seem too high. Of the 74 2011-13 models for which they revised their fuel-economy estimates, we (Consumer Guide Automotive editors) have test driven 17 of them over a minimum of 200 miles each. For 15 of the 17, our mileage was lower than their revised estimates. (Our fuel-economy numbers are based on the amount of fuel we purchase and the number of miles we drive.)
Skeptics will say that real-world mileage doesn’t always match the automakers’ sticker numbers. However, we looked at 50 2011-13 vehicles from Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota that we test drove. For 24 of those 50, our fuel-economy numbers were better than the EPA numbers (i.e., the numbers that the automakers report to the EPA).
Breaking it down:
Of the 17 2011-13 Hyundai/Kia cars and SUVs that we test drove, we exceeded the revised EPA combined number on 2 of the vehicles (12%). The average difference between our real-world number and the EPA number was -2.62 mpg, meaning that our 17 real-world numbers were, on average, 2.62 mpg worse than the revised EPA numbers. Incidentally, our mileage was, on average, 4.27 mpg worse than Hyundai/Kia’s original EPA numbers.
For 14 2011-13 Chevrolet cars and SUVS that we test drove, we exceeded the EPA numbers on 6 (43%). The average difference between our real-world number and the EPA number was -1.13 mpg, meaning that our 14 real-world numbers were, on average, 1.13 mpg worse than Chevrolet’s posted EPA numbers.
For Ford, we exceeded on 7 of 11 (64%). On average, we did 0.23 mpg better than the EPA estimates.
For Honda, we exceeded on 3 of 7 (43%). On average, we did 0.11 mpg better than the EPA estimates.
For Nissan, we exceeded on 4 of 8 (50%). On average, we did 0.33 mpg worse than the EPA estimates.
For Toyota, we exceeded on 4 of 10 (40%). On average, we did 0.40 mpg worse than the EPA estimates.
For more details on the Hyundai/Kia mileage numbers, refer to the data below. Data for the Chevrolet, Ford, Honda, Nissan, and Toyota numbers are available upon request.
Test Drive: 2018 Hyundai Elantra Eco
Real-World Mileage for Hyundai/Kia
Of the 74 2011-13 models for which Hyundai/Kia revised fuel-economy numbers, we have test driven 17 of them. Below is a comparison between their original numbers, their revised numbers, and our real-world numbers.
2011 Hyundai Elantra 1.8L Automatic
Hyundai’s Original MPG: 33 45% highway, 55% city (EPA standard)
Hyundai’s Revised MPG: 32 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 31.43 65% highway, 35% city (686 miles)
2011 Hyundai Elantra 1.8L Manual
Hyundai’s Original MPG: 33 45% highway, 55% city
Hyundai’s Revised MPG: 32 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 32.18 50% highway, 50% city (273 miles)
2011 Kia Optima Hybrid 2.4L Automatic 2WD
Kia’s Original MPG: 37 45% highway, 55% city
Kia’s Revised MPG: 36 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 35.86 75% highway, 75% city (956 miles)
2012 Hyundai Accent 1.6L Automatic
Hyundai’s Original MPG: 33 45% highway, 55% city
Hyundai’s Revised MPG: 31 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 29.04 45% highway, 55% city (8,751 miles)
2012 Hyundai Azera 3.3L Automatic
Hyundai’s Original MPG: 23 45% highway, 55% city
Hyundai’s Revised MPG: 23 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 18.61 35% highway, 65% city (410 miles)
2012 Hyundai Veloster 1.6L Manual
Hyundai’s Original MPG: 32 45% highway, 55% city
Hyundai’s Revised MPG: 31 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 27.66 45% highway, 55% city (532 miles)
2012 Kia Rio 1.6L Automatic 2WD
Kia’s Original MPG: 33 45% highway, 55% city
Kia’s Revised MPG: 31 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 28.62 (hatchback) 70% highway, 30% city (610 miles)
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 25.72 (sedan) 40% highway, 60% city (498 miles)
2012 Kia Sorento 2.4L Automatic 4WD
Kia’s Original MPG: 23 45% highway, 55% city
Kia’s Revised MPG: 22 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 20.56 50% highway, 50% city (368 miles)
2012 Kia Soul 1.6L Automatic 2WD
Kia’s Original MPG: 30 45% highway, 55% city
Kia’s Revised MPG: 27 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 24.84 55% highway, 45% city (526 miles)
2012 Kia Soul 2.0L Automatic 2WD
Kia’s Original MPG: 29 45% highway, 55% city
Kia’s Revised MPG: 25 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 26.39 80% highway, 20% city (295 miles)
2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe 1.8L Automatic
Hyundai’s Original MPG: 32 45% highway, 55% city
Hyundai’s Revised MPG: 31 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 25.59 40% highway, 60% city (550 miles)
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT 1.8L Automatic
Hyundai’s Original MPG: 32 45% highway, 55% city
Hyundai’s Revised MPG: 30 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 22.20 10% highway, 90% city (264 miles)
2013 Kia Rio 1.6L Manual 2WD
Kia’s Original MPG: 34 45% highway, 55% city
Kia’s Revised MPG: 32 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 31.62 70% highway, 30% city (796 miles)
2013 Santa Fe Sport 2WD 2.0L T Automatic
Hyundai’s Original MPG: 25 45% highway, 55% city
Hyundai’s Revised MPG: 23 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 22.21 70% highway, 30% city (866 miles)
2013 Hyundai Veloster 1.6L T Automatic
Hyundai’s Original MPG: 29 45% highway, 55% city
Hyundai’s Revised MPG: 28 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 21.20 30% highway, 70% city (336 miles)
2013 Hyundai Veloster 1.6L T Manual
Hyundai’s Original MPG: 30 45% highway, 55% city
Hyundai’s Revised MPG: 28 45% highway, 55% city
Consumer Guide’s MPG: 24.77 40% highway, 60% city (383 miles)
