I drove my HHR from Kissimmee Florida to Kentucky one day and back the next. The best I saw on the gas milage readout was 28.5 MPG. I would have thought a 3100 pound econo car would do better than that.

I have a 1999 corvette and it will do that good.

How many miles do you have on it?
I averaged about 28.5 for the first few thousand miles.
It eventually crept up to about 32 in the summer.

The best I averaged on an extended trip (about 525 miles) was 33.5 from Virginia to Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

It also depends on how fast you drive. I can easily coax mine up to the 40 mpg mark, and have seen as high as 42.5.

Ss?

Do the calculations for mpg. The DIC guage in my HHR runs low. Usually on the highway, using cruise control and driving the speed limit, I'll get 32 mpg or better. Any around town driving kills mpg if you have a heavy foot.

I know there are various thoughts on the DIC accuracy when it comes to instantaneous and average MPG but it's actually pretty accurate and I would expect it to be closer than a hand calculation (although we can fool it pretty easy).

They know the injector size, pulse width, RPM, time and speed. From that they can come up with a dang accurate MPG calculation that isn't related to when the gas pump shuts off when you fill up.

I hacked some of the earlier DICs for some engine swaps a few years ago and I couldn't see any reason their calculations would be wrong. There certainly wasn't a finagle factor in there to make it lie. The fuel remaining was pretty bad though since they had curves of the float assembly based on the fuel tank shape.

No doubt this was long before the HHR but there is no reason to change the method. So far, I haven't seen any difference that would make me think I can't trust the DIC numbers. It's my right foot that I don't trust!

My most recent 10,000 miles(10-20) calculations and DIC are as follows:
DIC said 22.6 MPG
Actual was 23.84 MPG

I log all fill ups so this is easy to calculate.

First 10,000 miles were:
DIC said 21.3 MPG
Actual was 22.69 MPG

On long flat trips at freeway speeds I see on the DIC upwards of 33 MPG and less for everything else.

My most recent 10,000 miles(10-20) calculations and DIC are as follows:
DIC said 22.6 MPG
Actual was 23.84 MPG

I log all fill ups so this is easy to calculate.

First 10,000 miles were:
DIC said 21.3 MPG
Actual was 22.69 MPG

On long flat trips at freeway speeds I see on the DIC upwards of 33 MPG and less for everything else.

Grass Valley - Foresthill here.

Going from Foresthill to the valley (Roseville/Sac) and back doing the speed limit I average right at 27. I took the SS to the Bay area and got 31 average round trip doing 70 where it was legal.

I have no complaints!

I'm getting 25.8 in my 08 SS auto. Most of the miles are highway.

Had my SS for a week and a half and with little hard acceleration. I am getting so far 26 with average speed of 24 mph.

I drove my HHR from Kissimmee Florida to Kentucky one day and back the next. The best I saw on the gas milage readout was 28.5 MPG. I would have thought a 3100 pound econo car would do better than that.

I have a 1999 corvette and it will do that good.

For perspective, on a 1100 mile trip, I was at around 27.5mpg with 3 adult passengers (total adult 4 occupants) and a full cargo bay with an SS (5 speed/stage kit).

How about next time, you give me the Vette and I'll leave the family and baggage home? :D:D:D
I could use the 1mpg gain :D

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/1/0/8/7/0/HHRLoaded.jpg

I got ~28 MPG over the winter.
I think most of the drop was doing short runs to the store, DDs, Blockbuster then back home to hibernate until we ran out of $hit again.
Those short runs don't get it warmed up enough.

This past week I've taken a 360 mile round trip to Northern Vermont and another 180 to Keene, NH.
Add in a few longer local trips and 50+ degree weather and I'm getting about 32 MPG over a tank and a half by playing nice :cool:

I average 26 MPG a lot of city driving and bumper to bumper SOCAL Freeways

Aerodynamics allow the Vette to overachieve. I would agree with your premise that a late model 3100 lb 4-cyl should get better mileage. Most vehicles improve with time due to more conscientious Driving, loosening drive train, and/or finding the most efficient fuel. The 2.2L I'm driving with 34,000 miles is getting 30 MPG.

My 2010 1LT 2.2 auto 1200 miles has been averaging 26mpg in town and 34mpg on the highway. Great ride, great economy! Don't beat your car and you can do this too.

I average between 18.5 and 22.5 in city, highway(with cruise set) is around 28-29 I am still under 7k miles, and that is 5-12mph over the speed limit. 2.2L Auto. No engine mods done so far.

I average between 18.5 and 22.5 in city, highway(with cruise set) is around 28-29 I am still under 7k miles, and that is 5-12mph over the speed limit. 2.2L Auto. No engine mods done so far.

I believe your mileage will further improve as it hits around 10K

Our 2.4 auto has none of the tricks other than a regular maintenance schedule the wife absolutely clings to and Nokian WR's for skins (always) with 28-30mpg being the norm travelling the Trans Canada at 72mph.

I'm on the road and my last two tankfuls I covered 501 and 510 miles in my 2.4L auto. I drove down to 45 miles range in the first tank and 85 miles for the second tank. It was most all highway with my averge speed being 55 mph or so. I hit 67,000 miles. When refilling I did pump in over 15 gallons of e-10. I hade an initial fill up when I left Florida of no ehthanol gas ($3.199/gallon @ 90 octane) and saw no real mpg gains. It wasn't worth the $0.60 premium price per gallon.

As far as I can tell it mostly has to do with how you drive. I just got back from a nearly 1500 mile trip a couple of days ago. It still says over 36 mpg. I saw over 45 for a while. But I tend to drive like an old lady on ludes.

I have only had mine for two weeks, but I drive the same interstate route (74 miles each way) for work. All I can squeeze out of mine is 25-26mpg with the 2.2L, cruise set at 73mph. Sure thought it would be more than that :{

FJRacer is right, aerodynamics matter. That's why a Prius looks like it does. Our little retromobile has retro 'brick' styling. There's only so much you can do with a blunt nose and vertical windshield.

29.1 MPG according to my dash computer. 2.4 Llitre HHR 2LT
I usually average 17.5 overall MPG

FJRacer is right, aerodynamics matter. That's why a Prius looks like it does. Our little retromobile has retro 'brick' styling. There's only so much you can do with a blunt nose and vertical windshield.

Take another profile look at the windshield, it is very laid back.. They are many other vehicles much less aerodynamic..

Just completed 3700 miles from Minneapolis to seattle up to Vancouver and back by way of Banff Got 30.3 mpg for trip mostly highway driving from 60 to 80 into a strong wind(which really hurt the final mpg)

On my third tank of gas since purchase. AVG-317 Miles- 13.3 gal.
Computer says 25- Math is closer to 24. 70 city 30 other. I do top off but these #'s have been the same give or take a mile or 2 and a tenth of a gallon or 2 on three tanks.

2009 LT just turned 30K tonight (1069 miles under my ownership and enjoying the ride!!):roflol:

Im getting a 2.2L 2010 HHR LS (manual trans)... what can I honestly expect? I was hoping for more that what I'm seeing... I'd like to see more 30's :(

Actually. Some of these numbers are abysmal.

Computer states 34-39+ on flat highway with cruise control 55-60.(1900 - 2K RPM)

City driving can kill any cars MPG - with low speeds, sitting at lights idling, warm up winter etc.

I like to use instant setting at times - It is interesting to see how MPG can be controlled when you can see the readout.

2009 LT Auto

I warm up car for 10 minutes so I can drive to work for 8 minutes, than same for home. DIC says 16 mpg and I'm happy.

Well I don't know how you all are getting that kinda milage....when I am on the interstate cruising at 75 my DIC is showing 22-23MPG.... 2.4L 5-speed with cruse control on all the way ran 350 miles today and best I saw was 24.2 for a few minutes. My HHR has 50K on the clock....tune-up time?

Well I don't know how you all are getting that kinda milage....when I am on the interstate cruising at 75 my DIC is showing 22-23MPG.... 2.4L 5-speed with cruse control on all the way ran 350 miles today and best I saw was 24.2 for a few minutes. My HHR has 50K on the clock....tune-up time?

What kind of gas are you running? Driving at 75 will drastically reduce mpg. My 2.4L auto has averaged 30.6 mpg and I have 76K miles on the car. Gas mileage is dependent on driving technique. When I'm on cruise at 60-65, I get 35-38 mpg according to DIC. I do manual calculations as the DIC in my car reads low.

I did have plugs replaced at 60K as I don't trust 100K spark plug change. I have to say that at 60 K the plugs still looked good.

I run mid-grade 89 octane fuel I watched it closely today driving around the city and the DIC was showing 25-26 MPG fastest speed was 40 and I had it in 5th gear as much as I could

I run mid-grade 89 octane fuel I watched it closely today driving around the city and the DIC was showing 25-26 MPG fastest speed was 40 and I had it in 5th gear as much as I could

Simply having it in 5th isn't enough. You have to find that sweet spot where the flywheel and resistance on the trans is as equal as possible so the engine doesn't work very hard. That could be as high as 4000 RPMs depending on the situation.

Cruising at 35mph going 2000 RPM in 5th is worse that doing 35 mph in 3rd at 3600 RPM

Simply having it in 5th isn't enough. You have to find that sweet spot where the flywheel and resistance on the trans is as equal as possible so the engine doesn't work very hard. That could be as high as 4000 RPMs depending on the situation.

Cruising at 35mph going 2000 RPM in 5th is worse that doing 35 mph in 3rd at 3600 RPM


Easy to lug a motor down at low speeds, even up to 45....I experiment with "I" in town and see a noticable difference(auto). Find that 'no-load' rpm range and you will see better in town milage. If you hit the gas and it groans its too low....if you barley touch the gas and it scoots your there.

Well that sounds like 3rd gear to me.... I will try that and see what happens

Since it is mostly flat in Florida and I have an auto, I let the car determine when to shift. Just cruising around town at 40 mph, mine is in lock up and I'm running at 1500-1600 rpm.