Money grabbing "Consumer Watchdog" thugs are about to learn what it costs to try and extort.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - July 9, 2012
2012 Hyundai Elantra Limited – $20,595 to start and sports a 29/40 rating with its 6-speed AT.
The all-new 2013 Elantra GT begins at $18,395 while rated at 27/39 EPA city/highway with the 6-speed stick. The least efficient trim within the entire Elantra lineup
allowed a 72_mpg, 918 mile tank!
First measured top off to top off fill at the Shell in Julesburg, CO: (918 miles actual) on 12.741 gal =
72.051 mpgUS.
Other drives of note include the
GM’s Most Fuel Efficient Car Coming to Chicago – 2011 Chevrolet Cruze ECO Final calibrated results: 55.4 miles per Trip A/B * (Odo Study 20.0/20.3) 54.58 miles/0.935 gallons =
58.37 mpgUS actual vs. 64.5 mpg displayed.
Cruze ECO with 6-speed MT - Steady State MPH vs. MPG results
50 mph – 57.1 mpg displayed – 51.7 mpgUS actual
55 mph – 51.6 mpg displayed – 46.7 mpgUS actual
60 mph – 48.3 mpg displayed – 44.2 mpgUS actual
65 mph – 43.5 mpg displayed – 39.4 mpgUS actual
CleanMPG Begins a Review of the 2012 Mazda 3i Touring 5-door with SKYACTIV Technology - Final calibrated results:92.3 miles actual/1.403 gallons =
65.78 mpgUS vs. 62.1 mpg displayed.
CleanMPG Plays Its Hand in Las Vegas with a Pair of (MPG) Kings
2012 Elantra GLS with 6-speed AT – 45.613 mpgUS (+14% > EPA)
2012 Cruze ECO with 6-speed AT – 42.747 mpgUS (+9.6% > EPA)
The Suit
According to Consumer Watchdog (a UAW backed entity possibly?) and their law firm, Hyundai's fuel economy claims in 2011 and 2012 Elantra somehow mislead California Drivers through a broad-based media advertising campaign designed to capitalize on public concern over escalating gas prices, according to a lawsuit filed by Consumer Watchdog and Cuneo Gilbert and LaDuca, LLP.
The lawsuit alleges that Hyundai touted "The 40 MPG Elantra" in high-impact television, Internet, and print advertisements without government-required disclosures that those mileage estimates were for highway driving only and that city driving mileage estimates were much lower. The omitted disclosures would have informed consumers that the car does not attain 40 MPG under most driving conditions. The illegal advertisements caused tens of thousands of California drivers to purchase or lease 2011 and 2012 Elantra’s and consequently incur unexpected fuel costs.
Louis Bird of Sacramento, California, a 2011 Elantra owner who is representing other consumers in the class-action lawsuit and meticulously documents his mileage:
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"I feel like Hyundai took advantage of me. Hyundai's advertisements about the '40 MPG' gas mileage of the Elantra instantly caught my attention. I bought the car thinking I would be seeing major savings at the pump and getting over 500 miles per tank, but Hyundai fooled me. I have not saved any money on gas and have been driving the Elantra for well over a year now. It is frustrating and disappointing. I never would have bought the Elantra in the first place if I hadn't seen Hyundai's ads boasting about gas mileage."
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Hyundai's response
In a statement, Hyundai North America referred to the EPA tests conducted by the government and three widely-read magazines that suggest the advertised fuel economy is realistic.
Our Take
How about our first drive of the Elantra GLS with a 6-speed stick?
CleanMPG Reviews the 2011 Hyundai Elantra GLS – Final calibrated results: 127.5 miles per Trip A/B * (Odo study: 35 miles per mile markers/32.4 miles on Trip A/B)]/2.101 gallons =
65.55 mpgUS vs. 67.3 displayed in low 50 to low 70 degree temps.
Elantra GLS with 6-speed MT - Steady State MPH vs. MPG results
50 mph – 55.8 mpg displayed – 54.3 mpgUS actual
55 mph – 49.9 mpg displayed – 48.6 mpgUS actual
60 mph – 49.3 mpg displayed – 48.0 mpgUS actual
65 mph – 45.5 mpg displayed – 44.3 mpgUS actual
70 mph – 41.6 mpg displayed – 40.5 mpgUS actual
CleanMPG Reviews the 2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited - Final calibrated results: 93.2 miles per Trip A/B * (Odo study 26/25.1 MM offsets)/1.628 gallons =
59.3 mpgUS actual vs. 60.8 mpgUS displayed.
50 mph – 55.4 mpg displayed – 54.0 mpgUS actual
55 mph – 52.3 mpg displayed – 51.0 mpgUS actual
60 mph – 48.05 mpg displayed – 46.9 mpgUS actual
65 mph – 45.4 mpg displayed – 44.3 mpgUS actual
70 mph – 40.05 mpg displayed – 39.1 mpgUS actual
The lawsuit seeks to stop Hyundai from what they are calling illegally using gas mileage numbers in its advertising of the Elantra without government-mandated disclosures and asks for damages on behalf of California residents who purchased or leased 2011 and 2012 Elantra’s.
So who here has seen the 42 mpg rating of the Cruze ECO, 37 mpg rating of the Malibu ECO, 40 mpg rating of the Fiesta and 40 mpg rating Focus SFE touted in national advertising campaigns?
According to Laura Antonini, Consumer Watchdog's staff attorney:
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"Hyundai used the '40 MPG' figure in a deceptive manner in order to differentiate the Elantra from similar vehicles, an especially egregious tactic during a time when consumers are looking for relief from continually rising gasoline prices."
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Hey Laura, really? And what company did not advertise their 40 mpg ratings based on the highway number? Oh, you are not available for comment now are you
I would love to ask you this exact question in court plus what is your exact fuel economy in what you drive on a daily basis sometime in the future. How I love to be let loose on these blood suckers and have them pay for the court costs and attorney fees! Then we’ll see who Consumer Watchdog is actually “sponsored by”.
2013 Hyundai Elantra GT
The least efficient within the Elantra family doubles the EPA on its first full tank drive
They all do it, but that doesn't make it right.
I hear ya Andrew. I especially hate it when they do it for a vehicle that you know is going to be a FSP in the city.
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