Outstanding Highway Fuel Economy!

[dave245]

Over the last 2 days I travelled 407/401 from Toronto to Windsor and back (almost 800 km) and on the trip down (speed was 120+ km/h - I got almost 24 miles per imperial gallon (about 19.2 MPG US)) and on the trip back 27.9 MPIG or about 22.3 MPG US (about 10.1 litres/100 km). I slowed down a bit averaging 115 to 120 km/h.

I find this to to be better than I had dreamed (and mine is a loaded GT AWD with the 20" rims).

Ambient temperature was about 85F going to Windsor and about 93F on the way back today.

I only have 2700 km on it so the fuel economy may get even better as it breaks in.

Also, the CX-9 is a fabulous highway cruiser - after 4 hours at the wheel I felt completely relaxed & refreshed - even in heavy traffic (lots of trucks!) around Toronto.

I definitely made the right choice choosing the CX-9!

Dave

[1Sleepy93]

If the V-6 is anything like the 2.3 4 banger then you should see mileage go up as it breaks in.

[ryguy]

I just drove up I-5 from So Cal to the Bay Area. I was averaging about 19mpg on the highway, I was driving pretty quick ~85mph, but considering in 6th gear that is only about 2400rpms I expected to get a little bit better mileage. I do agree that it does well on the highway, much better than my old camry.

btw, I only average about 14 mpg with city driving conditions (albiet fairly hilly), so I am hopeful the mileage goes up, as both are quite a bit below what I expected.

[gobuster]

I just got my CX-9 Sport FWD last Sunday and the first tank gave 19.66 mpg on a combination 30% City 70% freeway (70 - 80 mph cruise). I'm expecting this to improve a bit as the engine loosens up - not bad at all for a car this big!

[sranger]

I have seen as little as 15mpg ( towing) and as much as 19mph ( mostly highway )... Not great, but not bad...

[l-miwa]

Took my first out of town trip with our CX-9 (AWD GT). Filled up, got on the interstate, got off, and filled up again. 21.0mpg with the cruise set to 75mph.

[P5w3kids]

Not bad, though I expected a bit higher for "outstanding."

Responses for the CX-9 on my site's Fuel Economy Survey are here:

Mazda CX-9 fuel economy (http://www.truedelta.com/fuel_economy.php?stage=pt&bd=Mazda&mc=730)

[ericvic]

On my 149 mile trip back from the dealer I got 23.63 MPG on my CX-9 (FWD GT) going about 70 to 75 in cruise most of the time.

[RVC]

Wow, you guys are doing well! Mine is about 15.9 average mpg 50/50 city highway with a very light foot. It's a GT FWD with only 900 miles on it. I hope it gets better as it gets some mileage on it!.

[altspace]

Welcome aboard.

[RVC]

Thanks!

[the gamper]

Thanks!

That fuel economy is a little dissapointing. I currently own a 2005 Pathfinder 4WD that probably has 500 lbs on the CX-9, fully boxed frame, locking differential and more power from a 4 liter V6 and I get 20 mpg on the highway, around 16 mpg in mixed driving. That is average mpg, but I dont believe I ever get below low teens in city driving.

I think this whole crossover thing is meaningless. So you get a more car like ride, but the manufacturers are making them so big there are no real weight difference between the unibody structures and body on frame SUVs of similar size. Mazda needs to put the CX-9 and CX-7 on a diet, shed a few hundred pound. Hopefully the larger engine in the CX-9 will actually help for 2008, I have a feeling that the 3.5 is somewhat taxed pulling around 4500 lbs.

[jrtouareg]

That fuel economy is a little dissapointing. I currently own a 2005 Pathfinder 4WD that probably has 500 lbs on the CX-9, fully boxed frame, locking differential and more power from a 4 liter V6 and I get 20 mpg on the highway, around 16 mpg in mixed driving. That is average mpg, but I dont believe I ever get below low teens in city driving.

I think this whole crossover thing is meaningless. So you get a more car like ride, but the manufacturers are making them so big there are no real weight difference between the unibody structures and body on frame SUVs of similar size. Mazda needs to put the CX-9 and CX-7 on a diet, shed a few hundred pound. Hopefully the larger engine in the CX-9 will actually help for 2008, I have a feeling that the 3.5 is somewhat taxed pulling around 4500 lbs.

I've had 3 Pathfinders and while you are correct on the mileage, you can barely fit 5 people in that car. We just got back from our family vacation and got 25 MPG on the highway with 5 people in the CX-9 plus an 18 cu. ft. cargo carrier on top travelling across the Smoky Mountains at 70 - 80 mph avg. BTW, the car only has 3000 miles on it. My VW Touareg is full time 4WD, weighs 5800 lbs, 0 to 60 in 6.3 sec., will tow 12,000 lbs AND averages 18 mpg in town and 25 mpg on the highway. Oh, I forgot to mention it runs on clean diesel technology, which is 15 cents cheaper per gallon than regular gas in our part of the country.

[RVC]

I sure do hope it gets better. 15.9 is just plain old sucky! My friends 07' Ram 1500 4X4 with a 6 inch lift and 36" tires gets 16+ on the highway. We will see!

[nj_jamaican]

Hi All, I had a an interesting gas experience today. I bought my CX9 FWD, Copper Red towing with nav, last week and decided to determine how much my first tank of gas was. I filled up last saturday and do about 50/50 highway/city.

This morning the E light came on and so i drove about 3 miles on E to the office. I left the office this evening heading home and decided to see how far this CX9 runs on E. So I drive about 10 miles from work to the nearest gas station home. When I arrived at the gas station (thanking God that the vehicle didn't run out of gas) I calculated my MPG and proceeded to fill up. Based on my calculations (329 miles/20.1 gallons) my first tank of gas registered 16.1 gallons per mile. I was somewhat disappointed but knew this going into the purchase.

Here is what threw me off . The gas station attendant filled my tank which was orignally on E and the pump recorded 17.847 gallons to fill up. Now this means to me that with an additional 2.25 gallons of gas left over in the tank prior to filling up, I should have been able to travel an additional 36 to 60miles (FWD rated 18/24) or even a little bit more which would truly bring my MPG total to any where between 19-22 MPG on my first tank. This also means that I should expect some good mileage on a long highway trip.

Now this to me solidifies the comment made by folks herein that a trip computer is relevant, because I could have done a Cosmo Kramer (headshake and squeezed out a lot more MPG has I been mroe aware of the reserve in the tank.

anyway, I love my car!!! (cheers2)

[l-miwa]

The first tank isn't a good check as you don't know how full it was when you got it. Also, mileage is calculated based on amount of gas used (amount needed to refill tank after driving), NOT on the capacity of the tank.

So assuming your tank was actually full to start with and refilled to the same level, you actually got 18.4 mpg (329 / 17.847).

Usually the warning light comes on with at least 50 miles left.

[P5w3kids]

To restate what he said in different terms, you fill up first, calculate MPG second. And you need to know the tank was full to begin with.

The best way to handle this:
1. Fill up, letting it click off twice (so you know it's full)
2. Drive--doesn't matter how far, though further will yield a more accurate result (dividing any error by more gallons)
3. Fill up, noting miles traveled and the gallons put in.
4. Divide miles driven by number of gallons put in.

And I hope you meant 16 miles per gallon, not 16 gallons per mile:)

[nj_jamaican]

Never thought of it that way. Thanks for the clarification. For years I have thought of it as total miles divided by total tank capacity.

Thanks again.

[Lexx]

Hi All, I had a an interesting gas experience today. I bought my CX9 FWD, Copper Red towing with nav, last week and decided to determine how much my first tank of gas was. I filled up last saturday and do about 50/50 highway/city.

This morning the E light came on and so i drove about 3 miles on E to the office. I left the office this evening heading home and decided to see how far this CX9 runs on E. So I drive about 10 miles from work to the nearest gas station home. When I arrived at the gas station (thanking God that the vehicle didn't run out of gas) I calculated my MPG and proceeded to fill up. Based on my calculations (329 miles/20.1 gallons) my first tank of gas registered 16.1 gallons per mile. I was somewhat disappointed but knew this going into the purchase.

Here is what threw me off . The gas station attendant filled my tank which was orignally on E and the pump recorded 17.847 gallons to fill up. Now this means to me that with an additional 2.25 gallons of gas left over in the tank prior to filling up, I should have been able to travel an additional 36 to 60miles (FWD rated 18/24) or even a little bit more which would truly bring my MPG total to any where between 19-22 MPG on my first tank. This also means that I should expect some good mileage on a long highway trip.

Now this to me solidifies the comment made by folks herein that a trip computer is relevant, because I could have done a Cosmo Kramer (headshake and squeezed out a lot more MPG has I been mroe aware of the reserve in the tank.
anyway, I love my car!!! (cheers2)
Your mileage is quite independent of when the E light comes on, as long as you measure it using a reliable method. Your method described above is effectively random for all intents. My suggestion is to reset either A or B trip odometer at a FULL TANK fill up, and then calculate your mileage since the last fill up on the next FULL TANK fill up using the trip odometer reading by dividing trip odometer reading by the number of gallons just filled up (this will give you MPG). Then, reset the trip odometer again, rinse, and repeat the procedure at the next FULL TANK fill up.

For Canadian to get L/100km, of course, divide litres just filled up by km travelled and multiply by 100.

For the record, my AWD GT, at 4500 km, with 2 passengers and excessive luggage, just did about 12.6L/100km (i.e. 18.7 MPG) on 80/20 highway /street driving -- I consider that pretty good. And by the way, this is about 25% better than it did at about 1500 km, so there is definite improvement as the car wears in.

[nj_jamaican]

Interestingly enough the reason why I calculated it that way for the CX9 was actually because I have always done it for me past vehicle a Ford Explorer.

With the Explorer it was a guarantee that once the fuel light came on you had a few more miles to go and could not play around. In other words hte light came on when there was bare bones left to drive on. As such, the explorer tank capacity was 22.5 to fill up. In most instances after the light came on and i drove around abit to find a gas station, to fill up it would generally take on average 22.1 gallons to fill up, which I concluded was essentially the full tank. where as with the CX9 I was thrown a loop.. The explorer mileage was terrible though at about 13-14 MPG -50/50. It was a V8.

Again thanks for the info and help. I am now better quipped to calculate true mileage from the CX9.

[100$ GUY]

Well, having driven 46 kilometers since we left the dealer I filled up the tank. At 446 kms it required 18.1 gallons to fill, so 446-46 equals 400kms which are 250miles, so 250 / 18.1
got 13.82 mpg in my first tank . It this the way to calculate it?

ANyway, I've got an 08 GT AWD , and it was mostly bumper to bumper and city driving, with around 30% highway and sometimes the ac on. I really hope that the mpg improves, since it was only my first tank. Anybody knows how much the MPG improves??

[totalcarnage]

I typically get 13-15mpg, though I drive 85city/15hwy.

[100$ GUY]

I typically get 13-15mpg, though I drive 85city/15hwy.

Well, that is kinda low right, leadfoot or u take it easy? I take it easy since it hasnt break in.

[TheB52s]

Hi, I'm new to this forum. I just bought an 07 CX9 FWD to replace an 02 Expedition with a 5.4 L V8. It was getting up there in mileage and with over $90/barrel for oil wanted something to help with fuel economy. Plus the dealership had a really good deal couldn't pass up.

It will be used to haul a family of six plus a beagle mix, mostly in-town. I will be using a roof top carrier and a possible hitch haul for our yearly camping trip, vacations and visits to family to Lousiana. I used the roof top carrier and the hitch haul on the Expedition, too. The CX9 has the rear lights higher and won't be blocked by the gear on the hitch haul for taller loads.

We anticipate losing a child to college next year so for most of the service will be down to 5 then to four in two more years when another one goes.

O.K. the interior is smaller than the Expedition but it drives significantly nicer from a comfort and performance standpoint. It has all the updated safety features like three row side air bags, traction control, anti-rollover control, abs, etc and tire pressure monitoring. I like the 6 speed transmission and "shift-matic" manual control and latest in engine technology such as variable valve tech.

Now for my fuel economy:

My copper red CX9 had 294 miles at purchase and was full of gas. First fill up (60 hwy/40 city) 17.7 mpg. Third fill up (90 hwy/10 city) going to Dallas was 22.4 mpg (with just my wife and son at a soccer college showcase tournament).

We didn't record the mileage on the second fill up but I put in over 20 gallons. I didn't run out of gas but the light had been on for ~ 10 miles. The spec states 20 gallons so it may hold more ~20.5?

I believe I can get better fuel economy as the car breaks in. And will report on this forum.

Also, visit the governement's MPG site at www.fueleconomy.org for shared statistics on all cars including the CX9.

Looking forward to the forum.

________________________
02 Regular Cab Tacoma 2.4L 4cyl auto
04 Lancer ES 2.0L 4clyl 5 speed
07 CX9 3.5L variable valve tech, 6 speed auto/"shift matic"

[rh10023]

Anyone have new MPG stats to share? Looking to get a new car and it is between the CX-9 and Highlander. Still need to test drive, plan to do some serious looking in January.

[P5w3kids]

You'll find detailed results for many models here:

Real-world fuel economy survey (http://www.truedelta.com/fuel_economy.php)

[o.c.cx9]

I have a 2008 CX-9 GT AWD with just over 800 miles on it. I am getting 13.5 MPG all city driving and I am not heavy footed.

I hope it get better with age.

Tom

[100$ GUY]

I have a 2008 CX-9 GT AWD with just over 800 miles on it. I am getting 13.5 MPG all city driving and I am not heavy footed.

I hope it get better with age.

Tom

Yeah, I get around that same MPG and yes, mostly city driving, plenty of stop and go....and sometimes with A/C on. I have just over 1300miles.

[CX9 SportOwner]

recent 800 mile trip to Cali, including LA, PCH, Yosemite, Tehachapi, etc. I am a little heavy footed in our CX9 (this car demands to be driven), and LOVE tossing it around winding roads and LA traffic. Mountains, hills, LA freeways, stop and go, icy roads, and we averaged 21 MPG for the entire trip and after each fillup. I'm very pleased with that. And no, we didnt stop in El Portal for gas at $4.75. Yikes

[jwehrheim]

The MPG on the CX9 SUCKS. I just took a trip from Atlanta to Daytona and only got 20 MPG on the Highway.

I recently sold my Excursion Turbo Diesel. I got 19 MPG with my Diesel on the Highway. I also had 95,000 miles on it and was NEVER in the shop except for tires and oil changes.

[ryguy]

20 mpg on the freeway sounds about normal for me. I get usually 15-20mpg.

[Force-1]

I am getting about 18.5 MPG in combined city/hwy driving. Haven't taken it on a road trip yet, so highway mileage waits to be seen.

My CX-9 replaced an Escalade that got 14-15 MPG, so any increase is welcome. (thumb)

[bill42]

I have now calculated my pure highway mileage for 3 full tanks now, and I average only 18.5 for all highway driving. (averaging 70mph)

I don't understand why I am below the newly calculated EPA of 20mpg.

Under the old EPA system, my 2002 volvo was rated at 32 mpg and I got exactly that all the time on the highway, and I drove that car even faster than I drive the CX-9.
Around town I am getting 13.5, and I get 15 for mixed driving.

Do I have a whole in the gas tank? Or could my 2008 AWD with the tow package have something to do with it?

[LiquidPlatinum]

2007 Touring with towing. Well loaded driving at 70-75 mph, my freeway mileage between Houston-Atlanta-Houston works out to 24.08 MPG. City mpg was not so pretty, around 12-15. Cheers all.

LiquidPlatinum

[TheMAN]

22mpg is "outstanding"? HAHAHHAHA
now I remember why europeans laugh at us for driving gas guzzlers

[bill42]

22 is outstanding to me! (for a 4500 pound vehicle)
And LiquidPlatinum got 24??? Are you sure you measured you gallons properly? I guess you had front wheel drive, but that is amazing to get 2 mpg over the EPA rating when you are driving at faster speeds than the EPA uses for testing. Now I am really confused as to why I am getting 18.5 highway.

[l-miwa]

Best I've managed so far for a whole tank is 21.0mpg at a steady 75mph. That's for a 2007 GT AWD.

[tambeng]

I live in Washington State. Drives about 50/50 City/Highway. I got an average between 15-16 mpg with my 07 CX9 AWD which is the same with my 2007 Ford Expedition. I drive the CX9 the same way like I drive my Expedition (very light footed).

Very dissapointed with the CX9 mpg. Hopefully it gets better...

I have about 1500 miles in my CX9.

[l-miwa]

I've got a little over 20K miles on my 2007 CX-9 GT AWD. Overall mileage is 18.3mpg with 54% of the miles on the highway. Every tank is documented on www.truedelta.com (which I highly recommend).

A few observations:

Cold weather really kills gas mileage - an easy 2mpg for me!
Steady 75mph on the interstate consistently gets 21+mpg.
Worst I've ever gotten for a tank was 16.0mpg.
Using the cruise control (even in the city/suburbs) REALLY increases mileage.
Having a ScanGuage (www.scanguage.com) constantly showing instantaneous and average mpg helps keep my foot out of the gas :)