The EPA estimate is extremely optimistic. In real world driving, expect 25 mpg on the highway at 75-80 mph and 20 mpg in typical stops and suburban driving with 40 mph speed limits.
Your driving style makes a big difference. It’s pretty easy to get 16 mpg in the city if you’re consistently revving (above 2.5 rpm) every time you accelerate from a stop. We have noticed that the driver can be worth 2-3 mpg.
OEM tires and oil specs are worth about 1-2 mpg each. Both are chosen for efficiency. I noticed a 1 mpg hit when I went to Michelin Cross Climate 2 and another 1-2 mpg hit when using 5w-30 when supplies were tight against the 0w-20 spec.
Are there more fuel efficient options?…yes. Do they offer the same combination of right size, AWD capabilities, reliability, safety, features and cost? It’s up to you to decide. YMMV.
