I was wondering what average mpg people are getting on their 1.5l Diesel Rio's
No matter how I drive the car I only seem to get between 46mpg and 48 mpg (but I have to drive like a saint to achieve 2mpg more).
I get around 420 to 450 miles for a full tank.
The tyre pressures are checked and kept at the correct pressures.
I try to stay within 1,800rpm and 2,500rpm in each gear.
The car is new with 2500 miles so I would assume that this figure will improve with age.
So what is the realistic figures that people are getting ?
Has anyone managed to achieve a calculated 560 miles to a full tank (60mpg) ?
I don't think the official figures are realistic at all but I should have more varied figures between spirited driving and driving like a saint.
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diddy,
From your questions about running in, I recall you were reluctant to give the car some wellie.
I hope you are not now reaping what you sowed, but you really need to spend a little time driving more like a sinner than a saint to get the best out of your car.
Following my own advice, I consistently get near the combined figure, which in your case is 62.8mpg.
Having said that, I drive in an economical part of the world - the North East - where traffic volumes are low.
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well the first 600 miles were pretty laid back (not taking revs above 3,000rpm)
Then after this every now and then take revs to 3,500rpm briefly.
Also I have a few steep hills to climb on my journey to and from work, so I have on occasion pushed the car fairly hard uphill.
So I don't think I have been reluctant to push the car
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Mmm - does it get the occasional, faster, longer run?
I would also push it a bit longer and harder than 3,500rpm 'briefly'.
Having said that, your driving style doesn't sound too feeble to me.
Does the engine still feel tight?
I reckoned my last Focus diesel was barely run-in at 25,000m, let alone 2,500.
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my journey is 18 miles each way (work - home commute) twice a day (36 miles each day).
I don't have much traffic to contend with at all.
I do have a couple of steep hills to contend with which is when I put my foot down more.
As for the engine it doesn't feel tight but then anything new is going to feel great compared to a seven year old Astra with 90,000 miles on the clock.
overall maybe I am being a bit picky about the mpg but shouldn't I see a greater difference in mpg between driving styles ?
My previous car (Astra 1.6l) would fluctuate between 35mpg (around town pushing the car hard and 48mpg driving like a saint mostly on the motorway)
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Hi Diddy, not a model or make specific response but a more general one. Bear with me but the following is, I think, relevant.
My driving habits change dramatically twice a year. For a chunk of four months in the Spring I average 1200 miles a week fully laden. Then I have two months when my journeys are local and domestic. This is followed by the slug of high mileage in the Autumn and finally a couple of months around Christmas when things go quiet.
During my busy times, despite being constantly in a hurry, out in all weathers and fully laden, I usually achieve at least the manufacters stated average fuel consumption and sometimes better no matter what car (diesel or petrol) I am using.
In my quiet time, no matter how carefully I drive the mpg plummets. A regular domestic run I make almost daily is a 12 mile round trip. It involves some town work but can mainly be done at a steady 40 mph. You would think that on such a journey, at moderate but steady speed and with sufficient time for the engine to become warm, that it should not be too bad on the fuel consumption. On the contrary, that journey rips through fuel. The engine, when you think about it, is probably only running at anything like optimum operating temperature for about the final third of the 6 mile legs of the route.
Conversely, if I set off on a 300 mile round trip, the fuel consumption is always excellent. The engine is being run at optimum temperature for 90 odd % of the journey as opposed to 30% or so.
It may just be a funcftion of what you use your car for and the prevailing traffic conditions where you use it.
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 09/04/2009 at 11:10
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I can see your point.
Small jouneys will always use more fuel.
I did see the economy difference more on my previous car.
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"A regular domestic run I make almost daily is a 12 mile round trip. It involves some town work but can mainly be done at a steady 40 mph"
Time to get a small van, Humph ...;-)
Space for a least 15 large holdalls in the back and typically 64MPG on a ( never in 5th gear urban/City) trip like that and up to 79mpg at under just 60mph on longer runs.
Go on, improve your image - join the artisans (or pseud`s in my case...;-)
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To be truthful I would have no problem with that other than that I would need one with a minimum of three seats.
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I could get a rear facing armchair in mine...dang.. no room for the holdalls ;-)
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That reminded me, not sure why but it did. When we were kids my friend's mother had a Mini van because there were lots of little people to shift. Kitted out with a sheet of foam rubber on the floor for comfort we regulary piled into the back of Mrs S's van to be taken wherever. Only concession to safety was to brace yourself against a fat kid.
Nobody died of course but we just couldn't contemplate doing it now. Probably correctly.
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As Kids we also did this in a Mini Van and seem to remember how uncomfortable it was sitting on the wheel arch where the shock absorber bolt came through. Tears to the eyes each time we went over a bump LOL
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My 07 reg Rio diesel is 2 years and 19,000 miles old. Fuel consumption is on average 55mpg. Good for a 110hp car I think.
One thing to be aware of if you have an older diesel Rio: Kia in their infinite wisdom have changed the design of the diesel fuel filter - specifically the thread diameter for the water sensor which screws into the filter base. All well and good you might think except that the service pack for the 20k service contains the new filter only and Kia UK did not inform my dealer about this change. Result is that my car service took two days as the dealer had to also order in a new water sensor to fit the new design filter. They kept me sweet by discounting the final bill however. Got to say that I will most likely get rid of my Rio for something more common next year, I quite fancy the old shape Seat Leon or a Mk3 Focus.......
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I spent one summer helping at a Honda garage.
As a runaround, they had a Tn-Acty (I think) microvan.
It had a tip and fold bench seat in the load area and was used by the garage football team, albeit they only played five-a-side.
Tremendous little vehicle, no poke, but enormous fun.
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Last June, Auto Express magazine, did a feature about real world fuel consumption, comparing their results on long term test cars and manufacturer's claims.
The Kia Rio diesel, came 2nd in the supermini class. They stated 51.2 mpg which was 15% down on the manufacturer's claim of 60.1 mpg. The 15% discrepancy was not bad, some were pretty close to the book figures, but it was common to be 25% adrift of claimed mpg.
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thanks for that.
I had always wondered how far off the figures actually were
Well I am on my next tank of fuel now and this tank is going to be mainly spirited driving.
So I will see what average mpg I get over this tank full.
I would image it will be worse than 46mpg but if it is better then it will confirm that my driving stile is at fault.
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Not exactly fault diddy. Just maybe where and how you have to use it. May I be so patronising as to offer some advice ? If so, here it is, you have bought a car presumably because it fits your personal criteria of of usefulness, costs etc. ?
My best advice is drive how you will. Enjoy it as much as you can for all the other benefits it confers. The few quid you may or may not save by being careful are not worth the bother unless you are genuinely down to your last buck. Last thing I want to do on my deathbed is to look down at my toes and think " Well, I might have been bored but at least I was frugal " !
I know as you do that it is no sportscar and was never intended to be but any car can be fun if you want it to be.
Anyway, I'll shut up now........
Edited by Humph Backbridge on 09/04/2009 at 21:25
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...not exactly fault diddy...
Quite, no one's at fault here.
I think I would be slightly underwhelmed with the fuel consumption, but there is still time for it to improve a little.
The car has 110bhp and plenty of torque, which in a smallish body should mean there's some motoring fun to be had.
I'd be inclined to forget the consumption for a tank or two, enjoy the car and check it again in another thousand miles or so.
Humph - as regards looking down at your toes from your deathbed, I'll just be pleased if I can even see them. :)
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no probs Humph,any advise is certainly welcome.
I will see what I get out of this tank full and go from there.
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Diddy,
I nearly bought a 54 registered Kia Rio diesel recently but was put off (on the example I tried) by its gutless response from 50 in top gear. Instead I bought a 52 plate Citroen Xsar HDI 110.
I've had the Xsara since Sept 2008 and drive 1000 miles a month. Best figure 57 mpg worst 52mpg (in the cold days of winter). Previously I drove a Polo TDI estate (now used by SWMBO, who incidentally parted with a Kia Pride, her second one) the most reliable and economical its been my pleasure to own - regular 60mpg year round) and finally I owned a Renault 19 TD a few years back - used to average 52 mpg best figure was 57.
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I nearly bought a 54 registered Kia Rio diesel recently
You couldn't have, the earliest plate they arrived on was 55 and a few may have caught 05 but very little.
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Come on, the thing's only done 2500 miles, what do you expect at that sort of mileage with a diesel?!
Come back when you've got it up to 20k and if its still the same then summat's wrong!
Edited by b308 on 10/04/2009 at 16:15
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