Poor gas mileage for Q50 S Hybrid

20008 Views 44 Replies 31 Participants Last post by SimpsonTide985, Jan 18, 2015

topnote

Discussion Starter · Mar 16, 2014

We love our new Q50 hybrid but are not happy with the gas mileage. We are averaging 24.9 mpg and have about an equal mix of city and highway driving. The advertised mileage is 29/36 with an average of 30 mpg.

It seems the colder it gets the worse the mileage. We live in New England and its been cold. When we first got the car in December we received 30 mpg on the same commute we now get 24.9 regularly.

The dealer says the gas motor stays on when the heater is on... so EV mode is on less than normal. This is a flaw in the system I think.

Anyone else having this issue?

The purpose for paying an extra 10k for the hybrid is to save gas...this isnt happening for us.

1 - 20 of 45 Posts

selzini

· #2 · Mar 16, 2014

The dealer says the gas motor stays on when the heater is on...

Not true. When we had the super cold weather here, I still went into EV mode.

baksdak

· #3 · Mar 16, 2014

I have noticed about the same mileage for my AWD. However, when it is warmer I am getting closer to 28. And that is false about the heater.

I will say that it is still far better than the regular 3.7 would get you.

kc2dc

· #4 · Mar 16, 2014 (Edited)

I'm not complaining because I didn't really buy this car for the MPGs, but I think the Infiniti estimated mpgs are BS. It's extremely difficult to get the advertised MPGs, if even possible at all, no matter how much you baby the car and drive it like a grandma.

I have never paid attention to gas mileage till I bought a hybrid and I just ignore it now, it will drive you nuts.

I have the hybrid S AWD and it's supposed to get 27/31. Even when I baby it, the best I can do is 24/27 so around 25 mixed.

I don't know that I would buy another hybrid honestly. Not sure it's worth it unless the gassers are getting in the teens.

Maybe it will be worth it in the long run, I drive a lot and gas adds up.

Having said that, I just drove a 600 mile road trip. The Q50S is awesome for road trips, not a single complaint.

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hunter81

· #5 · Mar 16, 2014

Gas mileage does go down in cold weather. The engine has to stay on longer to warm up and I imagine there are battery temperature issues as well that the ECU is dealing with before the car will go into EV mode. I live about 11 miles from work and notice on really cold mornings (30s to 40s for those of us in TX), the car won't start dropping into EV mode until I'm about 90% of the way there. I don't think the price difference for the hybrid is $10K. It depends on the combo of options you get, but the price difference between a 3.7 RWD fully loaded and an exactly equipped hybrid is $1,850. Not a bad deal for a car with better gas mileage, even in cold weather, that also has more power.

My best days in pure city driving are over 28, but I realistically end up with 24-25 because I didn't exactly buy this car for efficiency. I bought it to get pushed into my seat whenever the opportunity presents itself. Fuel savings are a very much loved bonus.

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hunter81

· #6 · Mar 16, 2014

The hybrid comes with more things standard if you are comparing base 3.7 to base hybrid. That's part of the disparity.

cvipgo

· #7 · Mar 16, 2014

I am getting 25.1 mph, not bad at all with 360hp and over 4000lbs car.

Reactions: 3

selzini

· #8 · Mar 16, 2014

I've been averaging around 27-28 mpg in local driving. The last road trip gave me 35.2.

Reactions: 2

IRadi8

· #9 · Mar 16, 2014

I'm at 27.2 and that's with my heavy foot. When I'm on the highway and not "feeling frisky", I'll put it in Eco mode. Otherwise, I bought the car for the kick ass engine, not the MPG. Giddy up!

Reactions: 2

hunter81

· #10 · Mar 16, 2014

IRadi8 said:
I'm at 27.2 and that's with my heavy foot. When I'm on the highway and not "feeling frisky", I'll put it in Eco mode. Otherwise, I bought the car for the kick ass engine, not the MPG. Giddy up!

Giddy up, indeed.

Sudzz

· #11 · Mar 16, 2014

I'm averaging 28-29 mpg in New England. About 60%hwy. I got the car in Nov and have about 8000 miles on it. Non-sport AWD hybrid.

jaijaiiii_life

· #12 · Mar 16, 2014

I get 20.9 avg with the hybrid ? in hawaii

erasat

· #13 · Mar 16, 2014 (Edited)

kc2dc said:
I'm not complaining because I didn't really buy this car for the MPGs, but I think the Infiniti estimated mpgs are BS. It's extremely difficult to get the advertised MPGs, if even possible at all, no matter how much you baby the car and drive it like a grandma.

I have never paid attention to gas mileage till I bought a hybrid and I just ignore it now, it will drive you nuts.

I have the hybrid S AWD and it's supposed to get 27/31. Even when I baby it, the best I can do is 24/27 so around 25 mixed.

I don't know that I would buy another hybrid honestly. Not sure it's worth it unless the gassers are getting in the teens.

Maybe it will be worth it in the long run, I drive a lot and gas adds up.

Having said that, I just drove a 600 mile road trip. The Q50S is awesome for road trips, not a single complaint.

Sorry to tell you this, but when Infiniti or any other company tells you that any car is capable of 28 MPG city, 36 MPG HWY and 31 MPG combined (at least for the Hybrid premium like mine) is because it's capable of, but then they also tell you that it depends on driving conditions, so my friend this car is capable of what is advertised the problem is your driving conditions, you can't blame Infiniti, or any other company for that.

Here is my latest tank stats, 533.8 miles, 252 EV miles. (47.2%) and 36.6 MPG. Also note that I'm averaging 45.3% of EV miles and 34 MPG since I got the car on 11/9/13.

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Reactions: 3

InfinitiPlusOne

· #14 · Mar 16, 2014

One time, I was manage to get 35.9mpg in a tank of gas. Maybe I should sue Infiniti for false advertising the EPA rating for my Q50S Hybrid of 28/34 mpg

Funny people tend to blame the car for poor mpg but never blame themselves or the environment.

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Reactions: 2

Klamalama

· #15 · Mar 16, 2014

InfinitiPlusOne said:
One time, I was manage to get 35.9mpg in a tank of gas. Maybe I should sue Infiniti for false advertising the EPA rating for my Q50S Hybrid of 28/34 mpg
Funny people tend to blame the car for poor mpg but never blame themselves or the environment.

I notice a substantial drop in highway mpg when driving above 75 mph. No further comment.

Reactions: 1

avanti5010

· #16 · Mar 16, 2014

selzini said:
I've been averaging around 27-28 mpg in local driving. The last road trip gave me 35.2.

Same for me. Q50S Hybrid.

Jason91

· #17 · Mar 16, 2014

Alright, maybe I can help out here a little bit. During the winter your gas mileage is going to go down due to the fact that the air is denser during colder seasons, more air means more fuel injected into the engine. During the warm seasons you will get better gas mileage because air particles are more spread out (less dense) so less fuel is injected. You need to remember our ECUs are constantly making very fine adjustments to how much fuel is injected into our engines. This is why you are getting worst gas mileage.

hunter81

· #18 · Mar 16, 2014

Jason91 said:
Alright, maybe I can help out here a little bit. During the winter your gas mileage is going to go down due to the fact that the air is denser during colder seasons, more air means more fuel injected into the engine. During the warm seasons you will get better gas mileage because air particles are more spread out (less dense) so less fuel is injected. You need to remember our ECUs are constantly making very fine adjustments to how much fuel is injected into our engines. This is why you are getting worst gas mileage.

Good point. Winter is nature's turbo.

hunter81

· #19 · Mar 16, 2014

KLamalama said:
I notice a substantial drop in highway mpg when driving above 75 mph. No further comment.

Gearing aside that's any car unfortunately. Drag force increases with the square of your speed.

kc2dc

· #20 · Mar 16, 2014

erasat said:
Sorry to tell you this, but when Infiniti or any other company tells you that any car is capable of 28 MPG city, 36 MPG HWY and 31 MPG combined (at least for the Hybrid premium like mine) is because it's capable of, but then they also tell you that it depends on driving conditions, so my friend this car is capable of what is advertised the problem is your driving conditions, you can't blame Infiniti, or any other company for that.

Here is my latest tank stats, 533.8 miles, 252 EV miles. (47.2%) and 36.6 MPG. Also note that I'm averaging 45.3% of EV miles and 34 MPG since I got the car on 11/9/13.

Yea, I supposed you are right. Like I said, MPGs is not something I have ever really worried about, I have always just filled the tank when it's empty and that's about it.

I doubt I could get the high mpgs anyway. I live in a pretty hilly area, I have a heavy foot and I will always be using the AC, heater or will have my windows down creating drag. Even when I try, I just can't keep from giving it some gas once in a while.

I think 24-27mpg is pretty good for such a powerful and heavy car and my driving conditions.

I just wonder what my mpgs would be in a gasser and how much I'm really saving. I'm happy either way. I like the car. No second thoughts so far after the initial DAS issues I had.

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