Have Hyundai and Kia “gone the extra mile” in owning up to overstatement of estimated fuel economy on 900,000 of their 2011-’13 models?
The company has said it will pay millions in compensation to owners of 2011-’13 Hyundai Elantras, Velosters and Accents and Kia Rios and Souls, for which claims of 40 miles per gallon had been claimed.
Here are mpg averages I posted in reviews of four of the models:
2011 Hyundai Elantra with 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine and 6-speed automatic transmission, 33.1 mpg. 2012 Hyundai Veloster 3-door, 1.6-liter and 6-speed manual, 32.2 mpg. 2012 Kia Rio 5-door, 1.6 and 6-speed automatic, 34.1. 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT hatchback, 1.8 and 6-speed automatic, 34.9.The Elantra’s estimated highway fuel mileage rating will be relabeled at 38 mpg, the Veloster, Accent and Rio at 37 and the Soul at 34, according to the EPA, which said its investigation prompted the action.
Among gasoline-powered cars remaining on the 40-mpg list are the Chevrolet Cruze Eco and Sonic Turbo, Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta and Focus, Honda Civic HF and Mazda3 Skyactiv.
For more information, visit HyundaiMPGinfo.com and KiaMPGinfo.com.
Notes from e-mail
Q: Bud, my brother Brennan Coffelt often stated that you had the best job in the world and I second that. Brennan died unexpectedly June 12; my father passed away recently and it gave me pause. I realized I really needed to say “thank you.”
Thank you for your love of the automobile and your introspective analysis of new vehicles. Your intuition and insight are more profound than any April Consumer Reports magazine issue. You test the living daylights of the car and make it come alive for the reader.
Thanks for your love for the open road and new horizons. We were captivated by your folksy descriptions of your friends and family. I feel like I am a passenger along with you. Brennan still had property along U.S. 34 near Dearfield, one of your routes. I can envision the conversation as you and Jan test the road. Thanks for showing reviews of the past. We are able to measure our lives by the cars we drive.
Brennan especially admired cars of long ago. We would attend all the local car shows and attempt to envision what life was like at that time.
His favorite movie, of course, was “American Graffiti.” He tried to have production cars from most of the significant decades: 1932 Dodge, ’49 Chevy Deluxe (his first car), ’57 Chevy Bel Air, ’67 Ford Mustang Fastback, ’68 Dodge Charger, ’70 Chevy Camaro, ’77 Dodge Ram pickup and ’88 Ford Bronco.
I continue to attend car shows and feel like Brennan is looking over my shoulder. – Gratefully, Kerstin
A: My sincere sympathy, Kerstin, in the loss of your brother and father; thank you for the kind words. Enjoy those car shows.
Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.
