FeuerFrei
Diamond Member
- Mar 30, 2005
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Maybe its your car? Or gasoline?This year Illinois passed a law increasing the speed limit to 70 MPH on most rural interstates. I am pretty pumped about this considering I drive about 40k miles per year. I know that EPA highway MPG ratings are based on real world driving conditions and aren't optimized for setting the cruse control and taking a nap. Having said that, I am very disappointed with the highway mileage on my 2013 Elantra. In order to get close to the EPA rating of 38 MPG, I have to be driving around 55 MPH. I tend to get around 30 MPG if I push it north of 70 MPH.
My question is this, are there any cars out there that are geared to run efficiently at faster speeds? I understand that air resistance is going to play a major role, but I almost wonder if I would be getting similar gas mileage on the highway in a slightly larger car with a bigger engine. If nothing else, the ride would be much more comfortable and I might not lose that much on my overall gas mileage.
Last weekend I rented an Elantra (2013?) and drove it 360 miles, averaging just under 36 mpg by the car's calculation. Most of the way I was driving at the legal 75 mph limit, dropping to 65 on approaching the metro area. I did use cruise control now and then. Temps were in the 40s. Car had 10112 total miles when I was done.
36 mpg is respectable - that's Corolla territory. Though Corolla can reach 38 easy.