2007 Accent mileage very low

Our 2007 Hyundai Accent gets 40 percent worse mileage than it's supposed to.

Since purchasing the car in December 2006, we've averaged 16.5 mpg in the city, instead of the rated 28 mpg. I know that mileage ratings are never as promised on the sticker, but our fuel efficiency seems excessively low -- and it's consistently low.

Our Accent has 2,600 miles on it -- almost all city driving.

Two other pieces of information and questions: The dealer said that we should drive it on the highway and that would improve our city mileage. Is that correct -- that driving it at highway speeds will also improve city driving mileage? Or does that sound like a dodge, since our mileage is so much lower than it should be?

The engine's head gasket was replaced in July 2007. I'm wondering if that major repair may also be a factor in our car's low mileagle (which has continued after the head gasket was replaced.) The head gasket was replaced because the check engine light came on.

How low is low when it comes to mileage on a brand new car? What should we do about this?

Any advice and suggestions would be appreciated.

I bought a new KIA Spectra EX and first tank got 30.86 mpg half city half highway. Wife got a new Scion xB and it got 28 mpg first tank.If you have a MAFS Mass Air Flow Sensor you might try cleaning it. Auto Parts stores have a MAFS cleaner just for that made by CRC and usually they'll show you where it's located and exactly what to do. DO NOT TOUCH the tiny wires because they break easy/ Are the tires at the proper pressure? Driving highway speed will give better mileage better than city driving. All that does is help the piston rigns seat better, but your's should have seated long ago.

Fact is, you bought it to save gas and it is not doing what you expected. To bad you waited this long because here in SC we have a lemon law to cover faulty vehicles that don't perform as promised and they give you a brand new one. Anyway, I'd write the district office a letter with a copy to the Hyundi corporate office in N. America explaining your delima and se what results you get.

Our Accent has 2,600 miles on it -- almost all city driving. Not good because you should take it on the freeway and drvie fast twenty miles to make the rings seat then turn around and drive back. Dop that every week end for a month and anytime you get the chance.

How low is low when it comes to mileage on a brand new car? What should we do about this? I don't expect optimum mileage until 10,000 miles after it breaks in good

If you are doing short trips then yeah it's normal, as Huney1 said when driving a car you should drive it a bit more then 20 miles, if you take a 5 or 10 miles trip then engine is not fully "set" yet, the drawbacks are that the engine will consume oil and lot more gas.

Last week I didn't used my car that much but when I used it I only did small city trip of a few miles at a time, so when I filled up I checked the mileage I did and calculated I did around 17 mpg, far from the city mileage I should have : 25 mpg if I remember correctly.

And this weekend I did a 120 miles highway trip back and forth and I got exactly 36.2 MPG (filled the tank when I left, reset the trip mileage counter and filled the tank when I came back). So that's ABOVE the 30 MPG I should've expected! :) And didn't drove that slowly, usually around 70 MPH.

So try some long highway trip and check your MPG then.

I have a 2007 accent hatchback that currently has 61,000 miles on it. I have never gotten worse than 29 MPG at anytime regardless of my driving conditions/habits. I am currently getting around 31.7 MPG. I would say something is terribly wrong with your car.

Mike

This is interesting because I'm going car shopping this weekend and was considering an Accent. Anyone know how the 08 and 09's are? I think the Sonata is a little out of my price range.

Any advice would help, thanks!

This is interesting because I'm going car shopping this weekend and was considering an Accent. Anyone know how the 08 and 09's are? I think the Sonata is a little out of my price range.

Any advice would help, thanks!
I would consider the Elantra. The price isn't that much more than the Accent, and you get a lot more with it. Gas mileage is just slightly worse than the Accent. I have had a couple '07+ Elantra's as demos, and both got around 30mpg with mixed city/highway driving. Much nicer car than the Accent.

I'd sure like to know what trouble code tells you to replace the head gasket. Sounds like you overheated the motor and lost all compression. Recommend you do a compression check and a trouble code scan.