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Feedback please: 2013 RAV4 XLE Fuel Economy Disappointing?

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#22 ·
I have been super pleased with my mileage. When doing road trips, I keep her in Eco mode (unless I need to do a quick passing or speed up, then it is Sport mode for a few). On flat roads, I will keep the cruise control on and leave it off for hills. My most recent road trip to TN, I got 31.37 (all highway), 28.71 (highway and city in Nashville), and 30.45 (highway & going a bit faster then normal).

Depending how aggressive I drive, my normal driving gets around 25 with mostly city. Sport mode is super fun, but I try to keep in Eco or Normal.
 
#23 ·
Speed has such a massive impact on fuel economy. The aero drag equation is based on frontal area, drag coefficient, and velocity. Frontal area and drag coefficient are constant unless you add something on the crossbars, etc. Speed is squared in the drag equation. Drag created at 55 isn't 10% more than 50mph... it is 21% higher. You have 15% more aero drag at 75mph than 70mph. Assuming all other things equal, that 31mpg is going to be decreased by 15%... and that puts you at 27mpg. (Now, that isn't what you'd truly see in the real world because engine efficiency isn't the same at those speeds because RPM, throttle, and engine load is different, but you get my drift.) The EPA test is just a standard test. It isn't necessarily what you'll get and it doesn't really relay the true efficiency of the vehicle. It just tells you the efficiency on that particular test.
 
#24 ·
Satisfied

My new (May 2014) limited AWD has been getting a consistent 28.5 combined. Took 4 persons and luggage on highway trip and broke 30 for a couple hundred flat miles but mostly 29. Two adults on a long state highway at 65 mph clocked 30.9 . I find that I get about the same mpg whether running in sport, Eco or normal. I also find that every mph over 70 mph affects mpg by 1-2 mpg. I am very happy with average mpg but disappointed I can't seem to exceed 31 at higher speeds.
 
#25 ·
Pupjr said:
My new (May 2014) limited AWD has been getting a consistent 28.5 combined. Took 4 persons and luggage on highway trip and broke 30 for a couple hundred flat miles but mostly 29. Two adults on a long state highway at 65 mph clocked 30.9
Click to expand...
Sounds about right based on what I've seen and I don't have AWD. Considering that you do, I'd say you're doing "very" well.


I find that I get about the same mpg whether running in sport, Eco or normal.
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That's been my experience as well. Most of my driving is freeway due to the fact that I've got a long commute to work. My experiments between the three driving modes show that driving like I do, the mode you've got active on the Rav4 makes very little difference. Here's a post I made on the subject: http://www.rav4world.com/forums/123-4-4-general/153378-gas-milesage-normal-eco-sport.html I also find that every mph over 70 mph affects mpg by 1-2 mpg. I am very happy with average mpg but disappointed I can't seem to exceed 31 at higher speeds.[/QUOTE]
 
#26 ·
Pupjr said:
My new (May 2014) limited AWD has been getting a consistent 28.5 combined. Took 4 persons and luggage on highway trip and broke 30 for a couple hundred flat miles but mostly 29. Two adults on a long state highway at 65 mph clocked 30.9
Click to expand...
Sounds about right based on what I've seen and I don't have AWD. Considering that you do, I'd say you're doing "very" well.


I find that I get about the same mpg whether running in sport, Eco or normal.
Click to expand...
That's been my experience as well. Most of my driving is freeway due to the fact that I've got a long commute to work. My experiments between the three driving modes show that driving like I do, the mode you've got active on the Rav4 makes very little difference. Here's a post I made on the subject: http://www.rav4world.com/forums/123-4-4-general/153378-gas-milesage-normal-eco-sport.html


I also find that every mph over 70 mph affects mpg by 1-2 mpg.
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Which is perfectly normal regardless of what you're driving.


I am very happy with average mpg but disappointed I can't seem to exceed 31 at higher speeds.
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I've managed to top 31 mpg five times in the 12,800+ miles I've put on my Rav4 with a top tank of 31.9 mpg. That's 5 out of 38 fill ups. Of course, that's with a FWD version so I'm not hauling around the added weight of the AWD like you are. You said you've gotten up to 30.9. That's darn close and, I think, pretty good for an AWD model. I don't doubt you'll cross that barrier at some point.


Drive Safe,
Steve R.
 
#29 ·
Pupjr said:
Satisfied

My new (May 2014) limited AWD has been getting a consistent 28.5 combined. Took 4 persons and luggage on highway trip and broke 30 for a couple hundred flat miles but mostly 29. Two adults on a long state highway at 65 mph clocked 30.9 . I find that I get about the same mpg whether running in sport, Eco or normal. I also find that every mph over 70 mph affects mpg by 1-2 mpg. I am very happy with average mpg but disappointed I can't seem to exceed 31 at higher speeds.
Click to expand...
I'm putting a big cone on the front and a hemisphere on the back to see if that helps
 
#30 ·
My 2013 Limited AWD with 100,000 miles (very well maintained) can get 24 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway. Unfortunately, driving with a light foot is very boring. I regularly switch with "Sport" mode and often have a heavy foot. Mileage drops dramatically. Sort of depends on my mood. Do I want to save a few dollar on gas or have fun. I usually pick fun driving.
 
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