Low MPG with 2008 3.6L XR AWD

[acemanrocks]

I just purchased a used 2008 3.6L XR AWD Vue and was very disappointed to see that I am consistently getting only 15.5 mpg in this thing. Driving is 50/50 city to Highway. I have been careful to drive conservatively and the MPG stays the same.
What are other getting from your similar Vue?

[far2grumpy]

What kind of mileage were you expecting?

Normal - according to USG - indicates around 18 mpg combined city and highway.

Do you use ethanol mix fuel? If yes - that could reduce mileage by 1.5 to 2.0 mpg. Do you run engine for warmth at all? MPG is zero when setting still.

More info here: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymake/Saturn2008.shtml

[acemanrocks]

I guess I was expecting fall between the 16 and 22 due to the style of driving. Obviously there is a shock from switching from and 28mpg Impala to the Vue. I just was hoping to hit the median. Wanted to see if others were getting better results and if there be reason to dig further into the poor results.

[onefunkar]

friend has an 08 xr vue awd. after i saw this i asked them what they get for mileage because i know they keep track. they said they get between 18 and 2o for 50/50 mix of driving. biggest problem is unusually small gas tank on the awd only so they have to fill up alot. think its only 16 gal.

[olds362]

Watch your tire pressure, I run my tires at about 35psi, not what the sticker recommends. Don't let it sit idling for extended periods. Use the cruise control whenever possible, and set it at about 60 or so if on the highway. I have a fwd XR and I am able to get anywhere from 23 to 28(summertime, highway only) driving very carefully and keeping it around 60 on the highway. Mileage drops quickly driving faster than 60.

[col_dude190]

Not to be negative, but I've have read many reviews and owner comments about getting poor gas mileage on the 3.6 High Feature V6. This seems to be across the board for everything from the Outlook/Traverse/Acadia/Enclave crowd to Malibu/Aura and the '08+ Vue and Equinox Sport. The 3.6 V6 is a great engine with great power, but it seems like no matter how you drive it, it struggles to get those EPA estimates. Its just not a very efficient powerplant.

[onefunkar]

interesting about tire pressure. 2008 was the only year vue with 30 pounds recommended. 2009 and 2010 was 35 pounds. that will help mileage.

[simple2me]

Pull the motor out and put it in a CTS. That's what I done. I put an 08 VUE 3.6L into my 06 CTS and i'm getting about 22-26MPG's depending on how I'm driving and that all depends on the music I'm listening too. LOL!

[BobbyP]

Originally Posted by acemanrocks

I just purchased a used 2008 3.6L XR AWD Vue and was very disappointed to see that I am consistently getting only 15.5 mpg in this thing. Driving is 50/50 city to Highway. I have been careful to drive conservatively and the MPG stays the same.
What are other getting from your similar Vue?

I got about 17 mpg with the same model VUE driving around Baltimore. There wasn't much freeway use. Maybe 70/30 city/highway...

Make sure your tire pressures are around 35 psi, running them around 30 could cost you 1 mpg.

[olds362]

Originally Posted by col_dude190

Not to be negative, but I've have read many reviews and owner comments about getting poor gas mileage on the 3.6 High Feature V6. This seems to be across the board for everything from the Outlook/Traverse/Acadia/Enclave crowd to Malibu/Aura and the '08+ Vue and Equinox Sport. The 3.6 V6 is a great engine with great power, but it seems like no matter how you drive it, it struggles to get those EPA estimates. Its just not a very efficient powerplant.

It all depends on your driving habits, my XR V6 has no problem achieving the EPA estimates and exceeding them. I believe the estimates on my FWD XR were something like 17 city/23 highway and I have no problem getting that kind of mileage. In warm weather with summer blend gasoline, highway only I have gotten as high as 27-28mpg. I try to take the expressway as much as possible and will generally set the cruise about 58-60mph. We have 70mph speed limits here in Michigan and I found out that mileage drops quickly above 60mph. I can see how the larger Acadia/Traverse would get lower mileage, it is larger and heavier with the same engine.

[John]

Originally Posted by onefunkar

. . . biggest problem is unusually small gas tank on the awd only so they have to fill up alot. think its only 16 gal . . .

Correct. According to the manual it's 16.7 gallons for the AWD and 19.2 for the the FWD.

I've always said the AWD fuel economy is the one major dislike with our VUE but those of us who have had one for a while I guess it's sort of just accepted (although that doesn't make it right ). It is a fairly heavy vehicle for it's size.

My wife is the daily driver and she is very good about driving "consistently" and gets 16MPG with 90%/10% city/highway.

If we drive the other way 5%/95% (like on I-70 to visit family) I'd say we get 23MPG or so.

[revues]

I just purchased this model 2 months ago and was really surprised at how often I have to fill it up! I drove a 2002 Ford Escape for 10 years and just thought the mileage would be in the "ball park". Not so! I am getting about 18-19 around town and hope to get more on a long haul. The Escape V6 was getting me 23-24 around town....lesson learned.

[Sweepspear]

My Wife gets 18-19 combined with our '08 VUE XR. It's a 3.6 FWD model.