Does the gas mileage get better as the car gets 'broken in'? I got a new Accord 4 cyl ATthat had no miles on it (ok the odometer said '4' when I picked it up) and I'm getting fairly poor gas mileage- about 18 MPG - I drive just to and from work, 25 miles each way, and it's about 70% constant speed highway type driving with no stoplights, etc. I have been driving very 'timidly'; no quick starts or high revving.
I've been filling up with midgrade (89 octane) gas.

 

I drive a similar profile w/ a 94 EX (210K miles) and it gets between 27-30 mpg on that trip. I would think your's should do that after breakin. If you've got over 5000 miles and still getting poor mileage I would ask Honda to investigate.

good luck

 

Our 2003 4-cyl 5-spd never got that bad even during break-in. I'd start looking at things now.

Tire pressures OK?
Alignment?
Brakes dragging?
Tranny shifting properly?
Do you live in the mountains?
IIRC it should take regular (87AKI) gas.

 

Take it back, have them check it out. You need to go as often as possible until it gets the right MPG. You must build a case. Save all service documents. You may need them in court later if it comes down to a lawsuit. You should be getting at least 28 to 30 MPG. My friend bought the same car (2005), he is getting 30-34 MPG from the very beginning. By the way, dont waste your money on mid-grade gas, there is no need for that.

 

Wait until the car has 5000 on it before getting too worried. My accord's mileage imporved drastically after i got a few miles on it.

Also, how are you measuring the mpg? There was another member who was eyeballing the gage and figured he was only getting 10 mpg based on what he put in. Do a quick search. THere was some decent info in that thread.

 

Ok this time I was a little more scientific about it. I ran the car until the tank was almost empty (needle was at E, light had been on for a while), then filled the tank all the way and reset trip odometer.
Ran the car back down almost to empty and did a fill up.
The odometer said 388.6 and the fill up was 14.142 gals. So I averaged about 27.5MPG- which is much better but still a little dissapointing, since historically Hondas beat their MPG ratings. I figured on a ride like mine which is not a lot of stop and go it would be closer to the hiway rating (34) than the city rating (24).
I know the govt came up with new MPG ratings (see http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/ratings2008.shtml) so maybe that's why.

 

How many miles on it? My car just started getting low 30s on the hwy...at about 6000 miles, with the exception of the time I filled up at Valero. I think they just **** in the tanks there.

 

Your mileage is on the money for a brand new engine, give it time. Mine didn't peak until past 5000 miles. Putting 89 octane in it isn't helping anything other than the gasoline companies, 87 is all it will ever need.