My and my fiance and her mom are taking a 2000+ trip to Colorado I'm keeping track of the miles, gallons, and mpg. When we get there I'll average the mpg's. I'll do the same on the way back. Though someone might be interested what a 99 with the 3.1 V6 will get. If your interested please let me know on this post. P.S. I've crack 30 mpg.

Good luck and drive safely! I'm new to this forum. I've had my 2012 malibu for 1 month now and have been watching MPG...it has improved with each fill-up (except one, but I know why it was lower then). Today, incredibly, my MPG jumped to 37.5...I had to recheck my numbers 3 times before I could actually believe it! But after triple-checking everything, that 37.5 MPG stands! Amazing and I couldn't be more pleased. I do hope you experience the same. Have a great time out west...it's truly beautiful country out there.

Well I'm from Idaho so I'm from the west lol. You must have a 4 cylinder.

My old '97 Pontiac Grand Prix had the 3100 and about 140,000. I had to work to get it above 27 mpg. If you can crack 30 you're doing well!

I made a trip to DC back in July. In town I didn't worry about mileage but on the highway I did my best to inch it up. Even with a 3.6 and 2 passengers (plus luggage) the return leg of the trip was over 400 miles, yielding 29.46 mpg at 75-80 the whole time. A month ago I returned home from 235 miles away and drove 60 (by choice, just to see what it would do) and I got 36.4 mpg! (Not a typo!) Just proves that like so many have said for 100 years, speed affects economy. The trip down there netted me about 31 so that little reduction in speed was quite an improvement without it being any real cost to me.

The trip in July was 5 days and 2000 miles. I hope yours goes smoothly and you enjoy everywhere you go. Take lots of pictures, too! We love pictures!

But after triple-checking everything, that 37.5 MPG stands! Amazing and I couldn't be more pleased.

Hope you won't be TOO disappointed when it goes back down at the next fill.
That happens most often because of the automatic gas nozzle shut off too soon........and it will go back to "normal" or less at the next fill up.
Could be due to driving a long distance with a strong tail wind too.

If it does stay there, a LOT of users here will be jealous. ;)

At one point the wind was pushing us for quite some time I triple checked my figure and couldn't belive it. I'm sure there were many other factors but your goinga have to wait and see for the MPG yielded.

Also I've got a few pictures so far. It was dark a lot of the way, so I'll try and snap more on the way back. Have to use my cellular device.

Okay so I made it and here is the data.

I topped off before we went and started keeping track at our first fill up on the road. I know there are many factors. At some point the wind was blowing 40+ MPH. It was a tail wind for a while, but this is what I have.

1st Fill Up
9.43 Gallons ~ 243.5 Miles ~ 25.82 MPG

2nd Fill Up
7.14 Gallons ~ 221.2 Miles ~ 30.98 MPG

3rd Fill Up
6.51 Gallons ~ 169.8 Miles ~ 26.08 MPG

4th Fill Up
5.55 Gallons ~ 143.3 Miles ~ 25.79 MPG

5th Fill Up
6.86 Gallons ~ 326.5 Miles ~ 47.46 MPG

6th Fill Up
6.86 Gallons ~ 252.9 Miles ~ 36.83 MPG

Average ~ 32.17 MPG

I had a tune up about a month before, and had new tires and a radiator flush about 2 weeks before.

Here are some pictures for those that wanted to see my trip.

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc390/JustinJohnson20/20111117115235.jpg

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc390/JustinJohnson20/20111117084100.jpg

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc390/JustinJohnson20/20111117084025.jpg

Look how cheap gas is and the 85.5 octane.

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc390/JustinJohnson20/20111116224048.jpg

Where'd you find the sub-grade gas? 87 is the lowest they allow to be sold where I'm at.

I averaged right at 29.4 on my entire 1900 mile trip a few weeks back on my '06 with the 3.5 V6. Tires aired to 35. Trip north was 31.2 keeping to the speed limits, trip back was 27.9 running 80-85...16 hour trip up, 15 hour trip back....I think had I stayed at the speed limit, my mileage would have stayed above the 30 mark.

Never mind...I don't have any higher elevations in Kansas....seems cars do better with the lesser octane at higher altitudes.

Okay so I made it and here is the data.

I topped off before we went and started keeping track at our first fill up on the road. I know there are many factors. At some point the wind was blowing 40+ MPH. It was a tail wind for a while, but this is what I have.

1st Fill Up
9.43 Gallons ~ 243.5 Miles ~ 25.82 MPG

2nd Fill Up
7.14 Gallons ~ 221.2 Miles ~ 30.98 MPG

3rd Fill Up
6.51 Gallons ~ 169.8 Miles ~ 26.08 MPG

4th Fill Up
5.55 Gallons ~ 143.3 Miles ~ 25.79 MPG

5th Fill Up
6.86 Gallons ~ 326.5 Miles ~ 47.46 MPG

6th Fill Up
6.86 Gallons ~ 252.9 Miles ~ 36.83 MPG

Average ~ 32.17 MPG

I had a tune up about a month before, and had new tires and a radiator flush about 2 weeks before.
Good results. Especially the last two fill ups. :)

The best I ever saw was with my 04 V6, at around 38 for one tank of all highway. It routinely went 32-34 in mostly highway driving though.

I just though it was funny, I didn't know you could have half an octane. The last 2 were in Wyoming and Colorado with high winds. I'll also try to take more pictures on the way back.

My LTZ 4 banger is a dog - I only average like 21.5 overall....can't improve it unless I'm on the highway all the time...lol

Combining both city and highway the best I've gotten is over 27 mpg. If I'm driving on the highway only, I can get lower to mid thirties and get 400 miles in a tank. Nice numbers!

Well, another trip over the Christmas holiday from WV to Ohio (approx 350 miles) over mountains, etc., and the 2012 Malibu (4 cyl) did great! Plenty of power to get over the long climbs and 36.5 mpg average to and from. I'll take it! Of course, the mountains you'll be climbing in Colorado are a tad bit longer, a tad bit (or more) steeper and definitely more challenging. Good luck!

36.5 mpg average to and from.

I don't know if it's repeatable but gotta tell this story.

300 mile trip from Florida to Georgia. Mostly flat, not over speed limit (70 mostly) in cruise with a 10-15 MPH tail wind.

The DIC average MPG display eventually worked it's way up to 48 MPG (no that is not a typo). I knew that wasn't right but couldn't shake a little glimmer of hope........:rolleyes:

When I stopped to fill up, the gas cap was loose......and the measured mileage was about 38. Still better than I expected but nowhere close to the DIC. With a tight cap, the DIC went back to what it should be.

I haven't been on in a while, I had a baby. And sorry for no return trip numbers. Ate real Mexican food and had the sprints the whole way back. Tracking the mpg wasn't really one of my priorities lol. I can tell my Malibu is slowing down and becoming sluggish now with almost 202k on the clock. I want to restore is per-say, but no funds. I'm considering getting a new car when I get a job. Keep the Bu and fix it up a little, or get a 2002-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited?

I filled my 06' Maxx 3.5L up for the 2nd time and I'm averaging 21 mpg.

Mine needs an engine rebuild, but I'm not going to waist my time with it. I'd love to get a new 3.1 but its like 2300 bucks. Then you need the water pump, alternator, etc.

Look how cheap gas is and the 85.5 octane.

http://i1209.photobucket.com/albums/cc390/JustinJohnson20/20111116224048.jpg

Is it me or does the 88 octane fuel cost the same as the 85.5 octane fuel?

We have 87 here and it's 2.98 a gallon

I like discussing gas mileage and finding ways to save a little money as I'm truly a cheap bastard. I took a 150 mile round trip today and all the figures are from the DIC.
Temp 32F
AVG speed 62 mph
Fuel consumption 41.5 mpg
This is expressway mileage only.
I reset the computer when I am entering the highway and check it when exiting.
I drive like an old man because I am.
The roads were clear, no precipitation
My headlights were on the whole time.
Did not have to touch the brakes the entire trip and I often put it in neutral to glide down hills.
I think I may have been able to do a little better but my son drove the car on the return trip.
The first half of the trip I averaged 44 mpg at 57 mph average.
GPS tells me my speedo is about 1 mph optomistic.
Saving gas buys more beer!

Fuel consumption 41.5 mpg


I've had numbers like that pop up twice in the last 7 months and ~ 18K miles.

Once it was verified with a fillup. The overall trip was on a slight overall downhill grade AND I had a stiff tail wing......and I wasn't in a hurry either.

The other time, the number turned out to be total BS. The only clue I have to the inflated report was that the gas cap seemed loose at the verification fillup.

I took a trip to Vegas last weekend in my 2006 Maxx and averaged 32.4 MPG. Freeway speed was between 70 and 80 mph with minimal city driving. MPG is from DIC. About 500 miles round trip. From where I am at in California there are few mountain ranges up to 5000 feet elevation. Overall happy with mileage.