4X4 Gas Mileage

tacticsman2 · Apr 30, 2011

HI Guys,
I've been looking to buy the new patriot and I am ready to spring any moment. I've been reading alot on here and getting my info mostly throught here. The other day I had talked to my friend who was also in the market on a new vehicle, drives roughly the same 400 mile a week commute as me for work 5 days a week. Both myself and him drive 90% highway, but we both enjoy the outdoor camping/hunting trips and live in upstate new york where we get hammered with snow. After explaining the many benefits and my expierence in test driving and driving a friends Optic Green 4x4 Sport, I had him sold on a new patriot. He went to go look and asked the dealer what kind of gas mileage the Sport package 4X4 gets seeing this is one of the main factors to his and my purchase. The dealer told him he would be lucky to hit 25 on average. I have always though the sport 4X4 with goodyear eagle LS touring tires would optimize gas mileage for highway. What are you guys getting on average with the sport 4x4s (no FDIIs). Long story short he chose a Nissan Altima that same night simply beacuse the Jeep couldn't offer the same gas mileage and he already owns a large 4x4. Let me know what you guys are getting, I love the patriot and want to get one but if the the gas numbers aren't good enough I'll be back looking at mid-size cars

yar1964 · Apr 30, 2011

Well many threads about it, but here is my info, little over 3000 miles last tank was at 24.8 mpg, average range from 22.3(lowest) to 24.8(highest), on about 10 tank fills at this point, now I drive mostly highway probably about 90% like your self but I am not MPG friendly, drive on average 75 to 80 MPH not good for MPG's

the_jeep_now · Apr 30, 2011

I have 2010 Sport 4x4 and I drive 70/30 city/hwy and have been getting anywhere from 18 to 22 mpg depending on time of the year. When I bought my Patriot, the window sticker said 22/25 which seems reasonable. Some folks here were able to reach high 20s with 5 MT. You might look into getting 4x4 with 5 speed manual. Good luck and keep us posted on what you decide.

gagemaster2000 · Apr 30, 2011

I have a 2011 FD1 cvt with the 215/65/17 SRA tires and I'm averaging about 23 mpg so far with 3700 miles on my Patriot. I drive approx 75 miles round trip daily to my work which is 35% city and 65% hwy. I expect the mileage to increase as she breaks in and we switch over to summer grade gas from the crappy winter mix. My 2008 Patriot averaged around 25mpg over 36,000 miles and even got as high as 30 mpg on a long hwy trip with the speed around 60 mph.

todde702 · Apr 30, 2011

As stated, there are already a ton of MPG threads with real world numbers. Some get in the high 20's, some as low as the high teens. Driving style, temperature and terrain are going to dictate your results, but it will modify the mileage on any vehicle you get, even your friends Altima will probably give lower results then the window sticker shows. Your friends full size 4x4 likely never sees the 20's for MPG (I'd guess 14/18 mpg for city/highway), but if he only uses it for snow, that may not be a problem for him. If you're driving something now that gets mid 20's to low 30's, you're going to take a slight hit. But, for the capability, money and fuel mileage, you can't beat the Patriot as a good all-around, year-round vehicle.

I used to drive a Dodge Dakota R/T 5.9L that got 12 mpg city, 15-16 mpg highway. Buying the Patriot back in early 2008, when gas prices were getting crazy cut my fuel bill in half as my mileage doubled so it was a win for me. My wifes GMC Sonoma Crew Cab 4x4 does 18-19 mpg highway, so she often borrows the Patriot if she's taking a road trip anywhere as she'll get 25 mpg easy (if she keeps it below 65-70 mph). We do have one member, jeephigh_11, that has highly modified his Patriot with a fuel warmer and a warm air intake (among other things such as high tire pressures and some hyper-mileing driving techniques) and he has reported low 30's for his rig, so it can be done. I pull off the fresh air duct/battery cover on mine in the winter which helps with slightly warmer air in the winter. I keep close to my summer averages by doing this.

jepstr67 · Apr 30, 2011

I get 20 MPG in town and 27 to 30 on the highway. 66000 miles so far and it was like that from day one. I am one who gets better mileage than most, but I also use the Scangage2 mileage computer to help me know when I'm using more or less fuel. Keeping RPMs at or under 2000 while accelerating is key to good mileage. Most people do not consider this kind of conservative driving "fun". However, unlike hyper-miling, the 2k acceleration is acceptable in traffic without making other normal drivers angry.

Just to put this in perspective....I can get 22 with my dad's V8 Commander.

nocoJack · Apr 30, 2011

After 3000 miles, I get an average of 23 with 60/40 highway and dense traffic.

MechE · Apr 30, 2011

Like was already stated, if you don't mind driving a manual, get a 5 speed. Last fall when I drove mostly city I was getting 24-26mpg with it. Now I drive mostly highway and through the winter with cold temps and crappy gas I was seeing about 22-24 with it, but now that the temps have warmed up, last tank of gas was 29mpg. Best I've ever got is 30mpg. I do think that speed makes a big difference with these. At 65-70mph you should get very good gas mileage, but if you bump that up to 80 like most interstates around here, mileage will probably drop quite a bit.

johnnyboy123 · Apr 30, 2011

I typically get around 23-24 mpg driving 80% highway and 20% city. During the winter though it was a bit less but I was also warming the car up and sitting in traffic (because people don't know how to drive in snow). The lowest I have ever gotten was just above 20 mpg.

If you need a 4x4 and want good gas mileage then get the Patriot.

If you don't need 4x4 then get a car with better gas mileage.

OR you can compromise and get a Nissan Juke AWD... rated 25city/30highway

jepstr67 · Apr 30, 2011

MechE said:
Like was already stated, if you don't mind driving a manual, get a 5 speed. Last fall when I drove mostly city I was getting 24-26mpg with it. Now I drive mostly highway and through the winter with cold temps and crappy gas I was seeing about 22-24 with it, but now that the temps have warmed up, last tank of gas was 29mpg. Best I've ever got is 30mpg. I do think that speed makes a big difference with these. At 65-70mph you should get very good gas mileage, but if you bump that up to 80 like most interstates around here, mileage will probably drop quite a bit.

Yes! Cold weather/cold engine is a big factor in mileage. Until it reaches the high 190's mileage very poor.

jepstr67 · Apr 30, 2011

johnnyboy123 said:
I typically get around 23-24 mpg driving 80% highway and 20% city. During the winter though it was a bit less but I was also warming the car up and sitting in traffic (because people don't know how to drive in snow). The lowest I have ever gotten was just above 20 mpg.

If you need a 4x4 and want good gas mileage then get the Patriot.

If you don't need 4x4 then get a car with better gas mileage.

OR you can compromise and get a Nissan Juke AWD... rated 25city/30highway

Where will this end? Each Nissan is uglier than the last.

jlobaugh · Apr 30, 2011

jepstr67 said:
Where will this end? Each Nissan is uglier than the last.

The Juke is so ugly I find myself attracted to it for some reason. I looked at one when I was car shopping, the size made it impractical for us and you couldn't get the AWD with a manual gearbox, so it was removed from my short list.

As far as MPG is concerned, my 2011 has 1800 miles on it after a morning road trip with my sons. We took the highway from Erie, PA to Grove City, PA with the cruise set at 68. on the way back we took a combination of state roads and backroads. Final verdict was 23.9 MPG, my Durango would have shown me 13-14 on a trip like that.

Tyrael · Apr 30, 2011

I have a 4x4 with the 5 speed manual. My normal driving around town and going to work is a mix of city and highway, and I average 24-25 MPG. If I could stay strictly highway or take a trip I can get it up to 29-30 MPG

FreeWillie · Apr 30, 2011

'11, back roads to a main road and then city driving. Last tank was 28.02 MPG.

OntarioPatriot · Apr 30, 2011

jepstr67 said:
Where will this end? Each Nissan is uglier than the last.

Coincidentally enough I was in a management training course about two weeks ago and a lady mentioned that she had just bought a Juke. When asked I mentioned I drove a Jeep and she responded, "Oh, I had one of those and I hated it."

It took every ounce of willpower not to mock her. I can't even think of a Jeep as ugly as a Juke and our history includes the J-series pick up trucks. Actually, even those aren't ugly.

At any rate, I get about 12.6-12.9L per 100km. I'll let math geniuses convert that to Imperial.

jepstr67 · Apr 30, 2011

OntarioPatriot said:
Coincidentally enough I was in a management training course about two weeks ago and a lady mentioned that she had just bought a Juke. When asked I mentioned I drove a Jeep and she responded, "Oh, I had one of those and I hated it."

It took every ounce of willpower not to mock her. I can't even think of a Jeep as ugly as a Juke and our history includes the J-series pick up trucks. Actually, even those aren't ugly.

At any rate, I get about 12.6-12.9L per 100km. I'll let math geniuses convert that to Imperial.

Where the original J-series were known as the "Rhino Chaser" this Juke looks more like what Pac-Man would choose to drive.

mpco239 · Apr 30, 2011

Mine (2010 4x4 FD1, CVT, 17" SR-A) average 25mpg. Low about 23mpg, best tanks have hit 27mpg. I am very happy with the mileage on this vehicle considering the fact that it is unstoppable on the road and off road it is capable of going where I need to go. (not very far off road). I do mixed driving, and it does very well. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't change a thing. The trail rated package is nice, but unless they are giving it away no thanks. A five speed FD1 would be no fun in Northern Virginia traffic, and the bad mileage from the trail rated package coupled with the added expense up front is not a good fit for me.

tacticsman2 · May 1, 2011

Thanks guys, this is a great thread and always very helpful. The reason the Patriot Sport has come into the question more and more is that my budget for my new car is $22000. A critical factor in my decision is that the other cars ('11 Jetta 5cyl. SE, '11 Fusion V6 SE) dont have 4 wheel drive, which would be nice on those few days a year in upstate NY that I have to be at work. I'm weighing the advantage of 4 wheel drive very heavily in my decision. Going to AWD fusion I would tack on an extra $6000 and the AWD jetta is still slated not to hit markets until 2013. I need a new car, being that in a year I'll tack on 20,000 miles. Currently Im driving a Mercury Grand Marquis, which if any of you know is a V8, I need better mileage. I still have yet to take my snow tires off and with proper cruise and coasting techniques Im hitting under 23 mpg this spring. Once I stop being lazy I'll have the summer tires on and I'll be able to hit 24, but with winter slush and cold I'm lucky to get 18-19.

RHill · May 1, 2011

With driving deliberately for best gas mileage, I get the mileage in my signature with my 2008 FDI 5MT. I considered the 2008 Liberty with a V6 and 6MT, but it's gas mileage was about a quarter less than my Patriot's. I wanted to subsidize the mideast terrorists as little as possible.

According to the guvmint fuel mileage website, the 2008 Patriot FDI 5MT annual petroleum use is 14.3 barrels and the 2008 Liberty 4X4 6MT's use is 19.0 barrels.

FWIW and YMMV.

jepstr67 · May 1, 2011

tacticsman2 said:
Thanks guys, this is a great thread and always very helpful. The reason the Patriot Sport has come into the question more and more is that my budget for my new car is $22000. A critical factor in my decision is that the other cars ('11 Jetta 5cyl. SE, '11 Fusion V6 SE) dont have 4 wheel drive, which would be nice on those few days a year in upstate NY that I have to be at work. I'm weighing the advantage of 4 wheel drive very heavily in my decision. Going to AWD fusion I would tack on an extra $6000 and the AWD jetta is still slated not to hit markets until 2013. I need a new car, being that in a year I'll tack on 20,000 miles. Currently Im driving a Mercury Grand Marquis, which if any of you know is a V8, I need better mileage. I still have yet to take my snow tires off and with proper cruise and coasting techniques Im hitting under 23 mpg this spring. Once I stop being lazy I'll have the summer tires on and I'll be able to hit 24, but with winter slush and cold I'm lucky to get 18-19.

You sure won't get that big luxury car ride out of a Patriot. LOL
You know the Dodge Caliber is built on the same platform as the Compass and Patriot. Is the AWD Caliber cheaper than the Jeeps?

4X4 Gas Mileage

tacticsman2

yar1964

the_jeep_now

gagemaster2000

todde702

jepstr67

nocoJack

MechE

johnnyboy123

jepstr67

jepstr67

jlobaugh

Tyrael

FreeWillie

OntarioPatriot

jepstr67

mpco239

tacticsman2

RHill

jepstr67

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