I realize there is a thread on this, and I know that driving style and conditions play a big part in this, but I'm curious on average, how accurate do people find there millage is to what is posted by the government postings

Canadian ratings

12.2 L/100k - City
8.4 L/100k - Hwy

As I have posted elsewhere, my driving cosists mainly of short local trips averaging under 15000k/year.

Alternate vehiles I was considering were the Equinox/Torrent & Tuscon/Sportage

Thanks for your input.

I found the Torrent a nightmare to drive. visibility was terrible. Here in winnipeg they are blowing 08's out from 29k to 22k. I drove one and wouldnt buy one even for 22k brand new. I loved the Tucson and SF and bought a SF. Found the Sportage just so plain inside. Never drove the equinox but would have liked to.

For short local trips I get 12-14 litres per 100km, depending on driving style. Add 2 in the winter. On the highway I get 9-10 litres/100km.

My two cents: Get the Santa Fe 3.3. Equinox/Torrent are of inferior design and quality, and Tuscon is getting old. None of these vehicles will be noticeably cheaper on gas than the others - at least not in the real world - and besides that pump prices are falling rapidly as the oil bubble bursts. You will really enjoy the Santa Fe.

Good luck!

wheelspin1, the mileage depends totally on how you drive. The engine is very economical (after it is fully warmed up), the transmission will grab 5th at under 65 KPH and hold it down to 50 KPH.

I've done some steady state cruising tests on flat surfaces with a fairly well calibrated ScanGauge on a 3.3L AWD, no roof rails and the tires at max sidewall and generally observed the following:

approx 7.3 litres per 100 KMs from 60 to 80 KPH (32 MPG from 38 to 50)
7.6 @ 84 KPH (31 @ 52 MPH)
7.8 @ 88 KPH (30 @ 55)
8.4 @ 96 KPH (28 @ 60)
9.4 @ 105 KPH (25 @ 65)
11.2 @ 113 KPH (21 @ 70)

While that sounds good, every hill, acceleration, headwind, corner, bump or use of any gear but 5th will really eat into it, especially in the city and especially in the cold. I doubt the other vehicles would be much different. These are 2 tonne barn doors.

With short trips in the winter, a block heater helps a lot, but from a pure payback basis, it'll only save about 15 cents worth of gasoline in the morning (with a 2½ hour preheat) for about 10 cents worth of electricity - so at a nickel a day, 200 days a year... it'll never pay for itself (although they could be added at the factory for $10, and they'd save that each year for us Canucks).

I think Don's numbers overall are very realistic. Aggressive drivers are going to do somewhat worse, slowpoke coasters like me will do somewhat better.

The AC compressor adds only 0.3 LPH to the equation... not bad at all.

My 2008 3.3 L Santa Fe is two months old.
Mileage figures match or exceed USA EPA figures on the window sticker.
I get 17.8-18.5 stop and go city driving... 24.5+ highway.

City driving averages 18.7mpg. Highway, if I stay under 70mph I can easily get 25mpg. :clap:

I have had my 08 for 6 mouths now and put on 10000km, 50/50 driving between city and highway. I have average 25.57 mpg imp or 10.89/100. I have kept track of every liter that has gone into the tank.