[OUWxGuesser]

Took the Caliber on it's first major road trip (2000+ mi).

http://ww2.convectionconnection.com:8080/UND-visit/

Overall, the vehicle rode great. On the way up I averaged 25-28mpg @ 70-80 mph on gentle hills/ to flat interstate with a ~5-15mph headwind. Total odometer is still just a hair over 3k so it still has a way to completly break in.

The trip back was much quite horrid mpg wise, however. Much of the way I had an insane headwind... we're talking 20-30mph. With the fairly high drag coef. the Caliber is a bit tougher to drive than a sedan in the wind. I noticed that given a 20-30mph headwind, the Caliber had to remain at !300-600rpms! higher than normal. Normally at 70-75mph, it stays around 2400-2700rpm... in teh headwind I was often at 3+k... hence the decreased fuel efficiency.

Detailed tank info:
#1 339.5mi - 25.3mpg (all interstate, 75-80mph, slight headwind)
#2 358.4mi - 27.7mpg (all interstate/US hwy 70-75mph, slight headwind)
#3 364.1mi - 25.17mpg (60% interstate @75-80mpg, 40% city - technically more like 1.25 tanks)

#4 284mi - 21.4mpg (all interstate, 75-80mph, monster headwind)
#5 267mi - 23.4mpg (interstate/us highway 70-75mph, monster headwind, not quite completely depleted tank)
#6 296.2mi - 23.14mpg (interstate/us highway 70-80mph, monster headwind)

PS: didn't see one other Caliber on the way. Got quite a few interesting looks, however. I also got complimented on it today. Too bad it was because the parking ticket guy had to talk for 10min with mission control to figure out how to log the vehicle :O

 

[MrTyke]

That's some REALLY good information on your gas efficiency. Remind me again which Caliber you have. Based upon numbers, 'looks' like you have the R/T with 23 city, 30 hwy. With that monster headwind, it dropped your ratio.

...Wx...where are those gust numbers???? I know you must have had your pocket guage with you!!

This is one of those threads that should definitely get stickied. Think you can change the topic title to Fuel Efficiency or something like that?

Tyke

 

[GOT]

Good info OUWxGuesser.


Someone was asking what the rpms are like at freeway speeds.

@ 57mph on relatively flat roads the motor (the 2.0 with CVT) was turning 2k-rpm. It would fluctuate between 2k and 3.5 going up and down hills.

@ 77mph on relatively flat roads the motor turned 2.5k-rpm. Fluctuated between 2.5 and 4k on front and back sides of hills.

 

[pyro]

at 65 mph or 105 kmh with 2.4 it hovers around 2250 -2350

 

[pyro]

firts tank 415 km 50 city 50 hway
second tank 440 65 city 35 hway


not to bad for the 2.4 awd should go higher than 450 -465

 

[OUWxGuesser]

2.0 SXT w/ CVT2 which is rated 26 city / 30 highway.

Hah on the gusts... I just went back and looked at the obs... looks like gusts were easily going over 40mph in places.

I also wanted to add all tanks had either the passenger cabin fan on the lowest setting either with coldest non AC or mid-cool AC on.

Another thing I noted - the inconsistent reading on the fuelometer... example:

3/4 tank - 122mi
1/2 tank - 186mi
1/4 tank - 241mi
fuel light - 267mi
fill up - 284mi

Another:
3/4 tank - 162mi
1/2 tank - 244mi
1/4 tank - 303.5mi
fuel light - 332mi
fill up - 358.4mi

So in reality.... half tank is more around halfway between 1/2 and 3/4 tank.

 

[DodgeGirlKathy]

OUWx - thought of you out there these last few days with the storms in your area. (And GOT in Norman OK too.) That was some crazy weather - hope you are all OK.

And speaking of road trips, I did a short one this weekend too - Detroit to Cleveland and back. I too felt those wind gusts coming back on I-80/90, and it does pull the Caliber a lot more noticeably than in passenger cars. (Think it tugs on those roof rails?) For mileage I got aro 25 mpg, "speed" control (LOL) set around 80. I noticed too that the tach was up higher than normally too, around 3000+. Usually at freeway speeds it's closer to 2000-2500.
(SXT w/ 2.0 CVT2.)

The Caliber was super comfortable on the trip. Handled great and I could have driven a couple more hours easily. Saw my mom and brother out there. Both took the Caliber out for a spin and thought it was awesome. In fact, my bro likes it better than his Land Rover Discovery!! ha!! Mom, who drives a 95 Camry, thinks the seats are the most comfortable and supportive than she's ever ridden in.

 

[Xtreme Thunder]

Well I am glad to see that the Caliber handles long road trips fine. I like the MPG numbers that are being reported!! Thanks!

 

[caliber4whoosh]

Thanks for the MPGs guys!

I second the sticky motion.