I'm interested in what various experiences there are for fuel economy for different Smart owners. I went into Smart ownership with fairly high expectations. I was really looking for a number that starts with a 4. To this point I have not been disappointed. I got the car in late November 2008, and during the winter (Maryland) averaged a very consistent 42 mpg. Now that the weather is warming up my number is creeping up, now about 43.5 mpg in May.
I drive a combination of country roads with a little highway, with at least some period in jammed traffic nearly every day both ways on a 42 mile commute one way. I'm not being particularly careful about speed or acceleration, and use the manual shift routinely to drive the car the way I want to.
I believe a significant factor is cold starts per mile. My cold starts per mile is probably quite low compared to many, and may contribute to better than average fuel economy. But then I have to ask if I'm getting better than average fuel economy. What aboun the rest of you?
I drive a combination of country roads with a little highway, with at least some period in jammed traffic nearly every day both ways on a 42 mile commute one way. I'm not being particularly careful about speed or acceleration, and use the manual shift routinely to drive the car the way I want to.
I believe a significant factor is cold starts per mile. My cold starts per mile is probably quite low compared to many, and may contribute to better than average fuel economy. But then I have to ask if I'm getting better than average fuel economy. What aboun the rest of you?
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The best we've documented is 41.25. That was highway last week with 92 and 93 octane gas. The worst we've written down was 30.80 on 89 octane ethanol in December. All of these are with the top on our Cab up. When I started running with the top down last week at 70-75 through Indiana and Illinois the mileage dipped to the high 20s by what the SWAG I could gather from watching the gas gauge. Surprisingly, I averaged 37.6 running 70-75 with the top up and the air conditioning on.
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my last tank was 49.5MPGs, since the temps are over 50F i get 45-49 mpgs in my daily stop and go commutes (12.3 miles, 24mph avg speed) my worst tank was the first in january 2008, 37mpgs, my best trip was last week at 79F 61.6mpgs. i use a scan gauge II, it helps me monitor throttle and gear choices.
during the winter in sub-freezing temps my mileage drops to low 40's, the smart takes almost half the trip to get up to 188F, optimum coolant temp. if the coolant goes over 190F, the fan comes on and kicks the idle fuel consumption from 0.18-0.20GPH to 0.30GPH. same when the coolant temp is below 180F.
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