MPG expected on 1.25 2008 Fiesta

Montmorencymon

We bought a 1.25 2008 Fiesta "Style" (replacing a 1999 Focus which we'd had for about 9 years). This is a petrol model.

This was in early May.

We like the car, and one of the nice things is that due to lowish emissions, the tax is only £125, quite a bit less than the old Focus.

I'd expected the fuel usage to be correspondingly low, and we've only had to put fuel in it 3 times I think, since we don't use it much at the moment. (Filled up today in anticipation of a planned long journey soon; I would normally only half-fill it to save weight, for just local use).

We did the sums on the mileage and fuel used so far, and if the sums are right, it's around 35-36 MPG, which sounds rather low to me, even granted that most of this is "around town" mileage (not all, though).

Neither of us is particularly heavy on the right foot, and we try to use the standard fuel-saving driving techniques.

I'm wondering what other Fiesta users are getting.

Maybe we need more "data" to get a better picture.

We didn't monitor our Focus, at least not in recent years, so I don't have any numbers to compare with.

There isn't a MPG indicator, but there is an estimated miles available (for the fuel you have left) indicator. I'm not sure how it works, but we usually fill up when it gets down to 50, which is some way below the ¼ full indicator.

gilbert_and_sullivan

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/realmpg/ford/fiesta-2008

Average around 40mpg according to Honestjohns user reported real MPG section, so if you're getting 36 around town you are doing well.

motorguy

I'd an 07 one new in 07. Horrible on fuel. I struggled to break much over 30mpg.

Too small an engine with too little power.

Even worse with the aircon on.

Ultrasonic

Montmorencymon wrote: »

There isn't a MPG indicator, but there is an estimated miles available (for the fuel you have left) indicator. I'm not sure how it works, but we usually fill up when it gets down to 50, which is some way below the ¼ full indicator.

Don't whatever you do trust the estimated miles available indicator in your car! These can be horribly unreliable. Ignore it completely and do what I'm sure you've done in the past and use the fuel gauge, and knowledge of how far you can go on a tank.

(I'm sure you've checked but I'd say it's pretty unusual for a car to indicate a 'miles left' but not be able to show an estimated mpg - are you sure it doesn't? Might be worth checking the manual. Although even if it does I'd only trust it if I'd confirmed it was correct using old fashioned brim to brim measurements.)

forgotmyname

Low emissions does not mean a higher MPG

In theory it should. Low emissions means a good clean burn, Creating more energy for the same amount of fuel.
But the tests are seriously flawed and they rely on manufacturers figures.

Newer cars with higher gearing may actually require more revs to get the most efficiency.

It works on my Mondeo diesel and seems to apply to the 1L ecoboost engines also.

Where is the peak torque figure on your car? Keep the revs near that.

40mph is more efficient in 4th gear on my car compared to 5th. Although it drives well in 5th at that speed. Just uses more fuel.

WobblyDog

I average around 48mpg in a 1.25 2011 Fiesta "Studio", which is probably a bit heavier and thirstier than yours. It doesn't have air conditioning, which might be a factor. I drive mostly on motorways, and am not a fast driver. If I do lots of short journeys, the fuel consumption drops to around 40mpg.

To measure fuel consumption accurately, you should really record consumption across several tank refills. Fill the tank to the brim each time, write down the volume of fuel purchased and the mileage, then do the maths.

GwylimT

I would say around 40 mpg is about average, 1.25 is a very small engine for the size of a car, really that sort of engine is suitable for a KA, but nothing bigger. At what speed do you typically go into 5th gear? I would say with a 1.25 and a fiesta to stay in 4th unless you're going over 40 mph.

Also to make you feel better I used to have a 2.0 mondeo that got a huge 17 mpg!

alastairq

I would say around 40 mpg is about average, 1.25 is a very small engine for the size of a car, really that sort of engine is suitable for a KA, but nothing bigger. At what speed do you typically go into 5th gear? I would say with a 1.25 and a fiesta to stay in 4th unless you're going over 40 mph.

crikey..are you saying that, over a decade, Fiestas have grown out of all proportion? IE Obese?

I have a 1999 Fiesta, 1.25 zetec. It has aircon too. I cannot understand why anybody would want a bigger engine..or even, more power, for a car the size of a Fiesta?
I get an average of 46 mpg's,using the click-to-click filling method [accurate enough for me].
Performance -wise..unless some drivers are absolutely intent at driving over 90mph on ordinary single carriageway roads, my Fiesta has the ability to not only stay up with the traffic, but generally streak ahead [within the Law]....maybe it's my driver skills, probably the car's ability though.

On a motorway, the 1.25 engine is easily comfortable in 5th gear at 70...and I suspect easily comfortable in the same gear at 90?

But then, what do I know?

After all, the Fiesta may have go fatter and fatter over the years...and roughly equate to a Mondeo of the last century?

Or, maybe, drivers have lost the ability to extract good performance from small engines?

Excess power leads to excess laziness?

rev_henry

alastairq wrote: »

crikey..are you saying that, over a decade, Fiestas have grown out of all proportion? IE Obese?

Yes, most probably! I believe the mk4/5 golf weighs 3x more than the mk1 golf. :eek:

I'd say 40mpg+ would be reasonable in a fiesta. 36mpg mainly round town sounds about right.

Its interesting though - type of driving didn't seem to make much difference to MPG in my previous small cars. I now have a larger 1.6 saloon car and it does make more of a difference. I once got just 29mpg with half the tank doing trips in busy city traffic, whereas normal driving (which for me is almost 100% 'extra urban', living in the country) it'll get the best part of 40.

ROY47

My wifes 2009 1.25 Fiesta averaged 30 - 32 mpg around town :eek:

Kept it for a year and now got 1.4 fiesta diesel it easily does 50mpg around town

Had diesel cars for 17 years , petrol for 1 year
Will never ever go back to petrol !

Ultrasonic

ROY47 wrote: »

My wifes 2009 1.25 Fiesta averaged 30 - 32 mpg around town :eek:

Kept it for a year and now got 1.4 fiesta diesel it easily does 50mpg around town

Had diesel cars for 17 years , petrol for 1 year
Will never ever go back to petrol !

Is the car almost exclusively used for town driving? If so you may want to check whether your diesel has a DPF, because if it does I'm afraid you might be best off switching back to a petrol. Something like an Aygo would be more efficient than the Fiesta that you sold.