This Is What It Takes to Hit 35 MPG in Our Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid
Key takeaways
- With our long-term fuel economy averaging a dismal 25 mpg, we set out to match the EPA highway and city ratings in the real world.
- Our long-term Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid’s fuel economy has been disappointing.
- The real world is harder on small-displacement turbocharged engines than the EPA’s laboratory fuel-economy test, especially when that engine is tasked with pushing a big, slab-sided box through the air.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
With our long-term fuel economy averaging a dismal 25 mpg, we set out to match the EPA highway and city ratings in the real world.
Our long-term Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid’s fuel economy has been disappointing. The EPA rating on the window sticker sets high expectations, suggesting this three-row SUV can stretch up to 35 miles out of a gallon of gas, yet through 13,283 miles, we’re averaging just 25.3 mpg.
I can’t say I’m surprised. The real world is harder on small-displacement turbocharged engines than the EPA’s laboratory fuel-economy test, especially when that engine is tasked with pushing a big, slab-sided box through the air. You hear that and feel that in the Santa Fe as the boosted 1.6-liter I-4 regularly revs over 5,000 rpm during easy part-throttle acceleration even with the electric motor pitching in to help.