[tom cat]

I keep seeing posts here and elsewhere of people claiming 30+ miles per gallon. I have the 4-cylinder AWD and have never come close to that. Even if it's all highway miles, maybe 26 to 27 that's it. If it's only city and short trips...about 22.

Even the manufacturer doesn't claim much better.

Are people just exaggerating or do some people really get that kind of mileage?

I'm not complaining. I drive so few miles it almost doesn't matter....still this is puzzling to me.
Any comments would be appreciated.

 

[XR650R]

I average around 26-27 in mixed (lots of county roads) driving with the 2.0, according to my mileage tracker. Some UK folks get in the 30s, but they didn't get the 2.0, and their gallons are bigger, so it's the same.
A lot of it has to do with how you drive. I use the cruise control wherever possible. That seems to help a lot.

Also, you said you don't don't drive a lot of miles. It gets worse mileage if it isn't fully warmed up. That takes about 10 minutes or more.

The Eco is a heavy little beast. 3300+ lbs. before you get in it. It's also not very aerodynamic, and the torque converter isn't as efficient as the CVTs found in the competition. Of course, it's tougher than most CVTs, which is why it can tow 2000 lbs., so it's a trade-off.

I think the 1.0 could get 30+ if you took it easy on a highway trip, but that engine has to work hard pushing that heavy chassis around. It will get 40+ highway in a Fiesta, but that's a much lower, lighter car. It's a shame that Ford didn't put the 1.5 3 cylinder Ecoboost in it. That would give it better power and better highway mileage in 2-cylinder cruising mode. But then, it would be quicker than the Escape, and Ford can't have that!

Unrelated, but my Fiesta ST gets around 31 mpg. It's a 1.6 turbo tuned for premium, but at $1.00 more per gallon, I spend about the same per mile. That thing is rocking about 235 hp and 300 tq., though. It's quick.

 

[Jim2029]

I get 30-31mpg with my 2018 awd. I run the recommend octane fuel, premium. I stick to one brand fuel, Marathon. I usually keep the tach under 3500rpm. I do the speed limit... Being 55mph in a 55mph zone. I drive 100 miles a day with some hills. If I do 60mph everywhere it drops off to 27mpg or so.

Yes I get passed, and I don't care.

 

[helo735]

I average around 24-25 in mixed driving, and a heavy foot in my ses 4WD. I just replaced my tires and went from 205/50R17 to 225/60/R17 and I'm sure that will not have a good effect on mileage.

 

[tom cat]

I just wanted to say thanks to all that replied and to anyone who might add to this thread. It's good to know that others are getting more or less what I'm getting. I have owned many new cars and I have yet to have one that went beyond what the manufacturers claim. In fact, it's always been a little below.

No doubt, the manufacturer's claim is under perfect conditions. The car was perfectly tuned, with the freshest gas and perfect driving conditions ( meaning no wind or hills or air conditioner on ) along with a feather touch on the gas pedal. While I don't have a lead foot, I'm sure I could ease up on the acceleration and do better at coasting to the next red light.

As I said, I'm not complaining. I just wanted to be sure my mileage is within what can be expected given some of the variables.

 

[tom cat]

I get 30-31mpg with my 2018 awd. I run the recommend octane fuel, premium. I stick to one brand fuel, Marathon. I usually keep the tach under 3500rpm. I do the speed limit... Being 55mph in a 55mph zone. I drive 100 miles a day with some hills. If I do 60mph everywhere it drops off to 27mpg or so.

Yes I get passed, and I don't care.

Wait, I just realized what you said..... "I run the recommended octane fuel, premium."

I have a 2019 Eco Sport SES AWD. The manual does not call for premium. Are you saying the 2018 does?
While I think the quality of gas can make a difference, I have always read that a higher octane other than what's recommended will do little more than increase your gas bill.

I'm not saying you are wrong, but this is what I've been led to believe....maybe you could clarify. Does the 2018 manual actually call for premium or do you do it because you do get better mileage?

I would be curious either way and is exactly why I started this thread....

 

[cantyoumember12]

Our 2022 Ruby Red Metallic AWD 2.0 gets about 27-30 most of the time. I keep it within 5 of the posted. Very rarely do I punch it but maybe to pass.

 

[Jim2029]

Our 2022 Ruby Red Metallic AWD 2.0 gets about 27-30 most of the time. I keep it within 5 of the posted. Very rarely do I punch it but maybe to pass.

Design to use 87 octane, but for best performance and reliability 91 or higher is recommended.

 

[XR650R]

Design to use 87 octane, but for best performance and reliability 91 or higher is recommended.

The 2.0 has a 12.1:1 compression ratio. I would imagine it would make more power on premium.

 

[rkrosnar]

I keep seeing posts here and elsewhere of people claiming 30+ miles per gallon. I have the 4-cylinder AWD and have never come close to that. Even if it's all highway miles, maybe 26 to 27 that's it. If it's only city and short trips...about 22.

Even the manufacturer doesn't claim much better.

Are people just exaggerating or do some people really get that kind of mileage?

I'm not complaining. I drive so few miles it almost doesn't matter....still this is puzzling to me.
Any comments would be appreciated.

Hey There,

I am retired and don't drive much. I get 21 - 23 city and 33-34 highway. The highway mileage is when I drove to Penn State in fall and winter for football and hockey.

 

[helo735]

I just towed a 2000lb UHaul trailer from Southern Utah to Portland, Oregon and through all of the hills and climbing I did, I managed 22mpg on the trip.

 

[tom cat]

Design to use 87 octane, but for best performance and reliability 91 or higher is recommended.

Sorry, I'm a little late in replying. I reread my manual. Mine does say "designed to use 87 octane".....I guess that's all I remembered....because on the next page it also says "for best overall engine performance, premium fuel with an 91 octane or higher is recommended". So, I stand corrected. Not trying to quibble here, but it says nothing about reliability. Perhaps your 2018 manual does.
No matter, I'm going to try a tank of premium, I did a little math and I will have to get somewhere between 4 and 5 extra mpg to justify the extra cost.
Even if I just break even, it still may be the way to go just to get a little extra performance.

Again...thanks to all who have added their thoughts and comments.

 

[XR650R]

I was thinking about trying that just to see if I notice a difference. When I went to fill it up, I noticed that 93 was $1.50 more per gallon than the 87! Freakin' oil companies!
I put regular in it.
My other car (Fiesta ST) can run on regular on the stock tune, but Ford's hp rating for it is based on using 93 octane. That's worth about 10 hp over 87, or about 5% more power.

That's on a turbo, though. I don't know how it applies to our engines. It's probably about the same.
I think I would opt for premium if I was carrying a lot of weight or pulling a trailer, just to keep the engine pulling consistently. A little more oomph wouldn't hurt in that situation.

 

[XR650R]

Here's an interesting video that compares 2 Jeeps; the Renegade and the Compass. Even though they share an identical drivetrain, the bigger, heavier Compass gets slightly better mileage. Go to 14:29. The reason is aerodynamics.

.

 

[XR650R]

The Eco is a brick, aerodynamically. That's why the new, bigger and heavier Escape with the 1.5 turbo gets better mileage than this car.
This is one of the reasons Ford is dropping the Eco and Fiesta. They're going to electric vehicles, and they make such good power, people will just opt for bigger over sportier. Your average consumer doesn't even know how to drive a manual, and doesn't care about performance, outside of image.
There will be small, sporty EVs, but that's a different kind of market. I doubt we'll ever see a subcompact EV from Ford in the US. If you like your Eco, keep it. Cars just get bigger from here.

I like mine because of the styling. I like the high ground clearance. I like it because the engine and transmission are proven reliable. I like it for the same reasons it's so popular in the 3rd world, and they didn't even get 4WD or the 2.0 Duratec. They got the 1.0 or diesels, with 5 speed manuals.

My other car is a Fiesta ST, like the one above. The 2 cars are from the same platform and have almost the exact same wheelbase and width. My Fiesta, with a 210 whp/276 wtq turbo engine, gets better mileage, especially at higher speeds than I would ever drive the Eco on the freeway. The Fiesta is way lower and slipperier and weighs 600 lbs. less, and it doesn't have a torque converter.

The biggest downside to the Eco is that it gets poor mileage for its segment. That's understandable. It's heavy, and about as aerodynamic as a semi truck. It's a tough little car, though, and it can tow and carry and get through more crap than you might think. I like how it handles a lot better than I thought it would. It's tall for such a small vehicle, but it doesn't feel tippy in corners, and it feels planted at any speed. I'm keeping mine until I can't.

 

[Tbolt]

Our Eco will probably get passed down to my daughter in six years. It's a great little car.

 

[XR650R]

Our Eco will probably get passed down to my daughter in six years. It's a great little car.

Yup. Mine's grown on me. I really like it.

 

[earlmader]

I keep seeing posts here and elsewhere of people claiming 30+ miles per gallon. I have the 4-cylinder AWD and have never come close to that. Even if it's all highway miles, maybe 26 to 27 that's it. If it's only city and short trips...about 22.

Even the manufacturer doesn't claim much better.

Are people just exaggerating or do some people really get that kind of mileage?

I'm not complaining. I drive so few miles it almost doesn't matter....still this is puzzling to me.
Any comments would be appreciated.

I have a '21 Titanium with the 1.0 and if I get it out on the highway for a long trip, I can hit 34 MPG with it...

 

[XR650R]

Premium is a buck more than regular around here. So, I compromised and filled it with mid grade. Not sure if it makes it any faster, but it does seem to run quieter. Less "knock-y."

 

[dougvickie2444]

Hey There,

I am retired and don't drive much. I get 21 - 23 city and 33-34 highway. The highway mileage is when I drove to Penn State in fall and winter for football and hockey.

Have 2018 ecosport se 1.0! Have averaged 31 mpg over 61000 miles tracked on fuelly! Hwy about 32-34 . City around 25! Have had two tanks of 40mpg driving 55 to 60 mph!