Low MPG???

[FireDragon]

I just get around 410 Km (255 miles) before the yellow light comes on, 90% highway,Is that normal?

I have booked a service apoinment with dealer this friday ( 23-Nov-07), what if they say that is OK, what can i do?

My Matrix is 08 XR B pakage bought last month, CAD$535/month,5yrs,2000 downpay. Options: Heat seat seat, window wisor, I-pod interface, MP3 player,cargo rack, ......,

[Smar969905]

how much gas do you put in for one tank?
do you drive more city driving or highway driving?
is it automatic or manual transmission?

[FireDragon]

Automatic,
I refill 38 Litre every time when the yellow light comes on
90% highway, I travelled to New York last weekend, 1674 (1038 miles) KM trip.

My tank capability is 50L from spec on line, Acturelly i don't know how big is my tank and i don't want to test it

[Smar969905]

Originally Posted by FireDragon

Automatic,
I refill 38 Litre every time when the yellow light comes on
90% highway, I travelled to New York last weekend, 1674 (1038 miles) KM trip.

My tank capability is 50L from spec on line, Acturelly i don't know how big is my tank and i don't want to test it

i work with the standard system, but luckily, i have nifty conversion stuff built into my calculator...so here goes:

38 liters = 10 gallons
410 km = 255 miles

that is now 25 miles per gallon, the low end of what to expect from a matrix with the 1zz.

one other question: is your matrix AWD or just front wheel drive? this makes a difference as the AWD takes more power from the motor which makes for worse fuel economy. even with the AWD, you should have gotten at least 30 mpg (10.8 km per liter), unless you kept your rpms up around 4000 the whole trip.

now is the time to go through and start checking various things, such as tire pressure. make sure all your tires are inflated to about 32-34 lbs each. you could also check on your brake calipers to see if one of those may be sticking and causing a brake pad to be rubbing while you are not on the brakes. to do this, check the temperatures of all the calipers on the wheels and see if there is one that is coming out higher in temperature. NOTE, unless you have been driving for a little while, and you check the temperatures immediately, you wont be able to tell short of having the brakes all torn apart, and most people dont want to tear up the brakes just to find out something as small as that.

[notmytrix]

That's weird. I'm 4WD and I get 500km til the light comes on. Sometimes the light comes on later.

Seeing it's still brand new, your cars mileage will just get better and better as you put more miles into it.
No sudden acceleration, no hard braking, coast below 3k and you should be fine.

[TRXR4KDS]

I'm usually getting about 400km when the light comes on this time of year with winter gas. In the summer, I'd get about 450km. Mine's an XRS, that's used about 50/50 highway/city.

[Smar969905]

in my xrs, i usually get about 250 miles (402 km) on a tank of gas, but i also tend to run it down to the 1/4 line, rather than down to the light, but when i have run it down further, it still goes for about another 40 miles (64 km) or so at least before the light comes on.

i would like to think i am special, because most of my driving is done in the city, and often times in the morning before the car has had a good chance to warm up.

[FireDragon]

Thanks Smar969905, I will mention what you say to the service guy, see what happen. I am really disappoint on my brand new Matrix.

My Matrix is FWD,Front wheel drive

[kevintomb]

Yeah I have an 03 front wheel drive with auto and its not what I thought I was going to get either.....Everyone keeps coming up with excuses but in the end a LOT of owners are saying their MPG is not up to what similar size cars etc are getting....Heck my camry gets about the same as my matrix and it has a 2.4 litre and weighs about 500lbs more. On the highway both get VERY similar but around town the matrix isnt so great...im getting 26 in my camry and about the same if im lucky in the matrix.

[TRDRadRedTaco]

Your mileage doesn't seem right. You should be doing better with a FWD. I get about 34-36 when mostly highway and have seen less than 30 mpg when more city driving involved.

I wonder if the auto trans is that much different? I have the 5-spd manual tranny so maybe there is an issue with the shifting of your auto. Talk to the dealer about it. Good luck

[topless forever]

Decided to down size and purchased 05 Matrix.Did o.k.,got a week out of a tank of gas.However just 346 km from full until light came on.It took 40.2 liters which equates to 24.2 mpg.Not really a economy car.Very disappointing.This is local driving around a rural community with little idleing or stopped in traffic.I looked at numerous small cars and considered this to be the best all around compermise.Other than this we really the car.It is auto and has only 35,000 km and has been regularly serviced.Should I be expecting more.I know its winter........Hoping for more........

[TRXR4KDS]

It will be a lot better in summer without winter gas and warmer temps which makes the combustion more efficient.

[jbro507]

Originally Posted by FireDragon

Thanks Smar969905, I will mention what you say to the service guy, see what happen. I am really disappoint on my brand new Matrix.

My Matrix is FWD,Front wheel drive

Newby here.. I'm also a little ticked at my new Matrix's miliage.. I've got an '08 FWD 5 speed.. I've only got 500 miles on it.. my first tank was 26.2mpg and the second was 24.2mpg.. I'm not offically angry yet - I'm going to up the PSI to 36, try'n keep my highway speeds at 70mph (I usually do 80mph), heres hoping it gets better..

FireDragon - did you make it to the dealer yet? I'm curious how that went...

[PA Firefighter]

Why does it seem that I am the only one getting 33 mpg highway on my trix, and about 29 city? It's an auto xr. '03 must have been a good year for toyota. WooHOo!