Hyundai announced a correction in the upcoming 2015 Sonata’s fuel economy upon findings showing the economy figures to be lower than originally stated.
Reuters reports the sedan claimed a 6 percent-climb to 12.6 kilometers per liter, a figure based on tests at the automaker’s research center. However, government tests returned a 2 percent-climb of 12.1 kilometers per liter than the outgoing model.
Analysts, including Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade senior researcher Cho Chul, said the impact of the error and subsequent correction would be short-lived, having been announced prior to the new Sonata going on sale later this month in its home market:
This may have a short-term impact on its reputation. But for the longer term, it is better for Hyundai to take quick action before controversy erupts.
Both Hyundai and Kia are rebuilding their reputations regarding fuel economy after overstate figures in their respective lineups led to recalls and customer lawsuits, paying $395 million total in settlements in the United States in 2012 for over 1 million vehicles with erroneous mileage.
Seems like a non-issue, basically. This hiccup applies only to the Korea Domestic Market, which doesn’t even use the US EPA test protocol.
But if this is supposed to be a ‘gotcha’ piece, you win.
“6 percent-climb to 12.6 kilometers per liter”
>.< Imperial please.
Per teh google, 29.637 MPG US.
Oh finally, I can read it!
This is becoming commonplace. Manufacturers are expected to comply with ever-increasing standards from Sir Obama, yet they get a slap on the wrist for their exagerations.
Last I heard there was this lady out of California trying to sue the pants off Honda (IIRC) for under-estimated MPG of the Civic she financed.
Let’s sum it up once and for all: if you are going to buy a vehicle, and you want to know how much MPG it will get… knock about 2-3 mpg off the average MPG that the manufacturer is citing.
I love it, too, how they say “EPA rated”. Make’s not a damned bit of difference.
This was concerning the Korean market – nothing to do with President Obama. But don`t let facts get in the way of your snark.
A stark, stark Democrat.
But thanks for the facts, I stand corrected.
Sheesh. Talk about being gored by the blue horn.
That’s not the issue. The “your mileage may vary caveat” doesn’t apply because they are comparing internal tests vs the government tests. Since the test cycle is a (more or less) controlled experiment, the results should group tightly together, provided the variables are accounted for.
Exactly. This is another problem of cheating on a test, not of whether the test is applicable to the real world.
There are at least two non-political issues here. First, manufacturers are playing games with engine and transmission control software to get a better score on the test. Sometimes it feels like the automatic transmission is fighting with the driver. Second, hybrid cars have a tradeoff between fuel economy and battery service life. Honda changed that tradeoff after the sale in the case of the Civic, greatly altering the hybrid vs. non-hybrid cost calculations.
I’m currently trying to calculate if the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid pays for itself for my typical driving. Frustratingly difficult to get real-world data to make that calculation. Hybrid results at https://www.fuelly.com/ are all over the map and none of the cars have aged batteries. Also not clear how much fuel economy degrades at actual 75-80mph highway driving.
There are at least two non-political issues here. First, manufacturers are playing games with engine and transmission control software to get a better score on the test. Sometimes it feels like the automatic transmission is fighting with the driver. Second, hybrid cars have a tradeoff between fuel economy and battery service life.
@George B, +1. Certain engine transmission combos only exist for CAFE and that has been true since the 80s, what most members of the GOP forget is that St. Ronnie Reagan was President back then and GM still sold full size cars with 140 hp 307 Olds V8s. Do think GM wanted to stop selling 350 4brls in Caprice Classics and Olds 98s? Heck no! CAFE is the reason.
Now they can be more sophisticated with gaming the system. 9 speed transmission that only engages top gear at ludicrous speed? CAFE. 3 cyl ecobost? CAFE.
Don’t blame the current president for continuing down a road started in the late 70s.
Or for CAFE stds of 35.5 started by Mr Bush.
Our 2012 Sonata Limited (naturally-aspirated) regularly crests 40 MPG in calm driving scenarios. But Hyundai/Kia does need to get its act together as far as reporting fuel-economy ratings goes. Didn’t they also have some kind of debacle in South America?
To really know if your car is performing up, or down, to the EPA numbers on the sticker, you would have to replicate the exact cycles used in their tests (which are designed to test emissions, not consumption). I’m still waiting for the industry to come out with real-world tests, like driving 1000 miles on the Interstate network at actual traffic speeds, or slogging through a big-city rush hour with the A/C on. I don’t drive gently, but still beat the posted numbers with the last several imports I owned (not Korean, but Japanese and Swedish).