FJ Cruiser mileage info

[djunalu]

I have driven my FJ Cruiser a little over 1,000 miles, and I am consistently averaging about 13mpg, regardless of highway/city driving. I have an automatic 4x4, and guaged the mpg during a long highway trip during which I set the cruise and stayed at 75mph.
I expected at the very least to be getting 15mpg, the same as our Chevy 4x4 pickup.
What are other people getting with this vehicle? I am ready to swap it for something else already. As a work verhicle this will add up quickly.

[accuracyworks]

Cruzer,

You have to remember the FJ is not as aerodynamic as a sports car. It probably has a coefficient of drag of at least .9. This means that the faster you go, the greater the drag which will decrease your gas mileage because the drag at 70 mph starts to increase exponentially. Stick your hand out the window and hold it flat against the air flow; multiply that pressure times about 150; that's the resistance your engine has to work through. Try it at different speeds. I'm sure I can get 15mph driving 75-80 mph with my fj.

I have a 5 sp AT, with a roof rack, rockguards and a tow hitch, and std 17" dunlops (200 + lbs of extra weight) and get about 18-18.6 mpg at about 65-70mph on the Hwy with some city driving. I still have less than 1K miles and hope it can do 19-20mph after break in.

If you're gas mileage conscious, and not deep pockets for gas, maybe the FJ is not for you. My commuter is a '91 CRX and it gets 38-43mpg at 65-75mph depending on the drive.

Good luck.