Q5 3.0T fuel economy

[rusq5]

Man y'all get great mileage. I'm around 200mi per tank.

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[djn876]

I usually average between 18 and 19, I do some short trips, but even my commute is a lot of variable speed because people can't drive and apparently maintaining speed on slight turns, or up hills is hard.

Have mentioned in other threads, but the times I am able to cruise along country roads, or if I do set cruise at 70 or less, I would have no problem getting 24/25 out of it, even dual pulley tuned.

[Novarider]

I stick with Shell 99.99% of the time, never use cruise control, vary my speed quite a bit but on average is hovering around 65mph on the highway on the far left lane. I get about 24-26 mpg on the Q5, just a shy better than the A6 Avant

65 in the left lane on the interstate? Surprised you don't get run over

[elijahallen]

Man y'all get great mileage. I'm around 200mi per tank.

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Wow, this is an interesting thread, thats a huge difference in fuel economy through the group. Is it just tune related for the most part? What are stock motors averaging? Obviously driving habits make a big difference but if you take a trip and drive 70-80mph what do you get on average?

[arjun90]

Fortunately, there's plenty of traffic to come across during rush hour, nobody takes a chance, no one wants to take a chance so everybody keeps adequate distance and travel around the same speed. Whoever wants to cut, drives onto the middle lane and cuts in front on the left lane, plenty of police interceptors, lol

65 in the left lane on the interstate? Surprised you don't get run over

[q5 dave]

65 in the left lane on the interstate? Surprised you don't get run over

Left lane is the slow lane in most north east states (starting in Virginia) it's brutal lol. Going up 95 to NY I find myself in the right lane most of the drive.

[rusq5]

Wow, this is an interesting thread, thats a huge difference in fuel economy through the group. Is it just tune related for the most part? What are stock motors averaging? Obviously driving habits make a big difference but if you take a trip and drive 70-80mph what do you get on average?

If I keep my foot out of it, which is hard to do, I can creep up to 18mpg on the hwy. I'm sure the R888s weren't helping.

[Placemotorsport]

Last one I checked I got 20.6 mpg

[simy]

Just a quick question about everyone's fuel gauge: When driving conservatively I can get about 150mi when I hit the 3/4 mark but then it quickly goes down at that point. Probably hit about 210-220 at the 1/2 mark and then maybe 330 by the 1/4 mark. From there it gets low extremely quickly.

I remember once I filled up at the 3/4 mark and it took 7 gallons at that point. Is that comparable to what others are seeing?

[rusq5]

Just a quick question about everyone's fuel gauge: When driving conservatively I can get about 150mi when I hit the 3/4 mark but then it quickly goes down at that point. Probably hit about 210-220 at the 1/2 mark and then maybe 330 by the 1/4 mark. From there it gets low extremely quickly.

I remember once I filled up at the 3/4 mark and it took 7 gallons at that point. Is that comparable to what others are seeing?

Before switching to an E40 tune, I thought the same thing. Now that I'm very aware how much fuel I need to add when at the pump, I've found 1/4 is pretty consistently 5 gal.

[pattyt]

On average we only make short trips on a daily basis around town. I average about 16.5 mpg in the winter.
I once did a long range highway blast in the winter and got about 470 miles to the tank.

[hsun85]

I average about 21-22. 60 mile roundtrip daily commute, 80% freeway @70-80 MPH

[DiscoDan]

B9 here - with winter fuel I'm averaging 23 mpg. I can do near 29 in summer with conscious and purposeful driving to maximize economy.

[simy]

On average we only make short trips on a daily basis around town. I average about 16.5 mpg in the winter.
I once did a long range highway blast in the winter and got about 470 miles to the tank.

I've never gotten better than 380 per tank doing all freeway. Tell us your secrets :)

B9 here - with winter fuel I'm averaging 23 mpg. I can do near 29 in summer with conscious and purposeful driving to maximize economy.

29mpg is insane. Any specifics on how you achieved that? 3 more than the EPA estimate is great.

[pattyt]

I've never gotten better than 380 per tank doing all freeway. Tell us your secrets :)

If I recall correctly, I maintained speed between 100-120 km/hr due to weather conditions. Also, absolutely no traffic and really consistent flat highway.
I have never matched it since!

[choppstixxx]

I gotta check my latest mpg calc says, but I am right around 20ish mpg. I drive a mix of city/hwy every day for work. The more I "grandma" drive my car the better they get tho, it's hard not to want to romp on this engine. I love passing people on back roads, thing pulls like a freight train and I don't even have a tune.

[spindlewood]

I've never gotten better than 380 per tank doing all freeway. Tell us your secrets :)

29mpg is insane. Any specifics on how you achieved that? 3 more than the EPA estimate is great.

My last 2 fill-ups in my b9 SQ5 were 26.5 mpg in awful winter conditions. I also average 29 in the summer. The b9 SQ5 responds well (mpg wise) to cruise control, under 60mph, and especially coasting. Every time you put your foot on the brake, you've lost the benefit of the gas it took to get you to speed. City driving with its stop signs, lights, and traffic take a major toll. I enjoy the accelaration - but otherwise my DD habits are mellow.

[Tone-Dogg]

So I actually finally changed my 44K plugs with the EPL recommended plug from NGK and gapped to .026.

Mixed Highway and City driving, really didn't change my style of driving.
City, "Sport" mode, highway, "manual" and sometimes "Drive".

Average speed on highway 80ish...

Probably a dozen petal mashes with this tank.

Total miles 282 till the warning to find fuel came on with "40 Miles" left.
I filled right up with 16 gallons, gave me an average of 17.625

I'm sure without the petal mashes and if I slowed to 70 on the highway I bet I could break 20mpg.

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[Aloha-boy]

Specs:
-2014 SQ5 w/66k miles bone stock
-65k mile service done a month ago
-21" 265/40-21 Lexani's
-Trunk/Hatch full of X'mas gifts
-Thule Box full of luggage

The fams and I just did a road trip this past weekend that's a little over 1100 miles from Vegas to the Bay Area(Modesto, Antioch, San Jose) and back. Started with a full tank in Vegas. My first fill-up in Fowler, CA I averaged 20.8mpg. On our return trip, the second fill-up at Costco in Gilroy, CA I averaged 19.3mpg. Last fill-up in Barstow, CA I average 19.9mpg.

Usually the wife drives her car to drop off and pick up the kids from school and averages 14-15mpg. All 3 schools are within a 2 mile radius.

[simy]

On average we only make short trips on a daily basis around town. I average about 16.5 mpg in the winter.
I once did a long range highway blast in the winter and got about 470 miles to the tank.

B9 here - with winter fuel I'm averaging 23 mpg. I can do near 29 in summer with conscious and purposeful driving to maximize economy.

So I actually finally changed my 44K plugs with the EPL recommended plug from NGK and gapped to .026.

Mixed Highway and City driving, really didn't change my style of driving.
City, "Sport" mode, highway, "manual" and sometimes "Drive".

Average speed on highway 80ish...

Probably a dozen petal mashes with this tank.

Total miles 282 till the warning to find fuel came on with "40 Miles" left.
I filled right up with 16 gallons, gave me an average of 17.625

I'm sure without the petal mashes and if I slowed to 70 on the highway I bet I could break 20mpg.

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I just bought new plugs for this purpose so that's a little disappointing. Hoping that it would help but will be good to replace anyways. I'll report back when I get them installed and have some data points.

[q5 dave]

Over the past year my q has averaged 315 miles per tank. 3 months~ 325mi/tank. Commute is 50mi round trip. Recent max was 408miles/tank on a chill roadtrip.

[SDV325]

A cold snap mode really destroys fuel economy. Im lucky to average 15/16MPG on my typical commute where I was getting 20/22MPG.

This week has been a solid -27 to -32....Celsius

[choppstixxx]

Yea recent max tank for me was around 450ish, I think my avg mpg was in the mid to high teens.

[simy]

Yea recent max tank for me was around 450ish, I think my avg mpg was in the mid to high teens.

I would think if you are getting 450 miles per tank you should be around 26mpg. I have yet to get above 400 miles per tank and would be pretty happy if I did.

[choppstixxx]

I would think if you are getting 450 miles per tank you should be around 26mpg. I have yet to get above 400 miles per tank and would be pretty happy if I did.

For sure, I won't really know til I get to the end of this tank of gas to get a better idea.

[Xler82.0]

My last 2 fill-ups in my b9 SQ5 were 26.5 mpg in awful winter conditions. I also average 29 in the summer. The b9 SQ5 responds well (mpg wise) to cruise control, under 60mph, and especially coasting. Every time you put your foot on the brake, you've lost the benefit of the gas it took to get you to speed. City driving with its stop signs, lights, and traffic take a major toll. I enjoy the accelaration - but otherwise my DD habits are mellow.

That is downright impressive. I took it easy on my b9, I mean real easy on my last tank and bested a touch over 20mpg.

[VroomVroom]

FWIW...

Road trip to Anaheim for NAMM. SF to Anaheim, 280 > 85 > 101 > 156 > 5. Surface streets around Anaheim, Garden Grove, and Cypress. Same highway route in reverse for trip home.

000.0 - Trip Odo @ SF, 01/14
408.4 - Trip Odo @ Anaheim, 01/14
453.1 - Trip Odo @ Anaheim, 01/20
861.7 - Trip Odo @ SF, 01/20

872.9 - actual miles traveled. 861.7 * 1.013 (1.3% correction for tire size - 255/40r21 to 275/40r20)
35.2 - gallons of fuel used (17.4g and 17.8g fill-ups)
24.79 mpg.

The DIC showed 24.9mpg when I got home, but I'm not sure if that's reflective of the entire trip, or just the final leg.

Such a great trip vehicle. I logged huge chunks of miles at an indicated 85mph, and even a few (cough) off-road (/cough) ventures into triple digits. I'm very, very pleased with the fuel economy. Well under six hours (5:35 on the way home) each way, and the low fuel light only came on when I was about 10 miles from home.

[blkmz3]

I just purchased an 2014 SQ5 in Virginia and drove it back to Texas.

Total trip was about 1400 miles

-Filled up tanks with 93 octane
-Put Cruise Control on most of the time.
-Mostly highway speeds 70-75mph under 2000rpm

Best I got was 25mpg. Calculation was based # of gallons filled and miles traveled on trip meter.

[friedliver]

I don't measure mpg very carefully. I think with normal usage (mostly to work and back ~15 miles of suburban traffic) I get a bit over 300 miles to a tank. But I can add another 'long road trip' data point for that best case scenario figure. I did TX to NJ and back, we (2 people w/ luggage in the car) were pushing 480-500 miles per tank. Averaging over 25 mpg doing between 65-80 mph driving most of the trip through the night without any traffic.

Edit: Additional details
- 295/40 R20 Continental DWS 06 (5-10k miles driven on them at the time of the trip)
- Tires inflated pretty high for better mileage (~40 psi) - I usually have them inflated mid to high 30s
- EPL Stage 1 only (no TCU tune at that time)

[simy]

480-500 miles per tank has to be one of the highest reported so far. I have yet to break 400 miles per tank on a long road trip.

[Qboost]

100% stock, I was able to get 29 MPG going from a DC suburb to Ocean City, MD, about 165 miles. I was in Comfort mode, all highway, late at night. But, for the most part, had the transmission in manual and kept the highest gear possible. So, as soon as I hit 45 MPH I tap it into 8th gear. Being in manual also prevents it from down-shifting when I need to speed up to pass someone. VDCS coding to see which gear your in helps too, if you're just in D. Haven't made the trip on APR stage 1 yet. That'll be sometime this summer.

I've found that cruise control uses a bit more gas. It will keep accelerating to maintain set speed and will tap the brakes on downhill to stay at speed too. Too me, it seems more efficient to keep your eyes down the road, anticipate what's going to happen, and finesse the accelerator as needed or even coast to slowdown/stop.

[Novarider]

100% stock, I was able to get 29 MPG going from a DC suburb to Ocean City, MD, about 165 miles. I was in Comfort mode, all highway, late at night. But, for the most part, had the transmission in manual and kept the highest gear possible. So, as soon as I hit 45 MPH I tap it into 8th gear. Being in manual also prevents it from down-shifting when I need to speed up to pass someone. VDCS coding to see which gear your in helps too, if you're just in D. Haven't made the trip on APR stage 1 yet. That'll be sometime this summer.

I've found that cruise control uses a bit more gas. It will keep accelerating to maintain set speed and will tap the brakes on downhill to stay at speed too. Too me, it seems more efficient to keep your eyes down the road, anticipate what's going to happen, and finesse the accelerator as needed or even coast to slowdown/stop.

How fast were you going on the interstate? Speed makes a huge difference

[seanf86]

13-15 mpg usually, its all city driving and short trips, lots of idling. Currently Malone stage 1 tune however the mileage didn't change after the tune. In the summer on the highway cruise control at 110kmh towing 700ish lb jetski/trailer I get about 20-22mpg but I'm running 20x10 heavy wheels which don't help either.

[Qboost]

How fast were you going on the interstate? Speed makes a huge difference

65-70 on 495, then 50-ish after the Bay Bridge. It was loaded up with stuff and the family for a long weekend. So, the goal was a slow and comfortable ride.

[oharao2]

Completely stock Q5. When I bum my wife's car I Get 20-22 on mixed commutes and 24-25 on freeway trips. Which is on par with my S3 during mixed commutes but the S3 27ish on freeway trips. I think the Q5 while sporty and balanced for an SUV it mellows me out when compared to the S3

[DieselDeeds]

I have a straight piped Q5 TDI with larger intercooler and tune. In the summertime I can get 700 miles per tank if it’s all freeway. I took a trip to Oregon and back filled to the brim with my family and gear going ~80mph and door to door we got 36mpg at the end of our trip. Mixed driving I’ll get 30-32mpg consistently, all freeway I’ll get ~40mpg.

[MSq5]

Completely stock Q5. When I bum my wife's car I Get 20-22 on mixed commutes and 24-25 on freeway trips. Which is on par with my S3 during mixed commutes but the S3 27ish on freeway trips. I think the Q5 while sporty and balanced for an SUV it mellows me out when compared to the S3

In stock form, yes. If she has the SLine Q5 with the supercharged V6, add a Stage 2 tune and transmission tune and the S3 will be the one to mellow you out. We are getting these cars into the 11 second quarter mile, now, with nothing but pulleys, and tune reflash. But . . . mileage will suffer. Ha ha.

[Silver_Bullet]

24.3 mpg, best yet! My wife drove from upstate into NYC and back, so mostly interstate and some city. I’m usually around 19-20 mpg. So take the a**hole out of the drivers seat and the numbers go up nicely. But now I have to go blow the carbon off the valves....

[simy]

I recently did another 600mi trip from the Bay Area to Santa Barbara (roundtrip) and on the way there I got 25mpg (shown on the dash) but in actuality it turned out to be 21.5mpg via manual calculation. I was going about 75-85mph most of the way though with the AC on low setting. This is with EPL stage 1 + tcu tune and always in dynamic mode. I haven't seen a difference between comfort/dynamic in terms of fuel economy with the tune or not.

I think the best I've been able to achieve was about 350mi on a full tank so far.