Matt Whiting wrote:
> I forget my RPMs
> exactly (I posted that here some time ago), but I think I run close to
> 2500 at 60 MPH is memory serves. I think I'm around 2750 at 65 and just
> shy of 3 grand at 70.

That's comparable to what I see in my manual Elanta, which makes sense
since the 4 cylinder models use the same drivtrain.

> That may well explain why you get 1-2 MPG more on the highway than me,
> although the interesting thing is that the EPA rating is 1 higher for
> the standard on the highway. It would also explain why the standard
> shift car felt so much more responsive than the automatic. The
> automatic 4 felt pretty lethargic to me. I drove a V-6 and that was
> much peppier. I then drove the standard shift 4 cylinder and it felt
> even more responsive than the V-6, other than right off the line. The
> performance stats show that the V-6 is quicker, but the standard shift 4
> is very peppy compared to the auto 4. I can see why now as running
> nearly 500 RPM faster at a given speed would make a huge difference in
> the amount of torque available.

FWIW, at 65mph my Elantra consistently exceeds its EPA highway rating by
2-3 mpg, at least when the weather is warm (in cold weather with snow
tires, the mileage drops some). This seems to be pretty common with the
manual, but the autos seem to struggle to reach their rated mileage.
That may be different with the Sonata, however.

Matt Whiting wrote:
> Brian Nystrom wrote:
>> Matt Whiting wrote:
>>> I forget my RPMs exactly (I posted that here some time ago), but I
>>> think I run close to 2500 at 60 MPH is memory serves. I think I'm
>>> around 2750 at 65 and just shy of 3 grand at 70.
>>
>> That's comparable to what I see in my manual Elanta, which makes sense
>> since the 4 cylinder models use the same drivtrain.
>>
>>> That may well explain why you get 1-2 MPG more on the highway than
>>> me, although the interesting thing is that the EPA rating is 1 higher
>>> for the standard on the highway. It would also explain why the
>>> standard shift car felt so much more responsive than the automatic.
>>> The automatic 4 felt pretty lethargic to me. I drove a V-6 and that
>>> was much peppier. I then drove the standard shift 4 cylinder and it
>>> felt even more responsive than the V-6, other than right off the
>>> line. The performance stats show that the V-6 is quicker, but the
>>> standard shift 4 is very peppy compared to the auto 4. I can see why
>>> now as running nearly 500 RPM faster at a given speed would make a
>>> huge difference in the amount of torque available.
>>
>> FWIW, at 65mph my Elantra consistently exceeds its EPA highway rating
>> by 2-3 mpg, at least when the weather is warm (in cold weather with
>> snow tires, the mileage drops some). This seems to be pretty common
>> with the manual, but the autos seem to struggle to reach their rated
>> mileage. That may be different with the Sonata, however.
>
> I've never yet matched my highway estimate of 34 MPH. I got above 32
> once or twice, but never close to 34. Now, I haven't taken a long trip
> in warm weather on a level interstate either. My trips have been in
> moderate weather (50s - 60s) on I80 in PA, which isn't even close to
> level anywhere.
>
> The interesting part is that my mileage is only marginally better on a
> trip than commuting to work. My long-term average is still pretty close
> to 29.5, but my best ever was only 32.3 (I just checked my spreadsheet).
> So the Sonata is pretty consistent tank to tank, but never close to 34.

My Elantra consistently gets 36-37 on highway trips. I've seen as high
as 38, but that may have been a fluke and it was on a one-way trip.