EPA MPG Estimates are Seriously Flawed

[GeneK]

EPA MPG Estimates seem to be flawed. They seem to be accurate on smaller lighter vehicles but off on larger vehicles. Sometimes way off.

2006 Hyundai Accent 1.6L Automatic
Estimates 25/33 28 (Corrected)
Actual: 24-26 MPG City and 30-32 MPG Hwy. 28 MPG Combined

2011 Mustang GT Manual with Optional 3.55 Gears
Estimates 17/26 20
Actual: 27 MPG Combined

2010 Ram 1500 Crew Cab 4x4 4.7L (Worse rated Dodge 1500)
Estimates 13/18 15
Actual: 18.3 (Included Snow and 4WD) to 21.5 mpg. 19.5 mpg lifetime average. It even got 19+ mpg with all the 4-Way Stops (Dead Traffic Lights) and community assistance work here in N. Alabama the last couple of weeks.

1983 Dodge Diplomat 5.2L V8
Estimates 14/18 15 (Corrected)
Actual: 20 MPG City and 27-31 MPG Highway.
I dont even know where to start with this one.

[bowtieguy]

truth is most(all?) EPA estimates can be beaten if driven correctly.

[benfrogg]

It really boggles my mind sometimes how much I've changed my driving habits. I ride with relatives once in a while (my girlfriend is also a hyper-miler) and am appalled at how inefficiently they drive. My mom has a ridgeline with a gauge right on the dash saying she's getting 16.5mpg almost all the time. She pretends like it's not even there!
Once you've become a hypermiler, it seems those around you adopt some of the driving habits and skew mpg estimates. Maybe it's just me, but I drive so much differently than I did last year that I don't even remember how bad it was.
B

[FrugalFloyd]

Tightwad is completely wrong. EPA estimates are spot on for the average driver. It's us hypermilers who are seriously flawed (in a good way).

[theholycow]

Where did you get a corrected EPA estimate for a 1983 model?

[Jay2TheRescue]

The EPA used to have a online calculator to convert old estimates to new ones.

[theholycow]

I can't even find an old estimate for a 1983 (or my 1980). In fact I can't even find the downloadable data I used to find with old cars and CAFE numbers and everything...

[imzjustplayin]

The 1983 fuel economy estimates are CAFE fuel economy numbers, so the "converter" you all are talking about wouldn't work because it's suppose to convert 1985-2007 fuel economy estimates to 2008 estimates.. 1985-2007 fuel economy estimates are already adjusted from the CAFE estimates.. If you find fuel economy numbers for a vehicle pre 1984, those are likely cafe fuel economy estimates which while are still in use today, you won't find them on the Monroney sticker or advertised anywhere. You have to specifically look for the cafe fuel economy numbers.

[slurp812]

I guess that is why they are called estimates. As always, YMMV...

[GasSavers_GasUser]

Yeah, they tried to correct them but they are still way off. But there are just so many variables involved. Any normal driver can beat the EPA numbers, while hypermilers can do much better, and lead-footers are draging the bowels of FE......haha