Thread: new soul is this normal? thanks!

2013 with now 180 miles so on first fill up the trip computer that displays average MPG is cycling like random mpg 27-34-27-39... you get the point.
I stopped at my next place of business. Started her back up now it seems like it is winding down from 40 mpg.... slowly... 5 miles later at home it shows 33 mpg but that is still way off since I have been getting 25.9-26.2 since purchasing 1 week and 3 days ago...

Thanks in advance if someone has some insight!

that is unusual, it will be high consumption when it resets itself after a fill and then starts dropping after that, it can can fluctuate up and down over short period but eventually it will be more stable as the further you drive it the larger the distance to calculate the overall average.
However, with so little mileage I would give it a few thousand miles before I would worry about it, then maybe at the first service you can mention, unless of course your around the corner from the dealer. You could also reset it at any point and see if it keeps functioning like that.

Originally Posted by Zippydog

2013 with now 180 miles so on first fill up the trip computer that displays average MPG is cycling like random mpg 27-34-27-39... you get the point.

Right after it's reset it will vary wildly due to the low number of miles being tracked at that point. If it's still that wild when you've got 50+ miles logged since the last reset of the average MPG display then something might be up.

Originally Posted by jfischer

Right after it's reset it will vary wildly due to the low number of miles being tracked at that point. If it's still that wild when you've got 50+ miles logged since the last reset of the average MPG display then something might be up.

forgive me but what "reset it"? I filled the tank with gas and reset the trip odometer.... does that reset the average MPG and if it does why? seems foolish.. average is supposed to be cumulative.... thanks

Your average resets on every fill up. My 12 does it. So as you start driving again, it makes calculations off the short distance out of the gas station, so it will change a lot. After you put more and more miles on it, it will slowly settle to your true average mileage per tank.

Originally Posted by Zippydog

forgive me but what "reset it"? I filled the tank with gas and reset the trip odometer.... does that reset the average MPG and if it does why? seems foolish.. average is supposed to be cumulative.... thanks

you can reset it manually by holding the trip button while you are on the MPG screen. And yes, filling the tank does reset the MPG calculation, that's independent from if you reset your odometer or not.

I get better gas mileage to work than I do going home from work. Of course, the fact that I work downhill from home may have something to do with it.

The average gas mileage resets after filling with more than 1.6 gallons. After resetting, it is very sensitive because the average mileage starts over with no info and builds a statistical sampling. This over sensitivity can be useful to more promptly evaluate specific aspects of driving or road. For that reason, some people reset it while driving to achieve that sensitivity. However, it isn't as useful for calculating overall average mileage until there are more miles to average. Both approaches are useful; you just have to know how to take them.

I don't find that meter useful at all. On my previous car, my MPG meter was "Real Time" and not averaging.
That was helpful! It actually helped me adjust my foot pressure on the GO Pedal.

Now I use the Scan Gauge II to monitor my MPG. It's all in real time, so I can actually adjust my foot pressure on the LOUD pedal, to get better mileage.

For averages, use a log sheet or an Excel Spreadsheet to record your mileage and gallons on every fill up. I use one and it really works great.


This is just a little sample.


My averages for full tanks is running in the 27.x area, but that's really 3 to 5 higher than my last car, the SX4 iAWD.
Also, on every tank, there is a lot of Off Road miles. (I live Off Road) And some Interstate miles, @ over 75 mph.
So, all in all, I'm tickled silly about my Kia Soul mileage.

But that avg meter on the dash panel is NOT going to help you get better mileage and save money.
Because it tells you things after the fact.

Cheers Mates!

Welcome to the forums, & hi from San Francisco Bay.


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