38.5mpg according to the multifunction display

[eRic]

AVG mpg is 30.9 now last tank full was 37 mpg.

[MGREEN11]

Filled up my Fiesta for the 5th time. I reset the MPG and averaged MPH monitors. I drove a short mile to the highway and drove about 36 miles with an average speed of 60 - 65 MPH. I was surprised at the MPG by the time I coasted on the off-ramp at my exit - 50.2! This was strictly all highway miles as stated. I did a lot of coasting as well as slip-streaming next to semi-trucks (although I don't think that helped; I'd like to think it didn't). Once off the highway, the MPGs started coming down quickly in my 4 mile stretch from the highway to the office. Based on what I've observed and experienced so far with this new Fiesta, I would suggest that my mileage stats will be as follows:

Strictly City: 32 - 35 MPG
Combined" 35 - 38 MPG
Strictly Hwy: 40 - 45 comfortably and possibly more?

I had questioned anything over 40 (although I had full expectations that the car would get 40 on the highway), but close to 50? Wow!

[anverc]

My wife is barely getting 21... Every time I get a chance to drive it goes up.. hah

[Corvair]

My first three fill ups the comuter was 1.2 to 1.8 to high. My last tank it was 0.7 to low. My range has been 35.0 to 38.6. Mostly highway, mostly a/c on. The first 20 miles on this tank is just over 30, all in town, stop and go and a/c working hard.

Mine has the 5 speed. I was driving to get good mpgs. Still haven't taken it up to redline.

My first car's record was 26 mpg. '76 Pontiac Astre (Chevy Vega clone). 2.2 liter 4 with auto. Subcompact. 0-60 about 20 seconds!

[Fiesta33460]

i have reset the computer while traveling highway, cruise set at 65, a/c on Max, and it shows 45-47 at that time. I think Ford got robbed by the EPA stating 39 hwy with the 5-speed. i got 40.5 on a 250-mile roundtrip across Florida last week (State Road 80/mostly hwy/cruise at 65/ a/c Max). Getting around 33 in-town (50/50 hwy/suburban).

[iamz]

Originally Posted by Fiesta33460

i have reset the computer while traveling highway, cruise set at 65, a/c on Max, and it shows 45-47 at that time. I think Ford got robbed by the EPA stating 39 hwy with the 5-speed. i got 40.5 on a 250-mile roundtrip across Florida last week (State Road 80/mostly hwy/cruise at 65/ a/c Max). Getting around 33 in-town (50/50 hwy/suburban).

Go to the EPA site and check out what they consider "Highway miles". There's almost no steady speed at all and the average speed is about 45 mph. All cars are tested the same though so, it's at least comparative.

[tjl]

Originally Posted by iamz

Go to the EPA site and check out what they consider "Highway miles". There's almost no steady speed at all and the average speed is about 45 mph. All cars are tested the same though so, it's at least comparative.

The EPA highway lab test gives very high fuel economy numbers. From 1985 to 2007, they adjusted the highway numbers down by 22% for printing on window stickers. In 2008, they added more tests resulting in further reductions; the pre-2008 numbers were further adjusted downward on Fuel Economy .

Note, however, that manual transmission cars are shifted in the following way for EPA testing, regardless of how appropriate the shift points are:

1->2 @ 15mph
2->3 @ 25mph
3->4 @ 40mph
4->5 @ 45mph
5->6 @ 50mph

A car company can install an upshift light and have a retest following the upshift light, but also has to run a shift survey to see what percentage of drivers shift at the upshift light shift points. The test using the upshift light and the EPA's standard shift points are combined by weighted average.

Given that the Fiesta can cruise in 5th at 35mph (where an EPA test with standard shift points would still have it in 3rd), there is substantial leeway for "short shifting" a Fiesta for better fuel economy than the EPA (although pure high speed highway cruising will not give as good fuel economy as the automatic with a higher top gear). The Honda Fit and some other Hondas are similar in this respect.

[eRic]

today it's showing 31.0 AVG mpg