I was just wondering how are people getting mpg in the hight 20's? My DIC rarely ever gets 23 mpg its usually in the 21-22 range. I drive the speed limits all the time. I have 66,000 miles on my 06. Thanks

What kind of driving do you do? in-town or highway? If it's in-town, your numbers are not out of line. If taking highway trips, those numbers are low. If you reset the DIC and take a highway trip, it should show at least mid-upper 20's. Make sure you reset the mileage first though; otherwise it just gets averaged with all your other driving.

I'd say I probably drive about 90% city driving, 10% highway driving. I normally get 25-26 mpg with the 2.4L engine in my 2007 HHR. I don't push it very hard though, I try to stay under 3000 rpm.

96% city driving - 14 mph average - 17'ish MPG. Best ever was 28 when highway was used mostly. Dont drive it hard at all.

Wow, the numbers you guys are getting are very surprising! Currently, my avg speed is 36mph (therefore almost all "city" driving), and I'm getting 27.8mpg. Lately in CO it has been a mix of cold and cool weather, lows in the 30s. I own a 2008 2.4l and run 91 octane- I guess in the end it really depends on how you drive, and I know that's cliche, but really- from a stop light, EVERYONE gets ahead of me, but I always get up to the speed limit (maybe a little more ;)) and usually meet them at the next light anyway.

I think you guys need to really evaluate your driving if your goal is fuel economy, I never really cared until the HHR (with the DIC), but I'm always keeping tabs on it now- your right foot may be tricking you-

all depends on where I am. In town here I get 18-22 AVG which is horrible but it is all short distances and stop and go and hills. If I am in my parents town i can average mid 20's. On the highway I have gotten anywhere from 24-31

think you guys need to really evaluate your driving if your goal is fuel economy, I never really cared until the HHR (with the DIC), but I'm always keeping tabs on it now- your right foot may be tricking you-

I agree, I always have the instamatic up on the DIC and watch for the sweet spot.

However I have never really been able to figure out which is better. Take off from a stop sign slowly and slowly get up to speed with a slightly higher accelerating mpg, or take off quicker, at a lower accelerating mpg, but get up to speed to the sweet spot faster...

I've only had my '07 about two weeks, but getting 27-28 mpg and 33 average speed after the first reset (meaning all my driving)

However I have never really been able to figure out which is better. Take off from a stop sign slowly and slowly get up to speed with a slightly higher accelerating mpg, or take off quicker, at a lower accelerating mpg, but get up to speed to the sweet spot faster...

I've been wondering that since I've been driving!!!!!:nuts:

Wow, the numbers you guys are getting are very surprising! Currently, my avg speed is 36mph (therefore almost all "city" driving), and I'm getting 27.8mpg. Lately in CO it has been a mix of cold and cool weather, lows in the 30s. I own a 2008 2.4l and run 91 octane- I guess in the end it really depends on how you drive, and I know that's cliche, but really- from a stop light, EVERYONE gets ahead of me, but I always get up to the speed limit (maybe a little more ;)) and usually meet them at the next light anyway.

I think you guys need to really evaluate your driving if your goal is fuel economy, I never really cared until the HHR (with the DIC), but I'm always keeping tabs on it now- your right foot may be tricking you-

36MPH average would be mixed driving IMO and would partially explain your high MPG(your driving habits are definitely helping too). Try keeping average speed above 30 in most towns. With all the stops, etc you won't.

I've been wondering that since I've been driving!!!!!:nuts:

I definitely got better MPG in both HHR's if I took off slower. With the SS, I can grenade the mileage REALLY fast but it's fun:D

Thanks for all the replies. Glad to see I'm not the only one with those numbers. It was just I always see people posting how they are in the high 20's and 30's. I was like how are they getting that. I mostly just drive to the park and ride and take the bus into the city. So I basically do a lot of stop light driving. Thanks again.

I have a wide open surface street commute in the morning. I get to use the cruise control alot and am AMAZED on how much better the 'puter manages the throttle better than my foot. Ive really tried to replicate the same operation and still cant do it. I went from high 16's (same exact routes all the time) to 1+ MPG better w/the cruise. It's a little hairy when it drops a gear to keep the set speed and cant 'see' there's a traffic light just ahead. Easy to do though when I rarely see another car in my direction. Kinda cool. I make alot more green lights this way too.

When I drive 65 mph on the highway, I've gotten as high as 35 mpg on a tank of 100% highway miles. If I were to drive 60 mph, I'm guessing I could probably get 38-39 mpg. I've tried doing that before, but the only problem with driving 60 mph is that people get pissed off at you and tailgate you like crazy!

I agree, I always have the instamatic up on the DIC and watch for the sweet spot.

However I have never really been able to figure out which is better. Take off from a stop sign slowly and slowly get up to speed with a slightly higher accelerating mpg, or take off quicker, at a lower accelerating mpg, but get up to speed to the sweet spot faster...
Do only the 2008 and newer HHRs have the instantaneous mpg? I have a 2007 HHR 1LT and mine doesn't have an instantaneous mpg, just the average. Just wondering...

Do only the 2008 and newer HHRs have the instantaneous mpg? I have a 2007 HHR 1LT and mine doesn't have an instantaneous mpg, just the average. Just wondering...


Yes. Only 2008+ have the instant mileage readout.

Mid/MId-High 20's if I'm babying.... Low 20's if I'm normal driving. Low/Low-Mid 30's on all HWY. :-)

With winter (oxygenated) blend, 24-25 MPG, avg speed 25-30.
"Summer" gas , 25-26 MPG, avg speed 28-32.

I have gotten 30-31 on 2 all highway trips...

My mileage is typical of others;23-25 in winter,26-28 in summer,30-31 highway.I tend to make quick starts(fulfills my fantasy that I've channeled Ronnie Sox)so I'd do a bit better if I was slower off the mark.
The highway figure is somewhat disappointing to me.I got the same mileage from a '93 Cavalier wagon with a V-6 automatic(albeit with much taller gearing) and that's using the cruise in both cars.I'd be over the moon to see 34-35 m.p.g. on the highway.
Don't put ANY faith in the accuracy of the mileage displayed on the DIC.That thing is schizophrenic.Sometimes it's optimistic,sometimes it's pessimistic and it's completely random as to when it's one or the other.Better that GM should have spent the money that they wasted on the DIC on better quality interior plastic or maybe a memory seat function.

my 2006 2lt auto one time on the fwy got 28mpg almost all of my driveing in around town for the last year and a half the mileage was in the 15 to 16 range installed the CGS intake gas mileage increased to 18 to 19 mpg but did not buy it for gas mileage.

I switched to premium and am getting 32+ mpg highway....... (28 mpg combined according to the DIC) and have a lot more power. Part of that combined mileage includes a few controlled burnouts ;) ...... LOL

I did another cross Florida state trip 449 miles and 13.7 gallons (32.7 mpg) when I refilled when I got home.. Average speed 55 mph. I used 91 octane as an experiment. Good mileage is all about driving technique. My last cross state trip I averaged about 35 mpg using 87 octane.

Both trips used non freeway highways with 55-65 mph max posted speed limits with several 45 mph sections.

I have an '09 with the stock 2.4 lt 17" factory wheels. I'm driving around 50 miles to work round trip and avg. Mpg. Is 27.6 50% hwy and 50% rural roads!

I have an '09 with the stock 2.4 lt 17" factory wheels. I'm driving around 50 miles to work round trip and avg. Mpg. Is 27.6 50% hwy and 50% rural roads!

I'm doing about the same...50 miles round trip 45%hwy, 55% city and I'm getting about 27.4ish.

I will however say that my calculations and the puter are usually different. I use the miles/gallons and my figures are almost 1-2.5mpg HIGHER every time. I've tried premium and 87...with my commute it ends up being about even. Little better milage on Premium but cost offsets any real advantage. Can feel a slight difference in power though. Prolly just split the difference and go with 89

On my 07 with a auto 2.4 I am getting 30-32 on urban roads. mostly 55MPH speed limit except when you go through some of the small towns. Usually always use my cruise control other wise I look to see I am doing 70.

Bob

Wow, the numbers you guys are getting are very surprising! Currently, my avg speed is 36mph (therefore almost all "city" driving), and I'm getting 27.8mpg.

That's not city driving, at least not a congested city lol. My average speed is 19mph. I average 21.0mpg with 100% city miles over the last 1000 miles.

That's not city driving, at least not a congested city lol. My average speed is 19mph. I average 21.0mpg with 100% city miles over the last 1000 miles.

That's why I used the quotations. Denver "city" streets (anything non highway) are pretty wide open, 40-45mph limits most places.

I avg 29-30 all the time. I can get 32 avg, but crap is that a lot of work. Tire pressure is the key, run mine at 42 pounds rear and 43 front. Ride is a little stiff, but hypermiling is a challenge I enjoy. I can easily drop it down to 24 if I drive stupid. Use 87 octane gas, I actually see a drop in mpg if I use premium. Cannot run the AC and get these numbers, AC costs about 2 mpg in my HHR. My other car is an 07 Dodge Charger SuperBee SRT8 number 0991 of 1000, we don't discuss miles per gallon, only smiles per gallon.

I think your mileage will have a lot to do with the final drive gear ratio. Please see my new post in this section. God Bless, Marc

I avg 29-30 all the time. I can get 32 avg, but crap is that a lot of work. Tire pressure is the key, run mine at 42 pounds rear and 43 front. Ride is a little stiff, but hypermiling is a challenge I enjoy. I can easily drop it down to 24 if I drive stupid. Use 87 octane gas, I actually see a drop in mpg if I use premium. Cannot run the AC and get these numbers, AC costs about 2 mpg in my HHR. My other car is an 07 Dodge Charger SuperBee SRT8 number 0991 of 1000, we don't discuss miles per gallon, only smiles per gallon.

JEALOUS!! I miss my Charger!! :thumb:

I switched to premium and am getting 32+ mpg highway....... (28 mpg combined according to the DIC) and have a lot more power. Part of that combined mileage includes a few controlled burnouts ;) ...... LOL

Premium actually helped me also. My right foot is the limiting factor LOL! :steering:

I'm on another road trip (1700 miles so far) I found some non ethanol gas in Gerogia @ $2.549/gallon for 87 octane. All highway driving and 35 mpg. Another stretch from Birmingham, Al to some where with E10 87 octane and 37 mpg. The DIC showed and average speed for these sections of the trip to be 65 mph and 63 mph. I'm using cruise and keeping to the posted speed limits a max of 70 in some areas. The DIC mpg still reads low vs manual calculations. I still have another 1700 miles before I'm back to Florida.

Rolled over to 60,000 miles on route

Finally made it back to Florida after 3700 miles and averaging 34 mpg for the trip. Mostly an uneventful driving experience except a 45 minute traffic jam on I 440 in Raleigh. Rush hour gridlock...I don't know how people live with that.

I just finished washing the bug guts off the car now with 62700 or so miles on the clock.

Recent fillup 26.9. Lifetime 27. Mostly in-town commute approx 30 miles per day.

I haven't done the math and checked actual mileage yet, just wondering.... Does everybody's DIC read lower than actual for MPG or is that random?

I haven't done the math and checked actual mileage yet, just wondering.... Does everybody's DIC read lower than actual for MPG or is that random?

My DIC is about 1.5mpg lower than what I'm getting. I've been filling with 89 octane the last couple of tanks and have been getting right at 31-31.5mpg with the DIC reading 29.5-30mpg. Avg speed is usually 35-40. I'm getting a fuel range of around 500 miles:nuts: Been keeping the revs <3k and cruising @70mph to maximize mpg's. Not too shabby at almost 94k :D

My DIC is about 1.5mpg lower than what I'm getting. I've been filling with 89 octane the last couple of tanks and have been getting right at 31-31.5mpg with the DIC reading 29.5-30mpg. Avg speed is usually 35-40. I'm getting a fuel range of around 500 miles:nuts: Been keeping the revs <3k and cruising @70mph to maximize mpg's. Not too shabby at almost 94k :D

My tank holds at least 14.7 gallons. [That's the most I've ever put in it] A 500 mile range would be 35.7 mpg.

I took one trip where I was non stop on Interstate highways on the 4th of July. I averaged 74 mph, windows up, AC on and the DIC showed 34 mpg. Speed limits were 75 mph but I was over that most of the time with the cruise set at 80. I was using premium 91 octane non alcohol fuel.

Most of the time my average speed is 32 mph and DIC mileage at 26.

I'm getting anwhere from 28mpg to 34mpg per tank depending on how much highway is mixed in with city. I use either 92 octane with 10% "ethocrap" or there is a station here that has 89 octane pure gas which I try to use as much as possible.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs479.snc3/26244_102990933069247_100000750210639_85807_360086 4_n.jpg

Just filled up again and calculator on the phone suggests 31.6mpg on 89 octane. The fuel range was off of the DIC.

I've owned a 2LT 2.4 Liter HHR since September 2007 and have 33,000 miles on it.

Maryland to Nashville round trip one person around 70mpg average, 27 mpg.

Maryland to VA Beach, four people, car loaded w/ baggage, some beltway stop and go, maybe 60mph average, 26mpg.

General around town driving, some stop and go, highway, rush hour, the BEST I get on average is 23mpg and that's with or without AC.

This REALLY sucks when you consider what I drive NOW is a 2010 Tacoma 4 door 6-cylinder, 4x4 6 ft bed pickup - mostly - and get, regularly, 20 mpg plus or minus. Go figure.

Our son's taking his driver's test this week and the HHR is going to be "his" car. When he goes to college next year it'll go with him. His drum set WILL fit in the back.

Still knocking down 28+ according to the DIC...... calculator says 30. Mostly city and back roads (2 lane 55 mph) mixed. Running 93 octane and my foot is in it ALL the time. Love this car!

my hhr 2006 2lt my average stays about 17.9 mpg have gained after i added the CGS before stayed about 15mpg around town same on the fwy. mlove the car but didnt buy it for gas mileage but would like to get better.

my dic is saying 25. 18 mile commute in the morning its 15 miles highway (50 average mph) and 3 miles city on the way home its 20miles, all city...much better than my 2000 chevy tracker 4wd...

on a side note, my wife has a 2008 saturn vue green line...2.4 ecotech with the hybrid drive line (pulling down low-mid 20's on the dic in her daily commute). I was wondering how much of a nightmare it would be to do a swap.... Engine and drive line would be easy, its the electronics that would be no fun...

almost makes we want to source a wrecked green line and a beater HHR, just to see if it could be done...only if I had the time and money.....

With today's drive by wire cars, the electronics is the killer with engine swaps.

at least its a GM engine and essentially the same powerplant....with enough time and money anything is possible...:)

Just got 28.4 MPG off my last tank, self calculated not through the dic. Not sure how but I will take it.

25.3 mpg on my 2.4. It only has 1,039 miles so hopefully that will improve We have 87, 89 and 91 octane here. I have been using 89.

I average about 23 in winter driving and 27-28 in warm weather driving.I get into high gear as soon as possible(though I accelerate "briskly"-it helps fuel my Ronnie Sox fantasies :p) often skipping 4th gear.

Daily driving gets me around 27.4
Interstate trips get me anywhere from 30.1 to 32.9mpg.
Funny thing, I have found that when driving interstate at 78 to 80 mph I get 1+ mpg better mileage than if driving 73 to 75 mph. Go figure?

I run mostly highway miles. today I was getting between 28 & 30 mpg. I was hoping to get more. I had an 06 Malibu with a 2.2 I got 36 regularly my best milage was 40 mpg. Maybe I expecting too much.

I run mostly highway miles. today I was getting between 28 & 30 mpg. I was hoping to get more. I had an 06 Malibu with a 2.2 I got 36 regularly my best milage was 40 mpg. Maybe I expecting too much.

Did you reset the DIC or is that combined with what it's been showing all along... the readout is not instantaneous, it's calculated. If you reset and give it about 5 miles on the highway to sort itself out, you may see a more accurate representation of highway only mileage. Should be well above 30 mpg.....

I reset my dic at every fill up.

I reset every time. I now have 4300 miles on my 1 month old car. Hoping that my milage will increase.

It does get better with break in, so it should for you. I got mine used with 19K so I got that from reading about other's experiences. When you read your mileage at 28-30 what is your average speed? It could still include some city driving.

If you want to know true highway mpg you will need to reset after you get to speed and cruise for several miles to average out the hills, wind, etc... I was on 168 in VA the other day after a fillup, reset the mpg and cruised about 6 miles at 61 mph, I was getting 38.4, mine is a 2.4 automatic. My whole trip down to the Outer Banks and while I've been here is 33.4, but not much true city style driving, around home my overall is about 25.4 as figured by calculator which is the only accurate way. Remember that 5 miles of city driving can take away as much 4-5 mpg from a 50 mile trip.:wink:

I get all kinds of milage. On my way back down to school with it, I got 18.5, 236 miles highway with stop lights. It was raining and my avager speed was about 75 or so. This means I was MOVING. The best I have gotten was 40 for about 20 miles. I was drafting a semi rather closely and was in Netural as much as possible. I usely get about 20 in town and 28 on the highway. I just replace the plugs tonight, so hopefully that will go up a lot. At 70 I get about 22 MPG.

Best highway stretch I measured on, was for two full tanks - and needed 58L on one, and 60 L on the other (the tank holds 61.3 L or 16.2 Imperial gal - or 13.4 US Gal) was pushing it I know :(

- one tank gave me 36 MP/Imp gal the other gave me 36.2 MP/Imp Gal. or 28.8/28.96 MP/US gal. - the worst one was in a lot of rain, and about 100 miles of snow.

In-town mileage according to DIC typically = 26/28 MP/Imp gal per tankload. which I think works out to 20.8/22.4 MP/US Gal

All was on Regular gas.

With the new tires I got 31.8 MPG yesterday going down to visit my Father ...... been averaging 30 for that trip last several months....... Yesterday's included a few more "in town miles" because I had to turn around and come back to get something I forgot at home before hitting the road........ so call it 32+. :skull:

I get about 24-25mpg in the city and 33 on the highway on our 1600 mile trip around a few states.

On my trip to the middle of nowhere in WV the other day I got 38 on the highway on the way there. 93 oct and lots of drafting doing about 65. 30 on the way back on 87 oct. Where we were 93 was $3.00 a gal. Not paying that. I had other issues on the way back so the milage does not suprise me, I am just glad I limped the car home. I also have the tire pressure at 46psi in all tires.

I also have the tire pressure at 46psi in all tires.

:scared:

Is it bad to inflate the tires to 46 psi? The ride obviously isn't going to be quite as smooth, but is it dangerous? Will it burn down the tires faster? Right now I have mine at 40 psi, and I've been contemplating going a little higher yet for MPGs. Any thoughts?

At 40 psi, you'll get a harder ride and wear the center of the tires, but you may get better mpg. My tires are at 34 psi and I get 30+ for the average mpg. It is all about your driving technique. No jack rabbit starts or stomp on the brakes. I do a lot of coasting up to red lights. I try to get the car into lockup (~40 mph) and 2000 rpm does wonders for good mileage. At 70 mph I'm at ~2500 rpm.

The tires I have, for get exctly what ones, but they say the max safe psi is 54. I did not want to go that high. I have noticed a whole lot of ride differance, probly used to a HD pickup, but it does get a LOT better milage. Even with a preload and foot to the floor off redlights I can still get around 30 mpg if I try, I usely dont though.

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/4/3/1/1/HHRmpg.jpg

I keep mpg records for my 2.4L auto HHR and graphed it for 75,000+ miles.

The blue line is tank to tank variability calculated via excel while the red line is the running mean. Currently mpg is sitting on 30.6 mpg.

Any tires will likely have a much higher Max PSI, but one should go by the vehicle specs, on the Drivers B- pillar, at the bottom...

I agree, I always have the instamatic up on the DIC and watch for the sweet spot.

However I have never really been able to figure out which is better. Take off from a stop sign slowly and slowly get up to speed with a slightly higher accelerating mpg, or take off quicker, at a lower accelerating mpg, but get up to speed to the sweet spot faster...
Traditional gasoline engines are most efficient at turning fuel into power at full throttle, because at low throttle part of the the power is being used to suck air past the throttle blades. Diesels and direct injection gasoline engines don't have to suffer that loss. However, you still have to get that power all the way through the drivetrain to the ground, and the more torque you put on the drivetrain, the greater the loss to friction and deforming of parts, and on an automatic, the torque converter is sucking up even more power. End result is that there is a definite sweet spot for acceleration, as well as cruise.

The best technique I've found for me is brief WOT at low RPM with short shifting to keep the RPM's low. Get to speed as quickly as possible while keeping the RPM's below 2000, then coast clutch disengaged as often as is practical, followed by very brief WOT in 5th to get back to 5MPH over the speed limit, coasting back to the limit, lather rinse repeat. Doing this in my 2.2 2008 on 50MPH speed limit roads can net 42+ MPG over 20 mile trips. Air conditioner or window down will hurt a couple MPG, as will ANY miscalculations requiring hard brake application for intersections. If you can coast to a near stop at red lights, you didn't waste any gas, if you used the brakes, you were on the throttle too long before you started coasting. Any traffic around you will get REALLY ticked if use this technique too obviously, so I only get to use it to the max late at night. Do it often enough even subtly will gain lots of MPG though, I get typical tank averages of 34 to 35MPG this way. I've never seen a tank average less than 32.

http://www.chevyhhr.net/gallery/files/4/3/1/1/HHRmpg.jpg

I keep mpg records for my 2.4L auto HHR and graphed it for 75,000+ miles.

The blue line is tank to tank variability calculated via excel while the red line is the running mean. Currently mpg is sitting on 30.6 mpg.

Wow, very thorough! If anything, it looks like the mean is gradually increasing with age/miles...

The first tank I had in mine I got 29 mpg, but the last couple I have only got around 24. Average speed shows at 52 mph. I'm using 93 octane in mine.

My mom has a 2007 with a 2.2 and averages about 32 mpg. She does alot of highway driving like I do, and her average speed is about the same as mine is, but she is in Nevada and uses 87 octane. Both of our cars are automatics.

I thought these engines were supposed to get roughly the same fuel economy. Anything I can do to get mine up, or is it simply this ethanol laden gasoline they sell all over the Nashville TN area?

I average, about 420 miles/tank of gas during the summer, and about 350/tank during the winter (because I remote start a lot). From what some of my customers say, 420 miles is outrageous. I just do the normal, under 2k acceleration away from signs and lights and it was a night and day difference. Once my 100k maint. is done, it should get better.

The first tank I had in mine I got 29 mpg, but the last couple I have only got around 24. Average speed shows at 52 mph. I'm using 93 octane in mine.

My mom has a 2007 with a 2.2 and averages about 32 mpg. She does alot of highway driving like I do, and her average speed is about the same as mine is, but she is in Nevada and uses 87 octane. Both of our cars are automatics.

I thought these engines were supposed to get roughly the same fuel economy. Anything I can do to get mine up, or is it simply this ethanol laden gasoline they sell all over the Nashville TN area?

Good mileage is optimized by driving technique, A heavy foot = poor gas mileage. I rarely take my HHR past 3000 rpm (70 mph = 2500 rpm) and around town at 40 mph = 1600 rpm. Getting the transmission to get into lockup is key, Easy take off, and coast up to red lights. No standing on the brakes or street light to street light drag racing. The 2.2L and 2.4L engines are rated at the same mpg.

My mileage is down to 30mpg since the cold snowy weather. My HHR (2.4L) sits outside and I do use the remote start occassionally. The mileage during the warmer months has been as high as 34mpg. I agree with Lar and Judge, driving technique is key to good mileage. Maintenance, gas, tire pressure, etc. are important but the biggest variable to fuel mileage is the driver and driver technique. In town driving will have a larger effect on mileage than highway driving so take that into account. My driving is 90-95% highway.

Well with 1,000 miles on Boo Boo I feel I can chip in with an average of 29.3 overall, the engine is still very tight.

Well, I have a tank of pure gas, no ethanol, 93 octane, and I am at 27.8 mpg combined city/hwy. Of course almost all of my commute is highway. My average speed shows at 51 mph for this tank. I may have to stick with ethanol free gas.

I may have to stick with ethanol free gas.

Lucky...at least you get a choice!:roll:

the better the octaine i use in my 2.4 the better milage and performance i get!

Same here :twothumbs:

What would be the normal average mpg in a 2.4 that is 95% city streets? My daily commute is about 17 miles of nothing but stop signs and stop lights.

This was only my second fill up since purchasing my HRR. Forgot to reset the mpg display to see what I am getting.

What would be the normal average mpg in a 2.4 that is 95% city streets? My daily commute is about 17 miles of nothing but stop signs and stop lights.

This was only my second fill up since purchasing my HRR. Forgot to reset the mpg display to see what I am getting.

my commute is very similar 18 miles. I have two 2 mile stretches that are 55-60mph. the rest is 35 with lights. my average speed is right about 25-30mph takes me about 30-40 minutes

I've been getting 22 city...

I get 24-25 avg mpg, with around 30 avg speed, this is 70-80% city driving.
All highway trips I'll get 29-31 mpg.

I drive mine like I stole it. we have some nice curvy roads and I get a bit throttle happy...i drove to toronto last summer it got over 30mpg on a few runs..

Thanks for the info guys. I will have to remember to reset the gauge next time I fill up and see what my mpg turns out to be. Either way, loving the HHR. I look forward to the drive to work each morning. Now once I get there, it would be nice to turn around and drive home right away. :)

We have two HHRs here in Minnesota.
My 2007 2.2L LS averages 30 MPG at 90% rural road driving, summer fuel
and 27 MPG on winter fuel. I have gotten as high as 35 MPG on a long trip,
light load, and 30 MPG on a long trip with a full load.
The worst average MPG I got was 24 MPG but that was pulling a trailer
with a total weight of 820 pounds and with 600 pounds in the car as well.
I know, I was over the GVWR, but I took it easy, and it was a one way trip
with the load. I did have to drive 100 plus miles at 55 MPH in "I" due to hills
and a 40 MPH head wind. I was impressed.
The car performed beyond expectations.

My wife's 2008 2.4L LT2 averages 28 MPG (90% rural road driving, summer fuel
and 24 MPG on winter fuel. We have not taken it a long trip as of yet,
but that should change this summer.

Driving habits and average top speed seem to be the driving force for better MPG
in the HHR. If I really pay attention to take offs, de-accelleration, and lower my overall
top speed (drive 60) then I can get over 30 MPG with the 2.2 pretty much
all the time...

Hope this info helps someone.
Wyo

135,000 miles on 08 2LT panel automatic. 29.5 mpg. but mostly highway driving. mobil1 oil

:twothumbs:

I drive about 90% around town, am getting 26mpg on premium. Makes me wanna take a trip to see what I can get on a long highway run.

27-29 mpg... 2.4 liter 92 octane shell v power in the winter it was 24-26...

27-29 mpg... 2.4 liter 92 octane shell v power in the winter it was 24-26...

Seems winter-blend gas is always crappier than summer blend.

I am AVERAGING about 28-29 in the summer on shell 87 ocatane. I average about 31-32 with highway trips.

I am easy on the pedal, use my cruise properly(decel/accel), and rarely have my A/C on, unless the gf is with me.

07 2.4L with 114k miles. Averaging 32.4 mpg with an average speed of 47 mph. This is on 87 octane E10 gas. Winter mileage is around 28 mpg.

the best mileage I got right after I got the ECM programmed was on the freeway on the way home 34 and doeing 70 mph

My best with the 2.4 is 43 mpg on the highway.

I'll echo what many here have stated; driving habits are the biggest detail to fuel mileage.

But it's not exactly what many people think. My wife drives a lot slower than I do, but she averages 2 mpg LESS than I do. Why? I short shift(5 spd manual) and shift quickly, while she's a lazy shifter, and makes up for it by using more revs before shifting. But the biggest culprit, I firmly believe, is that she's a late braker, and I'm a 'coast up to the stop sigh/light braker. I can't stand to ride with her, as she just tootles along way slower than I'd be going, yet she's hard on the brakes at the last second for the light! Dammit, you see the light's red, toss it into neutral and glide up to the stop... In the very least, back off the throttle as you approach it. But no! She'll hold her speed steady until her foot has to get off the throttle and go to the brake pedal.

And I follow a LOT of drivers like her, too. I back-off, often gliding along in neutral, while the car(s) in front of me are pulling away, yet we all see the red light or stop sign, and I always catch right back up to them at the light a few seconds later. They have no clue that they are burning a lot more fuel than I am, yet we're all arriving at the same time, with the same exact average speed. Not to mention that my brakes will outlast theirs many times...

In short, driving slow isn't the whole answer to better mileage.

2007 LT, 2.4/5 spd man. Average 33 mpg(US)

I'm amazed that a 2.4 can average over 30 M.P.G off the highway.Mine gets about 31 at 70-75 m.p.h. and I can occasionally average a bit over 30 in mixed driving(that's kinda like hitting the big lottery,though).Mostly I average between 28 and 29 in the warm months and 24 to 26 in the cold months.I'm not complaining since I can average well above what the EPA suggests anyway.

It's shocking to see the difference in numbers you guys are getting. I use 93 and with mixed driving my 2010 2.4 5 speed manual I'm usually 31.5-33.5 combined in warmer months and in colder months I'm around 28-30 combined. The k&n really helped I think it gave close to 2 mpg difference for me here in NE Ohio. The worst mileage I get is on long trips going 70-75 I can't get an average over 26-27.5 but I've never got lower than 26 combined even before the k&n.

I've been generally getting between 24 and 27 combined, mostly highway mileage with the 2.4 and auto in my 2006, always running 93 octane. The 30+ at 70-75 that I've heard of doesn't even seem possible!

I just got my 07 LS in October and until this month I was just driving like I always have in the past. My average MPG's were showing 23.8 consitantly even after resets. My average speed shows 26mph. My driving is 100% city but the speed limits allow me to travel at highway speeds. I started attempting to get better milage and I am now averaging 30-31 MPG while still averaging 26mph. I use 87 octane and the car has 65k on it. I am traking my mpg in weekly durations. I am also expirimenting with various methods for getting better then this 31 mpg while driving 100% city.

I'm driving an 06 2 LT 2.4 with automatic, approximately 60K miles. I use 93 octane. A few months ago I took my car to a Chevy dealer and paid them to reflash/update the onboard computer systems. No other work was done.

I saw an immediate improvement of about 2 mpg in city and highway driving. These higher mpg results showed up in measurable tank-to-tank fill up calculations and on the DIC.

These are real world results - not theoretical. I was charged approximately 1 hour labor to perform the task. It was well worth the bucks expended. (PS - Using the "seat of my pants method," all other performance parameters improved, too.)

YMMV.

A gaussian graphic distribution of mpg on my 2.4 auto for 91K miles.

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/4693/distribution.jpg
By oldlar (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/oldlar) at 2011-10-12

Some people feel the MPG rating on the HHR 2.4 is a GM lie, but I can tell you as a retired GM Tech who worked in the Road Load Simulator Lab (which is where we tested for CAFE ratings), the rating is accurate.

However, they are tested and rated at 55mph, NOT 70. Every vehicle is tested and rated at 55mph.

The boxy HHR has a lot more drag coefficient than other cars and hence the poor MPG at 65+ MPH. My 2007 HHR 2.4 sucks gas at 22 - 24 MPG at 70 MPH and steadily gets better as I reduce my average speed to 55.

Now, my old 2005 Vibe averaged 31 all the time on the expressway, 55, 60, 65, 70, 80, or 90 MPH. In fact I once drove it for one tank at 90MPH and it got 32MPG. Smaller motor, lighter car, and better drag coefficient.

The bottom line is we bought these HHR's either because we liked the looks, utility, comfort, or the price was right. I bought mine because I hated the Vibe, the HHR offered much better cargo space, and it looked cool too. (I wish Chevy made a decent station wagon again...) Too bad we didn't know about the economy issue...

I think I posted in another thread already, but between city and highway mixed, I'm just skimming under 30 with my 2LT right now. I have a pretty light right foot, though, and try to use physics when I can.
As was mentioned before, cruise speed isn't the only factor in saving fuel. Energy management would be a good term, and includes things like long coasting, easing off before cresting a hill, etc.

502 mi road trip this weekend and averaged 28.2 mpg with 3 bigger guys, full load in the back and a BUNCH of wind. Was driving directly into a healthy head wind on the way back. 73mph on cruise.

reading some of the first posts about terrible city driving makes me happy to be driving 160 miles round trip for work

assuming the flow is 50mph or so +