Disclaimers
Fuel Economy
We’ve all been there: We've owned a vehicle that burns a hole through our pocket every time we visited the gas station and guzzled gas like there was no tomorrow. As a growing eco-conscious world, vehicles with impressive fuel economies are more popular than ever. But do you know the basics of fuel economy?
Our team at San Jose Mitsubishi compiled all the information San Jose, San Francisco, and Oakland, CA, drivers need to know about their vehicle’s respective gas mileage. If you have any questions after reading or want to learn more, you can stop by our dealership in The Bay Area today.
Factors That Impact Fuel Economy
While your vehicle offers a targeted fuel economy, this figure can increase or decrease depending on a few factors, such as:
- Aggressive Driving:Did you know that speeding, rapid acceleration, or sudden braking can decrease your fuel economy? To optimize your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, we recommend avoiding jackrabbit starts and stop-and-go traffic.
- Additional Cargo Weight:Do you have a cargo box on your vehicle’s roof? Do you keep any cargo in the trunk all year? Removing this weight can allow your vehicle to increase its fuel economy.
- Improperly Inflated Tires:When your vehicles aren’t properly inflated, this can cause your ride’s gas mileage to decrease significantly.
- Running Electrical Accessories:Did you know that running your vehicle’s air conditioning on the MAX setting can reduce MPG/MPGe? Use AC when necessary.
- Driving on Hilly or Unpaved Roads:EPA testing is conducted on flat, paved roads. So, naturally, your vehicle’s fuel economy will be decreased when driving on mountainous terrain.
Did you know that hot and cold weather can diminish your vehicle’s standard fuel economy rating? Because sunny California doesn’t experience brisk winter weather, here’s what you can do to improve your fuel economy in warm weather:
- Roll the windows down at lower speeds and use AC at high speeds.
- Park in the shade or use a sunshade to keep the cabin from overheating.
- Use AC as necessary, and don’t set the temperature lower than needed.
- Don't idle with the AC running before driving.
- If you own a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle, you can pre-cool the cabin while plugged into the charger to help extend the vehicle’s range.
