Over the weekend, I drove my mom's 2003 Honda Accord 4 cylinder EX SULEV Automatic from Orange County, California to Vegas and back. I managed to get 36.3 MPG (461 miles/12.7 gallons), mostly by applying the same strategies for my HCH. I know this mileage isn't stellar compared to what xcel and psyshack get on their 4 cylinder Accords, but keep in mind that I did not have an instantaneous mileage meter, did not inflate the tires beyond factory spec, kept the A/C on AUTO almost the entire trip, drove 70-75MPH on several level/downhill stretches of I-15, got stuck in traffic on the Vegas Strip several times, and did not FAS once (not with my mom in the car!). I believe I could have easily got 37-38MPG if I had just slowed down to 65MPH on the level areas, kept the A/C off on the uphills, and avoided the Vegas traffic on the Strip. I now understand the potential that Accords have in terms of hypermiling.

The only significant changes I made to my driving included driving 55-60MPH on the many uphills (in the truck lane; I wasn't the only car driving at that speed either) and driving with the load. Its amazing what those two changes did for my mileage.

Hi Eskrimast1,
The 4cyl accords are not bad on FE. My 92 accord MT got 36+mpg on a regular basis and I drove like a mad man at times. Wish I still had it but the windshield frame rotted out from replacing the window so many times. Car had 250K miles and still got good FE, always used synthetic oil. Im worried about my wife's 2001 accord 4cyl auto trans because she only gets about 26mpg. Tried to tell her to lay off the gas pedal but to no avail. Also uses the AC 90% of the time, sheesh...Maybe its time for a tune up. Has 70K miles on it.

Hi Eskrimast1:

___You might like to read some of the following non-hybrid Accord posts over at DriveAccord.net?

Just got 32.06 mpg on my Accord (i4)

41 MPG Road Trip to Ohio

___My first drive in a brand new 2004 EX-L w/ NAVI … Only 40 #’s in the Michelin’s as that is all the dealership would allow yielded 44.3 mpg over a 28 mile distance (15 city/13 highway) from cold from the dealerships lot back to the dealerships lot in low 70 degree temps.

___Out of all the non-hybrid’s, the PZEV was a good fit for higher speed driving including many of the amenities of the MDX at a touch over ½ the cost. The FE she has allowed me is excellent but the AH will still knock the hell out of her in the performance department and give just about any driver another 2 - 3 mpg on top of what they would receive in the PZEV based non-hybrid I4 … That is if they are careful to stay off the AH’s GO pedal. Many cannot resist the AH’s Go Pedal - siren song however

PS: You should have performed a FAS with your mom in the car. The I4 Accord’s Auto is a great manumatic for this and coasts even better then my Insight did from higher speeds!

___Good Luck

___Wayne R. Gerdes
___Waynegerdes@earthlink.net

I agree with you on the efficiency of Accords. My girlfriend drives slow, not necessarily to hypermile, but because that's her natural driving style. She has been getting 34MPG on her 1997 Honda Accord SE 4 speed Automatic (non VTEC). I believe the 1997 non VTEC Accord Autos are EPA rated for 30MPG highway.