Optimal Speed for Optimal MPG?

[Aglie]

Originally Posted by jwalk5124

The best MPG you will get on the freeway is probably what the Minimum speed limit is.

On flat roads your best MPG will be when your at the lowest RPM in the highest gear. Not sure what speed that is in manual but in the automatic that is right around 40 MPH.

You can get 60 MPG or higher driving at that speed... but everyone will hate you!

When driving 55 on the local highways in Michigan I can get around 51-52 mpg (my trips are never long enough to keep my MPG that high though)

The 5-speed can maintain a steady-state at perhaps 40 mph if it is flat and straight. I think 60 mpg is probably possible under such ideal conditions. But you can get excellent (40+) gas mileage anywhere from 20 mph to 60 mph in appropriate gears if it is steady-state and flat. Hills and curves are not necessarily bad for gas mileage as long as you don't have to brake; but it is far harder to make sense of instantaneous gas mileage. Over 60 mph the 2011 5-speed's gas mileage starts to decline, such that it's hard to hit 40 mpg at 70 mph, and over 70 mph things get quickly worse. The 2012 has adjusted gear ratios and may do better (or worse).