Hyundai, Kia admit to overstating fuel economy
11-02-12, 12:08 PM
#16
Yup, for $88/car/year... pocket change for the $20,000 - $30,000 they received. I'm sure this "procedural error" was spotted early on (perhaps even encouraged) in order to ramp their marketing and sales. Hyundai and Kia are the only ones to profit from this.
11-02-12, 02:13 PM
#18
Lexus Champion
It could have been the tipping point for some people. I agree that the compensation is nothing compared to what Hyundai likely gained from the inflated numbers.
11-02-12, 06:28 PM
#20
Problem is, with many drivers, the heavier their foot goes down on the gas-pedal, the more they tend to complain about fuel-economy. The EPA figures are not meant to reflect aggressive driving. Weather and climate also plays a big role......all else equal, even with less A/C use, fuel-economy is significantly lower in cold weather because of longer engine/transmission warm-ups and an overall richer air/fuel mixture in the injectors.
As such, when EPA tested these cars, they found that lab tests were up to 6 mpg too optimistic.
it has nothing to do with heavier foot or anything you wrote above. it has nothing to do with real life. it is lab test designed to be reproducible every single time.
11-03-12, 12:44 PM
#21
Guest
Posts: n/a
Many of us called this from day one. I have to say I think it's great Hyundai and Kia admit a problem and are not ignoring it. They won't be taken to court like the Honda civic hybrid fiasco. They should be commended for admitting a mistake.
What we also need done are profound apologies from the hyunDai/Kia fluffers who argued to death people were wrong and the 40mpg etc was accurate and it was people's fault. They inundated forums with crap.
Please just stop. Stop.
What we also need done are profound apologies from the hyunDai/Kia fluffers who argued to death people were wrong and the 40mpg etc was accurate and it was people's fault. They inundated forums with crap.
Problem is, with many drivers, the heavier their foot goes down on the gas-pedal, the more they tend to complain about fuel-economy. The EPA figures are not meant to reflect aggressive driving. Weather and climate also plays a big role......all else equal, even with less A/C use, fuel-economy is significantly lower in cold weather because of longer engine/transmission warm-ups and an overall richer air/fuel mixture in the injectors.
11-03-12, 01:13 PM
#22
Many of us called this from day one. I have to say I think it's great Hyundai and Kia admit a problem and are not ignoring it. They won't be taken to court like the Honda civic hybrid fiasco. They should be commended for admitting a mistake.
What we also need done are profound apologies from the hyunDai/Kia fluffers who argued to death people were wrong and the 40mpg etc was accurate and it was people's fault. They inundated forums with crap.
Please just stop. Stop.
What we also need done are profound apologies from the hyunDai/Kia fluffers who argued to death people were wrong and the 40mpg etc was accurate and it was people's fault. They inundated forums with crap.
Please just stop. Stop.
2 days ago they still had:
Brilliant engineering, weight-saving design and low-rolling resistance silica tires make Elantra more fuel-efficient than Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. And every trim level of Elantra is rated at 40 MPG highway—that means you don’t have to pay more for an optional special version to get class-leading MPG.
11-03-12, 11:38 PM
#23
Many of us called this from day one. I have to say I think it's great Hyundai and Kia admit a problem and are not ignoring it. They won't be taken to court like the Honda civic hybrid fiasco. They should be commended for admitting a mistake.
What we also need done are profound apologies from the hyunDai/Kia fluffers who argued to death people were wrong and the 40mpg etc was accurate and it was people's fault. They inundated forums with crap.
What we also need done are profound apologies from the hyunDai/Kia fluffers who argued to death people were wrong and the 40mpg etc was accurate and it was people's fault. They inundated forums with crap.
Here is an excerpt of Hyundai's response:
Hyundai Motor America ("Hyundai") believes this case has no merit, as our advertising is accurate and in full compliance with applicable laws and regulations. In fact, we've reviewed our ads and think Consumer Watchdog and their client are dead wrong.
The EPA deemed Hyundai the most fuel efficient automaker in the U.S. for the model year 2010, the most recent year officially tracked by the agency. Hyundai is currently the only manufacturer with four models achieving 40 mpg EPA ratings on the highway, including the Elantra, the 2012 North American Car of the Year. Last year, Hyundai sold more 40 mpg highway vehicles than Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Ford and Chevrolet combined. Through May of 2012, our new car fleet averaged more than 37 mpg, about 50 percent higher than the U.S. average.
The EPA deemed Hyundai the most fuel efficient automaker in the U.S. for the model year 2010, the most recent year officially tracked by the agency. Hyundai is currently the only manufacturer with four models achieving 40 mpg EPA ratings on the highway, including the Elantra, the 2012 North American Car of the Year. Last year, Hyundai sold more 40 mpg highway vehicles than Toyota, Nissan, Honda, Ford and Chevrolet combined. Through May of 2012, our new car fleet averaged more than 37 mpg, about 50 percent higher than the U.S. average.
In other words, they would have kept on this charade for as long as they could... until they were caught red handed by the EPA. Not exactly something I would commend...
11-04-12, 04:14 AM
#24
Driver
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I replaced my 2002 RAV4 with a Soul because I wanted something more efficient but also a car with a just as high seating position. If they were honest about the numbers at the start, I wouldn't have bought the Soul. I would have kept the RAV4 and waited for the new one.
11-04-12, 09:41 AM
#25
Buy back....Demand that from Hyundai. Not a measly $88.
But as the saying goes : Good guys finish last.
Mazda offered to buy back the RX8 when they messed up their hp numbers. Look where they finished.
But as the saying goes : Good guys finish last.
Mazda offered to buy back the RX8 when they messed up their hp numbers. Look where they finished.
11-06-12, 12:48 AM
#28
Lexus Test Driver
A couple of things...
1) I don't think Hyundai deserves any kudos. They made a "mistake", denied it for a while, and are now being forced to come clean. The amount of sales they probably made with their 40 mpg claim pales in comparison to the money they will pay out in debit cards. Slick and sleezy.
2) First lawsuit was filed today in California. Get ready for more.
3) I think Ford will be next. None of their Ecoboost engines have garnered positive results during fuel mileage tests.
4) Poor Hyundai. Still can't shake some last bits and pieces of their old ways.
1) I don't think Hyundai deserves any kudos. They made a "mistake", denied it for a while, and are now being forced to come clean. The amount of sales they probably made with their 40 mpg claim pales in comparison to the money they will pay out in debit cards. Slick and sleezy.
2) First lawsuit was filed today in California. Get ready for more.
3) I think Ford will be next. None of their Ecoboost engines have garnered positive results during fuel mileage tests.
4) Poor Hyundai. Still can't shake some last bits and pieces of their old ways.
11-06-12, 09:09 AM
#30
Lexus Fanatic
i expect you to understand by now that EPA tests are not done in real world but in labs, under controlled conditions so they can be repeated 10 out of 10 times.
As such, when EPA tested these cars, they found that lab tests were up to 6 mpg too optimistic.
it has nothing to do with heavier foot or anything you wrote above. it has nothing to do with real life. it is lab test designed to be reproducible every single time.
As such, when EPA tested these cars, they found that lab tests were up to 6 mpg too optimistic.
it has nothing to do with heavier foot or anything you wrote above. it has nothing to do with real life. it is lab test designed to be reproducible every single time.
Originally Posted by Blueprint
Please just stop. Stop.
I never blamed it all on lead-footers. I only stated a fact; that lead-footed driving doesn't help. It is possible that the EPA estimates, in general, were a little high. But I usually have no problems getting, or even exceeding EPA Highway figures, though, in dense traffic, the city figures are another matter.....they're sometimes harder to achieve.
Now I'll stop.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-06-12 at 11:08 AM.