I've had my wife's '09 Accord EX 4 dr sedan all week--driving it back and forth to work, clients,etc. Just basic around-town type driving and I averaged 30.49 mpg. Highest we've ever got is 34 mpg on the highway.

 

Today I blew the EPA away.
Each way was about 100 miles. Going I got 43.8 and going home I got 41.2. The trip going had the A/C on all the way. Home not as much. Go figure. I have a '14 Accord with the 6 speed manual. This is from the computer. Still must be close to that. Typical 32 mile trip to work in the morning, no A/C or wind is 40, going home 34 to 37. My Fiesta with only a 1.6 engine and 120 HP would beat these numbers by about 2 mpg's! My Accord is 34 mpg and my Fiesta was 37 mpg according to the EPA. I do believe the EPA understates the manual transmissions numbers because they have arbitrary shift points not based on the most efficient mpg's. The auto have complex computers doing the shifting designed for the EPA test. Any thoughts on this?

 

I've heard 2 things that would affect the MPG results... but not sure if either one is urban legend.

EPA test cycle for "highway" driving is not 100 miles constant. It has some starts & stops, but is generally longer distances. You should beat the EPA numbers if you drive 100 miles at constant speed without stopping - say interstate cruising at 60.

EPA procedure specifies the shift points. That was the reason for those annoying "upshift-lamps" of years past. The test sequence could be driven with early shift-points ONLY if that lamp told the driver to shift.

 

MPG of my accords and current 2 cars. mileage was consistent during ownership


city is stop and go and highway is constant cruising speed of 72-75mph


1994 accord 25 city 34 highway 89-168K miles
1998 accord V6 23 city and 33 highway 87-100K miles
2002 CL type S 23 city and 31 highway 37- current
2003 Subaru 21 city and 29 highway 62K miles - current