Fuel use for 6 speed in eco mode

[Smitty]

I'm thinking of getting a CRZ, but have not been able to get a good handle on what the real world fuel economy for the 6-speed transmission is in the eco mode. My guess from reading the posts is that for a conservative, but not hypermiling driver, low to mid 40s would be about right. Any real experience with this out there? I should say that I will have fun with the car in performance mode, but there are times for that, and times for watching the fuel gauge. Lest you think me a stick-in-the-mud, I generally get the sporty driving out of my system driving my e-type Jaguar.
Ron

[taikahn]

Normal mode is what you will be in most of the time -- eco is a golf cart mode.

[zoltiz]

Everyone's commute is different, everyone's driving style is different, but it looks like if you watch the EcoAssist prompts for up/down shifting and let the Eco mode throttle delay do its job, you can get the 40s for an average type scenario. Eco mode is perfectly bearable.

[taikahn]

I couldn't deal with eco mode for a block.

[jcramin]

Originally Posted by taikahn

I couldn't deal with eco mode for a block.

Me either EXCEPT when on the interstate just cruzing at a constant speed

[Fathom]

Decided that this week I would "let it all hang out". Sport all week with spirited shifting like a sport car. Full throttle runs up the steepest local hills at ....well lets just say over the speed limit of 70 mph. Computer is showing 33 mpg and I'm having a blast. If you can drive this thing like a go kart racer and still get 33 mpg grandma mode has to return close to 40 (I like taikahn am unable genetically to drive in eco mode more than about 12 miles!). I've had the car for about a month now and have 3/4 of the second tank of gas left (90 miles on trip A).

[TCroly]

I assume that the OP is referencing the EPA rating for the 6 speed getting less fuel economy than the CVT. Base on the posts here on the forum I do not think it is the case, but we need to do a survey to see if the manuals or CVT actually get better fuel economy in the real world.

On the Honda fit, the automatic is EPA rated at 1-2 mpg more than the 5 speed manual, but it is well documented that the 5 speed manuals typically get 2-4 more MPGs than the automatics.

Our fuel economy survey says that most CRZ drivers (64%) achieve between 34 and 40 MPG with a select group (25%) getting better than 40 MPG this and a small group (11%) getting a bit less than 34MPG.

[TCroly]

Originally Posted by taikahn

Normal mode is what you will be in most of the time -- eco is a golf cart mode.

Eco mode is designed for hypermilers who know that small amounts of throttle in certain conditions can help maintain speed without using much fuel.

The main difference between the modes is that if you push the throttle pedal down 1/4 of the way, in eco mode you only get about 10% throttle, In sport mode, when you push the throttle pedal down 1/4 of the way you are actually at more than 1/2 throttle and you are at full throttle with the pedal pushed only 3/4 of the way.

When the pedal is pushed to the floor in any mode, you will get the same full throttle acceleration.

[Smitty]

Thanks very much for the information. I guess I'm a bit dumbfounded that this small, aerodynamic car can't get better fuel economy with the average driver than my wife's Camry hybrid. Seems like it should do 50+ without too much coaxing. Definitely more pizzazz than the Toyota, though.
Happy driving.

[borcth]

Originally Posted by taikahn

I couldn't deal with eco mode for a block.

Ditto