Road Trip Completed: 705 Miles-38.5 MPG

[II Kings 9:20]

I have not filled up to do the manual calculation but on my first tank, the computer was under estimating MPG by 0.5 MPG. Most over estimate by 1-3 MPG.

The return leg of the Niagra Falls trip resulted in a 2 MPG drop to the overall average resulting in a final MPG of 38.5

I added about 20 city miles (which is nothing over 700 miles) and driving home there were strong head winds. I drove the same speed 68-72 MPH occasionally touching 80mph and with the same load.

I thought there might be a strong head winds because I had to make some steering corrections (no sway or instability) that I did not recall on the out leg which was confirmed about about 50 miles east of Erie PA as I passed a windmill that was spinning like a Cuisinart.


The car handles exceptionally well and is extremely easy to drive. Great on the freeway and two lane roads. Great stability, cornering, and the all important visibility. From the raised driver's seat, you can actually see the fenders and plant the car where you want it to go on twisting roads. The chassis, steering, and brakes inspire a lot of confidence.

The too low to the floor nearly forward angled passenger seat bottom is positively uncomfortable on long trips.

It's not the seat padding, it's the height and angle that are so poor. It reminds me of most Asian import cars from 25 years ago with go kart like seating.

This car needs a height adjustment on the passenger seat. I will be using a spacer with DOT approved hardnened lengthened anchor bolts to raise and angle the seat bottom.

That is the only major flaw I have found. Most everything else is superb.

[blyndgesser]

Thanks very much for sharing your experience. I bought mine on Friday and have put about 450 miles on it so far, without fueling up. In a mix that was roughly 10% urban, 30% congested interstate, and 60% two-lane, the computer shows 35.6 mpg.

[westcoast]

Great mileage. I'm glad the car holds up to its claims. I wonder what's the average mpg at 80mph

[grover432]

It is refreshing to read about a car that can hit is EPA rating (or get close). Your highway mileage converts to 46.2mpg for a Canadian Gallon. That is compared to our Transport canada rating of 50 mpg (a bit optimistic). on the other hand, I bet you will be getting better fuel mileage in a year, so maybe 40 mpg (US) isn't unachievable.

[II Kings 9:20]

I hit 40.5 on the first leg of the trip so 40 is very possible over time (freeway only).

I am curious to see the toll the mountains take on MPGs. I'll do about 1200 miles round trip across the entire state of WV and into VA and those mountains are brutal. I would expect several MPGs below the EPA of 36.

I am going to view the MPG in three parts. Freeway only. City once I arrive, and of course total MPG for the entire trip. I am looking forward to seeing how the CVT handles a 7-9% grade. My experience thus far has been limited to hills but no mountains. With the CVT, I wonder where the RPMs will climb to in order to maintain speed up the mountains. I no longer think in terms of downshifting. We'll see over thanksgiving break (assuming wifey does not convince me to take the MDX which has a comfortable passenger seat).

[ual2842]

The best in my 2011 EX Coupe is 33.6 MPG or 7.0L/100km went 870kms before filling and had some pretty good hills to climb on the way. Stayed at 70mph (110km/h) for most of the trip. With some driving around in town I was in for 4 days. I figured if I drove all highway at 70 MPH without stopping I could get close to 1100 kms on a tank.

[jotan82]

thanks for sharing! sounds like you're getting awesome results

[FlipAccord13]

I actually have two stats I am tracking with the average MPG on my car. Trip A I reset after I fill up my tank and Trip B which has not been touched since I bought my car. After driving roughly around 1500 miles, my average MPG is around 25-26 despite having a lead foot. Overall, the fuel economy is quite impressive for the V6 trim. I am pretty sure I could get higher into the low 30s MPG if I didn't have such a lead foot and drive aggressively at times...though Nashville has the second worst drivers in the state and can get pretty aggravating driving around here.

[alpinefun]

Originally Posted by II Kings 9:20

This car needs a height adjustment on the passenger seat. I will be using a spacer with DOT approved hardnened lengthened anchor bolts to raise and angle the seat bottom.

Have you done it before? I am sure it is doable but I doubt that either DOT or Honda will approve any modification of the OEM seat.
Thank you very much for your excellent review!

[Maestro96]

I myself, took the same journey from Maryland to Niagara Falls and Toronto in my 2010 Accord coupe (I-4). I averaged about 34MPG overall. I thought this was not bad for a car whose highway MPG was 31. The drive was great and the suspension on this car is stiff but so well planted. But my recent issue has been the hard seats. I wish the seats were a bit more comfortable.

Can you please clarify the comfort of the seats in your new Accord? I have driven the new accords and have found them to much softer and comfortable than the 8th Gen. Obviously, your long term experience is much more important.

[II Kings 9:20]

Seat comfort is great for the driver. No complaints from either wifey or me. The passenger seat bottom is angled flat with no under thigh support which is fully adjustable on the driver's side. Moreover, the passenger seat does not adjust up or down any model. Even the Touring gets only a 4 way power adjust which is very 30 years ago. I looked at the specs just now with the idea of replacing my passenger seat with a Touring seat but those Touring passengers sit on the floor too.

My issue with the seat is not hardness or padding comfort; rather it is the passenger's go cart like seating position down low and legs out ( I am perhaps exaggerating a bit on the go kart reference but is is close relative to the nicely adjustable driver's seat).

I felt refreshed after nearly 350 miles of driving. Wifey did not sitting in the passenger seat.

[Maestro96]

Originally Posted by II Kings 9:20

Seat comfort is great for the driver. No complaints from either wifey or me. The passenger seat bottom is angled flat with no under thigh support which is fully adjustable on the driver's side. Moreover, the passenger seat does not adjust up or down any model. Even the Touring gets only a 4 way power adjust which is very 30 years ago. I looked at the specs just now with the idea of replacing my passenger seat with a Touring seat but those Touring passengers sit on the floor too.

My issue with the seat is not hardness or padding comfort; rather it is the passenger's go cart like seating position down low and legs out ( I am perhaps exaggerating a bit on the go kart reference but is is close relative to the nicely adjustable driver's seat).

I felt refreshed after nearly 350 miles of driving. Wifey did not sitting in the passenger seat.

So the seat issues remain in one or the other. One would wonder that something as basic and important as a car seat would be given more attention. Nissan sure did. These Nissan seats are NICE!

I know i am being critical here, but being a Honda fan I expect more for them.

[II Kings 9:20]

Originally Posted by Maestro96

I know i am being critical here, but being a Honda fan I expect more for them.

Not really, if the seat is not comfortable it is what it is.

I just spoke with Honda who was very interested in my comments on the poor passenger seating position. They were also glad to hear all of the good too including the superb driveability and MPGs.

I'll say again, the seat material or padding is not uncomfortable, it is the low seating position and the lack of any means to adjust it that is the problem.

If Nissan's wonderful space foam seat is too low and angled poorly without adjustment, it would be the same.

I'll add that Peugeot has had incredibly comfortable seats going back to the late '60/s early '70s and the Nissan seat is as good as my '85 Peugeot. Not a slam on Nissan, but comfortable seats have been done before and i give props to Nissan for paying attention. I did not sit in the Altima passenger seat, it may be as bad as the Accord in terms of position. A soft bottom seat does not help if I feel like I am in a go cart.

I never had a problem with my Ody chair height seat or the chair height seats in both MDx we have now.

[Markus]

Originally Posted by II Kings 9:20

I'll say again, the seat material or padding is not uncomfortable, it is the low seating position and the lack of any means to adjust it that is the problem.

So the bottom line is that seat as delivered by Honda is uncomfortable. It doesn't matter where the discomfort comes from - seat material or seat location. You will be of the very few, or perhaps the only, people who will modify the seat with spacers.

I'd be vary wary of using said spacers. Without a proper engineering analysis of the suitability of the spacer and bolts in conjunction with the seatbelt and airbag (dash and side curtain) I'd be inclined to forget the spacers. I'm not a mechanical engineer but I can see a lot more stress on the mounting hardware and the body sheet metal where the bolts attach. Just because a bolt is manufactured to DOT specs (is there a spec for seat mounting bolts, and if so wouldn't the required bolt be dependent on factors such as bolt length, seat height and weight, and loading during collisions???) doesn't mean it will work safely. Will the metal of the chassis where the mounting bolts attach need reinforcing due to the spacers?

Perhaps I'm completely off base with my amateur analysis and someone with a mechanical engineering background can chime in.

It will make for a very sad day for you if the seat doesn't stay anchored to the car properly if someday you are unfortunately in an accident.

[II Kings 9:20]

Originally Posted by Markus

So the bottom line is that seat as delivered by Honda is uncomfortable. It doesn't matter where the discomfort comes from - seat material or seat location. You will be of the very few, or perhaps the only, people who will modify the seat with spacers.

I'd be vary wary of using said spacers. Without a proper engineering analysis of the suitability of the spacer and bolts in conjunction with the seatbelt and airbag (dash and side curtain) I'd be inclined to forget the spacers. I'm not a mechanical engineer but I can see a lot more stress on the mounting hardware and the body sheet metal where the bolts attach. Just because a bolt is manufactured to DOT specs (is there a spec for seat mounting bolts, and if so wouldn't the required bolt be dependent on factors such as bolt length, seat height and weight, and loading during collisions???) doesn't mean it will work safely. Will the metal of the chassis where the mounting bolts attach need reinforcing due to the spacers?

Perhaps I'm completely off base with my amateur analysis and someone with a mechanical engineering background can chime in.

It will make for a very sad day for you if the seat doesn't stay anchored to the car properly if someday you are unfortunately in an accident.

All well put. One does not need to be an engineer to use common sense. Elsewhere the spacer talk has been abandonded, was not really a serious consideration for the obvious reasons you mention.

A cushion modification is far more reasonable. I wish the Touring had a height adjust, I could just slap one of those seats in but alas, it too has 30 year old 4 way adjustments.