Outlook - Gas mileage problems??

[Mac248]

My 2008 Outlook is just a couple weeks old, but I am finding the gas mileage to be very disappointing. At 800 miles, I'm averaging about 12 mpg. It's a FWD, so it was said to be 16 and 24. I don't know if this is a typical problem or could be individual to my car - has anyone else experienced lower than predicted (promised - advertised...) mpg on their 2007 or 2008 Outlooks? If so, were you able to get any help or resolution from the dealer. Thanks for any info.

[jf7fsu]

My mileage has been miserable as well around 12-14. I stopped checking it. If I did not love this truck so much I might be mad!!

[Smee]

Is that by the cars calculation or yours? My 08 XR AWD is running around 15 in town (wife) and 23 highway (me), cars calculation.

[mpiersd]

Originally Posted by Smee

Is that by the cars calculation or yours? My 08 XR AWD is running around 15 in town (wife) and 23 highway (me), cars calculation.

Same here, I am averaging lower than stated on the EPA rating. Something around 14 city if I recall. The mileage has slowly been increasing as the truck breaks in though. The first tank averaged 15 mostly highway as we picked up the Outlook on our way out of town for a canoe trip.
And like above, it gets about 3-4 mpg better when I do most of the driving.

[saturn.sara]

New cars never get good gas mileage when they are brand new. Once your Outlook gets about 7000 miles on it, it will start getting better gas mileage. It takes a little while for the engine to get "broke in". (Like a pair of nice leather shoes.)

[K-1]

Post what your average commute is. If you don't drive the EPA test loop, you won't get the EPA numbers.

[VMMVMMM]

I sure hope it improves, my wife just did a long trip with mild roads at about 75 mph and only reached about 22mpg. Granted this is better than our previous vehicle, but nowhere near the 26 mpg that was advertised for our FWD.

In travelling I do notice a significant decrease in mpg when increasing speed from 65 to 75. In a trip I took a couple of weeks ago, if I kept it around 65, I could get 24+, so that may be the secret.

[montrealvue]

I am seriously considering buying a FWD Outlook in the next year but I am having second thoughts after seeing how poor the mileage is in the city. These numbers are worse than the outgoing Envoy/Trailblazer which had larger engines and were heavier vehicles. Anyone tried driving like there is an egg under their right foot? Does it make a big difference?

[QuinneyZoo1]

I've had my Outlook for almost 7 months and have over 11,000 miles on it. I drive in normally heavy traffic (stop & go) and get 17+ miles per galloon. On longer trips I get in the 20's. I have an AWD though. When I first got it, I was concerned over the gas mileage but the more mileage I put on it the better it gets.

[VMMVMMM]

In the city, which is where we do most of our driving, we usually end up between 16 and 18 mpg with our FWD.

[sixsigma]

15.8 mpg. Mostly city.

[ThePlainsman]

Originally Posted by QuinneyZoo1

I've had my Outlook for almost 7 months and have over 11,000 miles on it. I drive in normally heavy traffic (stop & go) and get 17+ miles per galloon. On longer trips I get in the 20's. I have an AWD though. When I first got it, I was concerned over the gas mileage but the more mileage I put on it the better it gets.

My results are very similar. AWD and mostly highway driving.

[MP4-22]

At 800 miles you can't even begin to sniff what the true MPG will be once the engine is broken in. Give it at least 2000 miles before you panic and 5000 miles before you completely freak out.

[MP4-22]

Originally Posted by VMMVMMM

I sure hope it improves, my wife just did a long trip with mild roads at about 75 mph and only reached about 22mpg. Granted this is better than our previous vehicle, but nowhere near the 26 mpg that was advertised for our FWD.

In travelling I do notice a significant decrease in mpg when increasing speed from 65 to 75. In a trip I took a couple of weeks ago, if I kept it around 65, I could get 24+, so that may be the secret.

Remember that the 26 mpg was 2007 standards. That same vehicle offered in 2008 is only rated at 24 mpg with the new more realistic (although still not reality) governmental standards.

[mireland]

I just purchased an 07 outlook XR and was upset with 17 MPG on interstate for several hours. But then I realized what was going on. While looking at the fuel economy, press and hold the checkmark(reset) button - like reseting the trip.

If I do this while driving 60MPH (Cruise control), it shows about 28MPG after 5 minutes avergage.

Same thing while in town (Stop and go around 25mph), resetting again, I see abou 20MPG.

Now for the big surprise to me. setting cruse at 81MPH on the Interstate and after 5 minutes I get only 18 MPG.

Use the reset for Fuel uses, avergage speed, and fuel economy. I think you will be surprised as I was...

[mikedege]

We average 16 city/21.5 hwy. It has gotten better as the car got more miles on it.

-Mike

[twosaturns]

Originally Posted by mireland

Now for the big surprise to me. setting cruse at 81MPH on the Interstate and after 5 minutes I get only 18 MPG.

why are you surprised? you are driving a BRICK at 81mph!
driving style is what most affects mpg numbers. just slow thefcuk down, accelerate carefully, and you'll see the #s get better.
why the h3ll is it that the fastest drivers on the road are in SUVs, and they complain the loudest about gas prices and mpg?
this is not a rant against outlook drivers, just an observation. you can't drive however the heck you want and expect great mpg #s.

[compnurd09]

Yeh at 81 you will get horrible mileage. I have heard 60-65 is the sweet spot for best mpg

[Quantify]

An additional datapoint...recent trip to West Virginia, about 4.5 hour ride from NJ. on the highway, got about 23 mpg with cruise set at about 74 most of the way, fully loaded vehicle. In WVA, on hilly two lane roads, got about 19 mpg.

I'm Satisfied.

[ThePlainsman]

Originally Posted by twosaturns

why are you surprised? you are driving a BRICK at 81mph!
driving style is what most affects mpg numbers. just slow thefcuk down, accelerate carefully, and you'll see the #s get better.
why the h3ll is it that the fastest drivers on the road are in SUVs, and they complain the loudest about gas prices and mpg?
this is not a rant against outlook drivers, just an observation. you can't drive however the heck you want and expect great mpg #s.

I don't give a damn about the gas mileage, so I drive as fast as I want.