Where's that great gas mileage?

My 2010 Honda Fit Sport is definitely cute but gets nothing close to the advertised gas mileage. With only 1,800 miles I have averaged about 23 mpg in the city and barely 30 mpg highway.

My '99 Accord with 177k miles consistently got 21/32 and road like an old Caddie.

I thought it was rated for 27/30. You don’t sound too far off from that. It should improve slightly in the next few thousand miles.
How you drive will be the biggest factor in the mileage that you get.

Perhaps it is your driving style?

That is quite true since the salesman who owns a Fit said it may take a while before the mpg improves. I am particularly careful about not using a heavy foot on the accelerator
and on the long drive I used cruise control and kept it below 75mph.
Thanks for the input

My cowboy days are long past.
I’m from the Rock N’Roll era.

That sounds low to me too, especially for a car that only weights 2,500 lbs and has a 1.5l engine. My 1998 BMW 328i sedan has 80 more HP, 500 lbs more weight and gets 21 in town and 32 on road trips (going 85+ MPH).

Twotone

The EPA estimates are 27 city 33 highway. You are bit on the low side, but not excessively low for car that hasn’t been fully broken in yet. Using the AC in small car puts a fair strain on the engine as well, fuel with ethanol in it will cost a bit of mileage as well.

I doubt there is anything wrong with your car.

Keeping it even more below 75mph will help alot.

Look at the mileage ratings on fueleconomy.gov for the 2009 Fit. Your mileage is on the low end, but no worse than anyone that reported their mileage on that site. The list below gives line number, average mileage, state, cit/hwy percentage, and date posted.

1 33.0 CO 54% 46% 03/29/2010
2 41.0 MA 10% 90% 05/26/2009
3 31.8 TN 81% 19% 06/23/2010
4 33.3 WA 70% 30% 09/13/2008
5 31.1 PA 01/10/2009
6 30.8 PA 50% 50% 05/10/2010
7 32.4 LA 10% 90% 08/06/2009
8 32.6 TX 12/05/2008
9 43.0 CA 10% 90% 09/20/2008
10 36.9 SC 90% 10% 08/18/2009
11 44.4 AZ 10% 90% 11/12/2008
12 31.0 OR 30% 70% 09/29/2008
13 27.8 NY 44% 56% 08/06/2009
14 29.3 MA 70% 30% 02/09/2010
15 41.6 CA 20% 80% 01/30/2009
16 32.1 VA 38% 62% 10/30/2009
17 35.0 IL 40% 60% 04/24/2009
18 39.4 OK 20% 80% 07/26/2010
19 37.7 MN 43% 57% 08/06/2010
20 44.0 CA 30% 70% 05/29/2009
21 36.2 FL 30% 70% 08/13/2009
22 41.0 IN 10% 90% 07/09/2009
23 30.5 CA 40% 60% 08/02/2010
24 30.3 VA 69% 31% 08/08/2010
25 36.5 IA 75% 25% 08/10/2009
26 33.2 NV 53% 47% 12/02/2009
27 32.9 CA 20% 80% 11/07/2009
28 22.5 OK 90% 10% 09/29/2009
29 36.5 IA 40% 60% 04/02/2010

Perhaps you should have bought another Accord ?

If you get 21/32 with your Accord, you should be getting better gas mileage from your Fit even if it is not fully broken in. My experience from new care gas mileage is that the mileage difference between new and fully broken in vary about 2 mpg on a small 4-cylinder car. I got the best gas mileage between 20,000 miles and 80,000 miles.

On the other hand, I have heard from people who own boxy cars like yours that their gas mileage is not a lot better than something like an Accord. Still, 23/30 doesn’t sound right.

And a Beemer is a lot more fun to drive. But it is only 6 weeks old and with 1800 miles it is still a bit stiff.

I tend to agree - just was hoping for better. I thought about the Honda Insight but Consumer Reports dissed it

Make sure your tires are fully inflated, check cold in the morning. I’ve read that Fits are sensitive to low pressures.

Hard to do on the Interstate. I discovered as that comedian once said “I get no respect”.
Other drivers in bigger cars seem to feel they have to pass me.

Hi JTSanders Thanks for the comparisons. They do vary quite a bit.
Guess I will have to be more patient

Was being penny wise and pound foolish.

I’m amazed at all of the responses Thank you all.
Using the A/C may also contribute to lower mpg.
Summers in Mass. don’t last for ever.

Good point. There is an indicator on the dash that tells when the tire pressure is low.

Just an addendum: The on board computer as part of the mileage and odometer generally gives a more optimistic average mpg. This morning when I filled up I had traveled 218 miles and filled the tank with 10.4 gal of regular = 23mpg. The computer read that my average mpg was something around 28mpg. Someone’s math is off.