Best MPG has been 20.5 mpg on 2013 2.5i premium

[Novablue]

Originally Posted by Soon2bSubaru

It seems like most folks with the 2.5 experience better mpg's as the engine gets more broken in. I know on my '12 2.5 I was only getting 25 or so hwy when I bought it new with 11 miles on it. I now have 15k and never get below 28 hwy and in summer it's 30-31.

Anecdotally that was not my experience. My ob has been predictable from 14 miles to 14k miles. No change, except a drop for winter fuel.

[edawg]

What RPMs do you get to when accelerating? The 2.5i loves cruising speed and a smaller 4cyl will burn just as much gas as a 6 if it's flogged. I recall the Top Gear episode where Clarkson drags a BMW 5 series with a Prius and burns more gas as a result...

Generally, at 2K RPMs on mine with lower speed highway 2-lane roads, I'll get 26 or 27 hand calculated. If I drag race it to 4K RPMs, mileage will drop like a rock. 30MPG on the highway as long as it's at 70MPH or less.

Then check the usual things, tire pressure at 35 psi or so. Air filter and EGR system then come to mind in case something's not sealed on the air filter or something wasn't PDI'd properly on the vehicle. Something's up.

[awd-gg]

Originally Posted by bmobuell

I started a thread about a month ago about my MPGs in my new 2013. I live in SE Michigan, so its cold but not too cold. I now have 3k miles and about 8 fillups. All have come in under 20.5 mpg. Mostly mixed driving. Some freeway with most suburban driving ( lights a mile apart 45-55mph speed limit). The last tank was all freeway 70-75mph with 4ppl and snowboards on the roof and got 18.9 MPG. Now......I have never hit 24...not even 23, or 21.....this makes me not very happy with my otherwise great car. 1 or 2 mpgs off I can see but 4 !!! CMON thats unacceptable !!!
What is the best avenue for my dissatisfaction ?

is that Michigan Left Turn and Concrete Hwy that's killing your MPG!!!! LOL...

Is this your frst CVT car? If yes, PAy attention to your RPM gauge. It is easy for novice (to CVT) that consistently drag/race the engine without noticing it.... I had a HONDA Civic Hybrid back in 2002-2010 and My first few weeks I was gtting a measly 36mpg only on the CVT... after switching my driving habit, my average improve to 45-46 mpg... If I hypermiles it, 55-60 mpg... you just need to get use to the CVT... watch the RPM gauge... keep in under 2K and trust me, your average speed is not gonna change much (if at all)....

also, STOP tailgating the car in front of you,.. CVT cars is the worst cars(from MPG standpoint) to be tailgating someone!


good luck... my 3.6R ids averaging 24.3mpg over 50k miles,our 2.5 CVT OB should AT least get 26-28 mpg (depending on your city/hwy %) Winter fuel will drop the mpg by 1-2 mpg... Ethanol blend gas probably another 1 mpg.

[Michael Aos]

My 2011 Outback 2.5i Limited definitely got better mpg after it had several thousand miles on it than it did when it was new.

My wife's 2013 RDX seems to have improved since around 6K miles too.

[mqnada]

Originally Posted by awd-gg

is that Michigan Left Turn and Concrete Hwy that's killing your MPG!!!! LOL...

Is this your frst CVT car? If yes, PAy attention to your RPM gauge. It is easy for novice (to CVT) that consistently drag/race the engine without noticing it.... I had a HONDA Civic Hybrid back in 2002-2010 and My first few weeks I was gtting a measly 36mpg only on the CVT... after switching my driving habit, my average improve to 45-46 mpg... If I hypermiles it, 55-60 mpg... you just need to get use to the CVT... watch the RPM gauge... keep in under 2K and trust me, your average speed is not gonna change much (if at all)....

also, STOP tailgating the car in front of you,.. CVT cars is the worst cars(from MPG standpoint) to be tailgating someone!


good luck... my 3.6R ids averaging 24.3mpg over 50k miles,our 2.5 CVT OB should AT least get 26-28 mpg (depending on your city/hwy %) Winter fuel will drop the mpg by 1-2 mpg... Ethanol blend gas probably another 1 mpg.

+1.

Driving a CVT is different. It's really easy to mash the accelerator where the engine revs to 3500-4000 rpms and hold there until you reach speed. The key to gettting decent mileage is to hold the revs to no more than 2400 (we have hills) and let the CVT ratio change increase your speed. This is hard because we all grew up learning that increasing revs equals acceleration. Once you learn that's not the case with these cars, your mileage will improve.

I made the transition and went from 19 mpg to 23 on one tank. My driving pattern tends to be very short trips with a lot of short steep (15%+ grade) hills. On flat pavement I get 25 around town.

The key is to allow the CVT ratio change to create acceleration, not engine revs.

When I first did this, I thought it made me drive too slowly. But having done it for a while now, I realize that I'm generally pulling away from lights as fast as or faster than everyone else. There's plenty of torque down low on these motors, let it work for you.

[rockthebeef]

Originally Posted by Jrocket

Yeah I've decided to keep mine till summer time and see how things go.. if I don't start seeing much better mpgs this thing is gone

I recalculated after realizing this thing has a 18.5 gallon tank and Im only avg 24 mpg

That is pathetic and unacceptable. IF thats the kind of mpg I'm going to get I'll start using my tacoma for more work related stuff again and buy something fun to replace the outback

I may be missing something here because I haven't had my coffee yet, but how does the 18.5 gallon tank factor into your calculation? MPGs are a function of gas consumed, and not the total capacity of the tank. That could be why your calculation is lower now.

That being said, 24 mpg falls right into the range that was on the Monroney sticker.

[there4igraham]

Same here. I try to adhere to the 2500rpm rule which is tough since I live in a very hilly area. I still manage 24mpg around town on winter gas. It may seem like everybody is leaving me in the dust but I always catch up even without speeding.

[upflying]

Don't forget the 2.5i is programmed to guzzle fuel when it's cold.
This is done to light off the cats quickly to decrease emissions..

[coquioutback]

Originally Posted by mqnada

+1.

Driving a CVT is different. It's really easy to mash the accelerator where the engine revs to 3500-4000 rpms and hold there until you reach speed. The key to gettting decent mileage is to hold the revs to no more than 2400 (we have hills) and let the CVT ratio change increase your speed. This is hard because we all grew up learning that increasing revs equals acceleration. Once you learn that's not the case with these cars, your mileage will improve.

I made the transition and went from 19 mpg to 23 on one tank. My driving pattern tends to be very short trips with a lot of short steep (15%+ grade) hills. On flat pavement I get 25 around town.

The key is to allow the CVT ratio change to create acceleration, not engine revs.

When I first did this, I thought it made me drive too slowly. But having done it for a while now, I realize that I'm generally pulling away from lights as fast as or faster than everyone else. There's plenty of torque down low on these motors, let it work for you.

+10 . Drive with your eyes (tach) instead of your ears till you get used to the CVT.

[Husker Rob]

Originally Posted by there4igraham

Same here. I try to adhere to the 2500rpm rule

I've had 4 vehicles with CVT's and I've always done the press to 2000-2500 then hold and let the gears catch up. Car magazines always talk about the rubber band feel of the CVT but I've never felt that. Writers like to floor the gas every chance they get.