General Panda 4x4 twin-air mpg

[Bix67]

I've had my lovely shiny new Red Panda 4x4 over a week now.
Love it to bits but I'm a bit disappointed with the fuel economy so far.
I've been driving like a granny on a Sunday outing on my journeys to and from work this week but can't seem to better 33mpg-even with the eco button on.
Will this improve over time as the engine runs in or is there something else I can be doing to improve the fuel economy ?

 

[triumph7]

I've had my lovely shiny new Red Panda 4x4 over a week now.
Love it to bits but I'm a bit disappointed with the fuel economy so far.
I've been driving like a granny on a Sunday outing on my journeys to and from work this week but can't seem to better 33mpg-even with the eco button on.
Will this improve over time as the engine runs in or is there something else I can be doing to improve the fuel economy ?

had mine a week, driving reasonably gently and have averaged 43mpg (only done 280 miles mind!)
mpg will improve as the engine loosens up, which as others have noted elsewhere, can take several 000 miles!

 

[Super Uwe]

I've had my lovely shiny new Red Panda 4x4 over a week now.
Love it to bits but I'm a bit disappointed with the fuel economy so far.
I've been driving like a granny on a Sunday outing on my journeys to and from work this week but can't seem to better 33mpg-even with the eco button on.
Will this improve over time as the engine runs in or is there something else I can be doing to improve the fuel economy ?

Hi Bix67,

There are so many different things that can affect economy. For example, are your journeys to and from work relatively long or short? Have you got the air conditioning on permanently as well? What engine has your car got?

If you are able to answer the questions above then that will give us a better indication of whether it sounds about right or if there is a problem. Generally though, it's true that a brand new car will take a few thousand miles to loosen up.

 

[Bix67]

It's the 0.9 twinair, it's a 10 mile journey to work up and down a couple of hills and at least 10 sets of lights but no heavy traffic
The air-con has been on intermittently.
I'm not expecting the 67mpg that Fiat claim can be achieved but I would expect better than the 50% of that I'm getting.

 

[Super Uwe]

Thanks for the information.

The distance itself is fine for the engine to get warmish, but I would guess the engine isn't actually running for all that long, and the hills and lights probably won't be helping a great deal. Going uphill in particular with a small turbo engine like the TwinAir will be a killer - it's bad enough in a 1.2!

However I still think you will find it does better once you get more miles on board. A longer trip where you are driving for around an hour or so on A roads or similar will be a better indicator of whether you have a problem or not.

If you still can't get anywhere near 40mpg then I suppose it would be worth getting your dealer involved.

 

[Bix67]

Thanks, yes I think it maybe the hills.
It pulls up them surprisingly well though I dread to think how much juice it's using.
It's my only gripe though, it's a great little car.

 

[Pilot Ralph]

Just done a day trip in the Scottish highlands. In the petrol 4x4. 500 on the clock. Lots of hills and a full car. Average 46mpg which I'm happy with as when I start using it day to day for work ill should get over 50mpg.

 

[pilgrim42]

I believe the effect of the air conditioning on economy is often overstated.The unit on the TA is fuse-rated at 7.5amps. Even with losses, it's not taking much more than 100watts for the compressor, which is less than headlights. Yes, it uses more fuel. Measurable? I doubt it.
Mike.

 

[philboo]

It's the 0.9 twinair, it's a 10 mile journey to work up and down a couple of hills and at least 10 sets of lights but no heavy traffic
The air-con has been on intermittently.
I'm not expecting the 67mpg that Fiat claim can be achieved but I would expect better than the 50% of that I'm getting.

I have a 7 mile journey to the railway station and travel up one massive hill and it's country roads so plenty bends and slowing down. I average 42mpg with the climate on and have been doing since nearly new so I think it'll get better. I don't use Eco but do try to keep the revs low and change up.

 

[alamar]

1.2 petrol last fuel-up

64 mpg on trip computer, 60.4 mpg measurable

80% motorway, 20% city. Air conditioning on for about 50% time (has no effect on consumption as far as I can measure).

 

[nigelspanda]

I have had mine for a few months 2400 miles the average trip for most of them says 37 mpg but I know I can get into the 40's ,As for eco mode prob not a good Idea if going up Hills as you will need more throttle and Revs

 

[Moultoneer]

I believe the effect of the air conditioning on economy is often overstated.The unit on the TA is fuse-rated at 7.5amps. Even with losses, it's not taking much more than 100watts for the compressor, which is less than headlights. Yes, it uses more fuel. Measurable? I doubt it.
Mike.

That's deceptive, as the air-conditioning compressor is directly driven
(mechanically) by the auxiliary drivebelt, so could be absorbing considerable
power the fuse relates only to the electrical control bits.

Having said that, I wouldn't be too alarmed- none of my previous 2 cars
(Renault Clio 1.5dCi and Alfa Mito 1.3JTDM-2) showed any measurable fuel
consumption penalty with A/C on, and my Panda Trekking TwinAir looks to
be similarly efficient (last Sunday I drove 200 miles with A/C on and off,
but couldn't detect any difference, average MPG is in high 50s, despite
having driven a total of just 1600 miles)

I have a theory that small turbo engines are more efficient with some
'base' load applied (this gives a steady exhaust flow to keep the turbine
spinning) If true, this would explain why A/C doesn't use extra fuel

Most of my non-engineer friends have trouble with this idea



Chris

 

[deeyup]

On my way home yesterday from work I used the air con.
I reckon I took a 10% hit in mpg.
I'd usually get well over 50mpg on that particular route, and got early 40's
Just one trip is not enough to be of any use though data wise.

Eco button? I'm probably the only one on fiat forum who believes that careful pedal use makes
It redundant. My best ever trip mpg's have always been with it switched off

 

[pilgrim42]

@ Moultoneer

Yes, you're right, of course. Silly me! That fuse rating will be for the clutch and peripherals on the compressor. Nevertheless, I still have not experienced compulsive evidence that the aircon makes a noticeable difference to economy. I don't know if the way it's used makes a difference: I always cruise with the fan on the lowest setting, giving less flow but colder air temperature and (possibly) less load on the system.
A couple of weeks ago, I drove the TA Lounge a 100-mile round trip through the Forest of Bowland (twisty, with lots of ups and downs) with the aircon on throughout
and returned an indicated 57mpg so not much wrong there, although the 4000mile average (brim-to-brim filling) is 47mpg which I consider satisfactory.
I never use the Eco setting -- I like all the power available all the time, and think the best eco device is your right foot!
Mike

 

[pilgrim42]

@ Moultoneer

Yes, you're right, of course. Silly me! That fuse rating will be for the clutch and peripherals on the compressor. Nevertheless, I still have not experienced compulsive evidence that the aircon makes a noticeable difference to economy. I don't know if the way it's used makes a difference: I always cruise with the fan on the lowest setting, giving less flow but colder air temperature and (possibly) less load on the system.
A couple of weeks ago, I drove the TA Lounge a 100-mile round trip through the Forest of Bowland (twisty, with lots of ups and downs) with the aircon on throughout
and returned an indicated 57mpg so not much wrong there, although the 4000mile average (brim-to-brim filling) is 47mpg which I consider satisfactory.
Mike.

 

[Super Uwe]

On my way home yesterday from work I used the air con.
I reckon I took a 10% hit in mpg.
I'd usually get well over 50mpg on that particular route, and got early 40's
Just one trip is not enough to be of any use though data wise.

Eco button? I'm probably the only one on fiat forum who believes that careful pedal use makes
It redundant. My best ever trip mpg's have always been with it switched off

Normally I don't see much difference when the A/C is on.

However, the weather has been really, really hot the past few days and, for whatever reason, having the air con switched on seems to be using up more petrol than usual.

A 10% hit seems to be on a par to what I have seen too. But I can only go on what I've been seeing on the trip computer.

 

[triumph7]

Just checked mpg on 2nd fill-up - 47..... Happy with that. Been driving reasonably carefully, not used eco much after 1st 100 miles

 

[Moultoneer]

I have a theory that small turbo engines are more efficient with some
'base' load applied (this gives a steady exhaust flow to keep the turbine
spinning) If true, this would explain why A/C doesn't use extra fuel

Chris

Well today I drove a decent 90 miles each way trip from home (near
Didcot) to Leominster and have disproved my theory (at least for the TA):

Outward (air-con OFF) 58.5MPG, homeward (air-con FULL) 55.0MPG

Not too bad as that's just 6.4% worse, and worth it with today's heat

The route profile was a bit asymmetrical, so I'll repeat the test on
a flatter route when I get a chance.


One observation- my TA's engine cooling fan doesn't seem to have been
on so far, despite the hot weather. The TA must have a very good
cooling circuit for this to be the case



Chris

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

One observation- my TA's engine cooling fan doesn't seem to have been
on so far, despite the hot weather. The TA must have a very good
cooling circuit for this to be the case



Chris

It would have been coming off and off when the AC was on, but these twin speed fans are practically silent on the 1st (normal) speed.

 

[plonkers]

Ive had my panda 4 months driving back from the dealers i managed 38mpg after 2 weeks i filled the tank and drove on eco till empty the next tank full i drove on normal the difference was only 2 mpg .With 4500 mls on the clock driving steady the best i get is 49.Where Fiat get 59 from i don't know ,Apart from the turbo lag i'm happy with the car.