Hyundai Overstated MPG On Over 1 Million Cars

Hugh Pickens writes "Reuters reports that Hyundai and its affiliate Kia Motors conceded that they overstated the fuel economy on more than 1 million recently sold vehicles, and agreed to compensate owners for the additional fuel costs after the EPA found the errors in 13 Kia and Hyundai models from the 2011 to 2013 model years. The findings were a blow to the two carmakers, which have centered their marketing campaigns on superior fuel economy. The mileage on most labels will be reduced by 1 to 2 miles per gallon, with the largest adjustment being a 6-mpg highway reduction for one version of the Kia Soul, the EPA said. Hyundai previously touted the fact that many of its models get 40 miles per gallon on the highway. Now three Hyundai models, the Elantra, Accent and Veloster, as well as the Kia Rio fall short of that mark, as will the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima hybrids."

Your reasons are roght...[to some extent]...

[bogaboga]

But can you explain this incompetence?

Let's focus on GM. Consider the Impala:

It sits on a 20 year old platform employing a V6 engine (which means fuel economy isn't great), whose horse power is less than some 4-cylinders! To make it worse, it will not get updated till 2014! Think about that, and you convince me. That this is not blatant gimmcry. To add insult to injury, you always hear, "American enginners are the best!"...and stuff like, "The best products are made in America!" Ohh Jeeze..!

Lot of posts...

[Type44Q]

...yet no mention (that I read, anyhow) of the lower numbers caused by fuel contaminated with alcohol. Interestingly enough, I live in one of the only states (if not the only state) that requires gas stations to state whether their fuel contains ethanol or not. I've driven to each and every one of the surrounding states and people looked at me funny when I asked them if their fuel was 100% gasoline. For what it's worth, I can get gas w/10% ethanol (87 octane) for $3.03 a gallon and 100%-pure (87 octane) for $3.19 a gallon. The cost savings of running the contaminated stuff (~5%) don't even begin to make up for the greatly reduced mileage I get - on anything I've driven.

Re:MPG testing - just to add

[Anonymous Coward]

There are driving techniques that can help with this. I use both pulse and glide (push on the gas to get about 5-10 MPH over the speed limit and let off until you are 5-10 MPH under, and let the vehicle slow down up hills) as well as drafting to get very good numbers from my vehicle. Yes, people might have to whine about having to turn off cruise control, but fuck them. My gas is more important, period. You don't have to be right up on a semi's rear end for drafting either. A few car lengths still keeps you in the envelope. Only downside is the semis with the fish-mouth on the back don't offer benefits to drafting, so find one of the ones that don't.

Re:MPG testing - just to add

[Anonymous Coward]

So you are one of those jerks who is constantly speeding up/slowing down and, as a result, forcing others to do so at times when it harms their gas mileage by causing more congestion and/or making others apply their brakes.

Thanks and one day soon may you misjudge or drop you attention for a few minutes and cram [autoblog.com] your car and your empty head under the underride guard on the truck you're drafting behind and thereby improve the gene pool.

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Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:MPG testing - just to add

[StikyPad]

It's true, there are no laws against being a dick.

But some people's time is worth more than the $1/hr you're saving -- perhaps even your own. Not maintaining a steady speed demonstrably reduces traffic flow, increases congestion, and is, in the big picture, a bigger waste of fuel. Focusing on one aspect of driving -- your MPG -- to the exclusion of all else is shortsighted at best.