Surprisingly good MPGs

[Redsoxx1918]

So...first time 4Runner owner here. 2016 SR5 premium with 4K miles. Took my first road trip. It wasn't a long one....we drove from RI up to North Conway NH for a few days to do some hiking. The ride up was 210 miles. Pretty much all highway with a few stops for food and to let the dog run around. We were also stuck in some stop and go nightmare traffic on 93 in Boston. Otherwise, had the cruise set at 70 for most of the way and had the AC running. It was me, the wife, dog and our gear in the truck. I was pleased to see 23.4 mpg when we arrived in North Conway. Did some additional driving up to Crawford Notch and back and the total miles for the trip was right around 500. That included some horrible gridlock on 95 coming around Boston on the way back. Final tally on the meter was 22.9 mpg for the entire trip. I'm sure it would have been even better if not for all the highway gridlock. And that also included a decent climb in elevation on the way up and into the notch. I ran the tires at 34psi for the trip...usually run them right at 32 as per manufacturer's recommendation.

I had been checking the mpg readout against my own calculations up to the trip and found the in dash meter spot on! Most other vehicles I've had have been off by up to a couple MPGs.

I'm pretty pleased with 23mpg as I've rarely had a vehicle that came in over the rated MPGs. For such a big vehicle, 70mph, AC running and the climb in elevation...not bad.

In comparison, my last vehicle...a BMW X1 with 2.0 liter 4 cylinder turbo rated at 32 MPG highway....same trip.....only averaged 28MPG. And I had to run premium in that.

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[brianmfournier]

Awesome pics, I've always loved the White Mountains. Not too shabby on the MPGs

 

[YodaPride]

I will be taking a trip that way next weekend! Awesome inspiring pictures.

I average 17 mpg but I do 80 mph with a big roof rack and light bar. I get a consistent 21 mpg at 70 but that is just too damn slow!

 

[daanbc05]

Lucky you!! I have a 16 SR5 Premium 4x4. It has 698 miles on it now. Only a week old. I took it to my daughters volley ball game this weekend. 110 miles round trip each day (sat. n sunday) I-95. Wasn't doing 70, but was at 80-90 the whole way. (and I was keeping up with traffic, had to get out of the HOV lane cause people were going faster!) I averaged 16.2 mpg. I guess if I cut it back some It would get better mpg.

 

[proimion]

Because I love analyzing data, I track the elapsed time for each tank as well (and reset elapsed time on the computer for each tank). This allows me to compute my average speed per tank. My "lifetime" MPG is 18.0 at an average speed of 26.1 MPH.

If you know how to format time values in Excel, it makes it even easier. :keyboard:

 

[Redsoxx1918]

Lucky you!! I have a 16 SR5 Premium 4x4. It has 698 miles on it now. Only a week old. I took it to my daughters volley ball game this weekend. 110 miles round trip each day (sat. n sunday) I-95. Wasn't doing 70, but was at 80-90 the whole way. (and I was keeping up with traffic, had to get out of the HOV lane cause people were going faster!) I averaged 16.2 mpg. I guess if I cut it back some It would get better mpg.

Yeah, anything above 70 and the mileage really drops off.


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[simple]

Because I love analyzing data, I track the elapsed time for each tank as well (and reset elapsed time on the computer for each tank). This allows me to compute my average speed per tank. My "lifetime" MPG is 18.0 at an average speed of 26.1 MPH.

If you know how to format time values in Excel, it makes it even easier. :keyboard:

That's some serious nerd nugging.

 

[Redsoxx1918]

I will be taking a trip that way next weekend! Awesome inspiring pictures.

I average 17 mpg but I do 80 mph with a big roof rack and light bar. I get a consistent 21 mpg at 70 but that is just too damn slow!

Ha! I like to drive fast too. I've had 5 BMWs and those cruise so nice on the highway I regularly found myself flying along at 100mph. This is a different animal though and for some reason I'm perfectly comfortable cruising along at 70. I don't get that urge to gun it up to 90.


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[Tinbender75]

20 MPG I wish… Maybe ours is too new but I am still hearing about how bad the gas mileage is after my wife went from an Outback to a 4Runner. I just hope to see the estimated fuel mileage some day…. Right now it is in the 16s

 

[karmatp]

My '14 Tacoma took a few thousand miles to get improved mpg's. My 2016 4runner only has 1000 miles on it and I am getting 17 in town, short stop and go trips. I hope the 4 runner is similar and my mpg's improve a little once she is all broke in.

 

[ben550]

I love the mountains. Nice pics.

 

[salong53]

This is a different animal though and for some reason I'm perfectly comfortable cruising along at 70. I don't get that urge to gun it up to 90.

I took a trip from Knoxville to Memphis and back recently, cruise set at 80 nearly the whole way, and averaged 17.4mpg. I learned on that trip that these things don't like to cruise much above 70. Too much downshifting any time there is a slight incline, and it feels like it's dragging a parachute above about 75.

 

[Redsoxx1918]

I took a trip from Knoxville to Memphis and back recently, cruise set at 80 nearly the whole way, and averaged 17.4mpg. I learned on that trip that these things don't like to cruise much above 70. Too much downshifting any time there is a slight incline, and it feels like it's dragging a parachute above about 75.

Yeah....70 really seems to be the sweet spot for MPGs. But...it is what it is....a big body on frame, square SUV. Still, it's super comfortable, gives a pretty quiet ride and can get relatively decent mileage if you drive it easy.


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[gantorris]

Mine is new only 1400 miles on it but I have been averaging 15.8-16 mpg around town, and pulling the boat about 12, I didn't buy it for gas mileage . I am wondering what it will drop once I do my lift and add some tires to it.

 

[ECUDrummer]

Mine is new only 1400 miles on it but I have been averaging 15.8-16 mpg around town, and pulling the boat about 12, I didn't buy it for gas mileage . I am wondering what it will drop once I do my lift and add some tires to it.

Yes, it most likely will, especially if you're adding bigger tires (more weight) and a lift (pushing more air).

For what it's worth, I average about 16.2 in mine with 285s, swingout bumper, roof rack, Icon kit and lead foot.

 

[1000MPH]

In stock form you can see 23-25 if it's easy hwy miles at 60-70, but any little thing like traffic or a 10+mph headwind will negatively affect this.
I do the same 800 mile r/t drive 10-15 times a year and I've seen as low as 19 and as high as 25.

 

[The Waco Kid]

In stock form you can see 23-25 if it's easy hwy miles at 60-70, but any little thing like traffic or a 10+mph headwind will negatively affect this.
I do the same 800 mile r/t drive 10-15 times a year and I've seen as low as 19 and as high as 25.

I'll echo this as well.

Coming down out of the mountains in Colorado, through New Mexico, and into Texas. I averaged just under 25 (on the computer). This was with a stock truck with 4 passengers and a weeks worth of luggage, as well as emergency gear.

Between Dallas and Houston, depending on the weather and wind, I'll see anywhere from 19-23. Traffic is a little heavier coming and going between those two cities than it was coming down from Leadville to Santa Fe and Roswell.

 

[Redsoxx1918]

Mine is new only 1400 miles on it but I have been averaging 15.8-16 mpg around town, and pulling the boat about 12, I didn't buy it for gas mileage . I am wondering what it will drop once I do my lift and add some tires to it.

True. I don't think any of us bought a 4Runner for gas mileage. But if gas goes back to $4.00 a gallon and you're getting 12mpg, it'll get pretty pricey to drive.


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[Jetboy]

The 285's dropped me by a good amount. Our 90mph highways are not good for mpg either.

On slower trips, I can usually still get around 19.5 with 285s at 70mph. Corrected for tire size I'm right in the ballpark.

With stock tires I was pretty darn happy with the MPG. The MPG is the single biggest reason I own a 4runner not an LC200.

 

[007Tacoma]

I'll echo this as well.

Coming down out of the mountains in Colorado, through New Mexico, and into Texas. I averaged just under 25 (on the computer). This was with a stock truck with 4 passengers and a weeks worth of luggage, as well as emergency gear.

Between Dallas and Houston, depending on the weather and wind, I'll see anywhere from 19-23. Traffic is a little heavier coming and going between those two cities than it was coming down from Leadville to Santa Fe and Roswell.

True. I don't think any of us bought a 4Runner for gas mileage. But if gas goes back to $4.00 a gallon and you're getting 12mpg, it'll get pretty pricey to drive.


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Yeah... I drive from San Antonio, TX to Fort Collins, CO and back every 3 months. With the stock tires, I could ink out 23 MPG even with my lead foot. I put some AT tires on my 4Runner in stock size and dropped about 1 MPG all around.

Heavy winds in West Texas, heavy traffic, rain, bad roads, towing, added weight, accessories... any of these can see it drop 1-2 MPG per each. Worst I have gotten was 17.8 MPG with a bike rack, two bikes, a top box, and a fully loaded vehicle against West Texas headwinds and rain.

When gas goes back to $4/gallon, I am going to have to buy a cheap commuter car for the work week and cry every time I see my 4Runner.