I'm curious too...I have an 07 pilot and can't get 21 mpg even though it's rated at 22. Our '06 Avalon on the other hand is doing even better than it's 32 mpg rating so I have high hopes for the Highlander with the same engine. Gas mileage is a "hotbutton" for me as I hate sending money to nations that wind up sending terrorism back our way!

 

I just did first fill up on my 4x4 Base. I got around 22MPG in mixed driving.

 

first 3K miles is always on the higher end. the number will drop after that to average out when you are at 10K miles.
my 05 4x4 V6 Limited gave me 20-22 with mixed driving. Now it stands at 19-19.5. At pure highway I get around 21-21.5 with very light mixed.

 

first 3K miles is always on the higher end. the number will drop after that to average out when you are at 10K miles.
my 05 4x4 V6 Limited gave me 20-22 with mixed driving. Now it stands at 19-19.5. At pure highway I get around 21-21.5 with very light mixed.

Actually it is always opposite. MPG should increase with time. If yours dropped then your car needs service.

 

it increases and stabalizes after 35-45K when the engine has worn out a bit and is more smoother.

 

Your first post made absolutely no sense to any car or truck I've known. Your "ownership experience" seems to change alot. As a famous game show host used to say........"is that your final answer"?

 

I'm on the third tank of my '08 Limited. I'm getting 22.1-22.5MPG with 87 Octane; mainly highway-like driving but the occasional slow down in traffic or running to the store, etc. I can't complain, and it's certainly better than the V8 Explorer it replaced. I'd say the EPA rating is accurate, at least at this point.

 

Considering the size, weight, and power of the new Highlander, these mpg numbers are very good. In most comparison tests, the '08 Highlander has achieved top fuel economy numbers.

 

Just over 1400 miles at this point. 08 4x4 Highlander Sport.

At over about 200 miles, we took a 600 mile (round trip) vacation. Highway mileage was about 23.5 mpg going down, about 23.1 mpg coming back (headwind?). My travel speeds ranged from 68 mph to 84 mph.

Around town, and I mean VERY city driving (my wife cuts through a neighborhood with lots of stops to get to work - less than 5 miles away), we're getting 17 mpg. If 17 mpg is the worst we see, I'll be happy. I already feel like we can get better than 23 mpg on the highway, as I already have and did it with less than 1000 miles on the vehicle.

I did do a little test. When we were down on our vacation, I filled up the tank and drove a bit around where we were, going 45-55 mph on long stretches. I was able to achieve a computer avg (the dash computer) of over 25 mpg. Of course this was probably only over a 30 mile loop, but it was impressive to me.

 

for what's worth. i'm getting 9.1 litres per 100 kilometres highway, around 12 litres per 100 kilometres city.

just thought a little metric was needed.

 

for what's worth. i'm getting 9.1 litres per 100 kilometres highway, around 12 litres per 100 kilometres city.

just thought a little metric was needed.

25.89 miles per gallon highway and 19.60 MPG city beats our EPA estimate...great:thumbup:

Also as you are driving a "Kluger" has anyone in Austrailia learned what the heck a Kluger is??

I am aware that Toyota could not use Highlander as the name in Austrailia and Japan as Hyundai marketed a model with that name in the two countrys but I have struck out understanding what the name means.

This naming thing reminds me of our latest local naming embaressment.

We have a new trolley service from the center of Seattle to an office complex to the north. They originally named it the South Lake Union Trolley until someone pointed out that the acronym was SLUT. The coffee businesses in the area quickly printed tee shirts with Ride the SLUT on them and are selling more tee shirts than coffee!!!

The name was offically changed to "The Seattle Streetcar" but I have a feeling the SLUT will be how we refer to it from now on

http://www.komotv.com/news/9854551.html

 

for what's worth. i'm getting 9.1 litres per 100 kilometres highway, around 12 litres per 100 kilometres city.

just thought a little metric was needed.

Is it for 4x4 or 4x2 model?

 

2008 Limited 4x4 with all posible options. Owned since July 31st. Just went over 2600 miles and am averaging 19.8 MPG in mixed driving. Los Angeles area 25.5 miles each way to work & back home.

 

Is it for 4x4 or 4x2 model?

4x2. Won't see many dirt roads this one.

 

25.89 miles per gallon highway and 19.60 MPG city beats our EPA estimate...great:thumbup:

Also as you are driving a "Kluger" has anyone in Austrailia learned what the heck a Kluger is??

I have no idea, and I think its a turn off personally. if it wasn't such a damn good car.

 

Gas Milage

08 ' Limited W/Nav, 2,000 miles. I live in Minnesota and filled-up with gas, 46 miles later computer shows 13.2 MPG. So, curious I filled it up again to see how many gallons I really used. Well, I did use 3.61 gallons divided by 46 miles gives you 12.74 MPG. Now have 100 miles and still about 14 MPG. VERY DISAPPOINTING. It's been a few degrees in the morning and around teens in afternoon. I drive more city. but was getting 19 MPG for first 1,000 miles. Last Highlander (05') sucked gas in winter 12-14 MPG. Should have learned.

 

08 ' Limited W/Nav, 2,000 miles. I live in Minnesota and filled-up with gas, 46 miles later computer shows 13.2 MPG. So, curious I filled it up again to see how many gallons I really used. Well, I did use 3.61 gallons divided by 46 miles gives you 12.74 MPG. Now have 100 miles and still about 14 MPG. VERY DISAPPOINTING. It's been a few degrees in the morning and around teens in afternoon. I drive more city. but was getting 19 MPG for first 1,000 miles. Last Highlander (05') sucked gas in winter 12-14 MPG. Should have learned.

So how much of your 46 mile city driving was STOP (0 mpg)
and
how much of your city driving is GO

You probably should see what the avg ends up after a tank of gas and not such a short distance.

Winter fuel will cause mpg to take it in the shorts as you mentioned.

 

Not a lot of sitting and idling, if that's what you are wondering. I find the gas mileage in town is really good if you don't stomp on gas hard and approach stop signs and light fast. With more COLD weather comming, I don't expect to get better than 14-15 MPG.

 

Last fill in near zero temps and very short trips (5 miles or less) was 15 MPG.

 

I get a solid 20mpg driving sanely with majority city driving.
1st tank was only 15mpg so breakin seemed to be relatively quick.
Just did the 1st oil change(~1200 miels) with synthetic 5w20 and bumped tire pressure to 35psi all around. I'll also switch out the xcase and diff to synth gear oils by 10k.
I also use the remote starter 3-5 times a week. Thats an additional 30-50minutes of wasting fuel not going anywhere.

I find that Toyotas usually exceeds EPA rated MPG. My previous Nissans/Mazdas/Fords never did. So, I never expect it to drop in the teens.

Hybrid can't tow 2.5 tons so it was never even considered. Nothing with the power/weight/size of the new Highlander even comes close to 20mpg.

If you drive leadfooted, gas/brake/gas/break all the time, or tailgate, quit complaining! MPG takes common sense, less ego, and some driving intelligence.

 

If you can READ & UNDERSTAND, I stated I go easy on gas on coast up to stop signs & lights that are RED. I think must people think I'm an old person because I baby "my baby". After 2,000 miles, I still have NOT stomped on the gas to see how much power the new engine has. I'm very careful driving and try to get the MAX MPG.

 

Speedy001,

You might want to try adding a little more pep to your routine. It's a misconception that accelerating extremely slowly is best. Your engine is most efficient when cruising in the 40-55 mph range in a high gear. So, depending on traffic--as you said, look ahead and plan ahead--it's better to accelerate somewhat briskly, which is by no means flooring it, just picking it up quickly enough to get into the most effecient mode in a reasonably short amount of time.

The next time you fill up, try it out for that tank of gas and see what happens to your mileage. Then, please let us know.

Also, the shorter your trips, the worse your mileage will be due to the extra fuel used during engine warm up. If they require oxygenated fuels in your area (usually a 10% blend of alcohol), you'll take a hit for that as well.

 

I live in the northeast and use the dreaded 10% fuel mixture.

I drive 90% around town and get about 14.8 mpg. At 1,200 miles I switched to 5W-30 Mobil 1. I don't ecpect my mpg to increase unless I hit the open road, or when th ewinter fuel blend season is over. Just remember...this is not a light vehicle, and even though I drive conservatively...I can't best the 14.8 mpg around town right now.
Current mileage on teh ODO is 2,000

btw...I have stomped the gas...and your missing some fun

 

We have about 500 Miles on our 08 Highlander Sport 4x4 and we got 22 then 21 then 20 on our last three fills. Most driving is country back roads averaging around 55 mph... We are in the Midwest and have the 10% ethanol mix at almost all stations.

 

Last trip from Minneapolis in sub freezing temps and Winter blend gas was 21 MPG.

In town, I'm going to experiment with the "snow" mode as I find it puts it into a higher gear quicker and it stays there longer. It may or may not help.
It has plenty of power to muscle through 2nd gear starts.

 

2 Wheel - 22 mpg combined....

 

It seems we have flattened out at about 20.9. We will see how it continues.