"Japanese Test Cycle" miles per gallon

[Thorn]

Soon I will be in the market for a car that gets excellent gas mileage. I found a few short articles on the web about the new 2009 Honda Fit that is supposed to be in the U.S. this fall. Several of the articles indicated that the new Fit achieves a maximum 46 mpg (5.1L/100km) according to the "Japanese Test Cycle".

My question is, how does the Japanese Test Cycle compare with EPA tests, and what does anyone think the Fit actually will achieve in the U.S. for mpgs?

Here is a link to one of the short articles:

AutoBlogGreen

 

[MrCritical]

28 city, 34 mpg hwy. with 5 speed manual.

 

[Thorn]

Originally Posted By: MrCritical
28 city, 34 mpg hwy. with 5 speed manual.

Thanks. Are these the figures for the 2008 model year? My understanding is that the 2009 redesign receives an all-new 1.5L engine. In addition, I believe the Japanese Fit receives an all-new CVT, but I am not sure if the CVT will ever be available in the U.S.

If these are the correct figures for the 2009 Fit, then I am somewhat disappointed.

Edit: I just checked Honda's website, and the 28/34 figures are for the 2008 Fit. I am hoping that the 2009 model with the all-new engine, and perhaps better aerodynamics, offers better mileage.

 

[wapacz]

I would think the tune of the engine between the two countries would be as big apart as the test in difference in mileage. Mostly what does Japan have set for passing nitrogen oxides numbers. If they allow higher NOx numbers then the car can be leaned out to offer better mileage. (This is because leaning out a mixture leads to a higher combustion chamber temperature and higher temperature causes more NOx formation) Now the inverse is also true so if they restricted to lower NOx numbers then they could actually get better mileage here if they could lean out the fuel mix.

I think restriction on NO may be a good part of why the current lines of cars don’t get as good as mileage as the cars built in the mid 90s. However, I could be totally off base here.

 

[wapacz]

After abit of searching it looks like the US has lower NOx numbers than Japan so it is a decent chance that it will get worse gas mileage here.

 

[ffracer]

Having studied apples to apples cars in US, Euro, & Japan tests, the Japan numbers are likely to be pretty high.

So they really don't get better mileage, they just have a more relaxed drive cycles that is slower and more momentum based.

The Euro numbers are the closest to real world, but driven by a competent driver.

The US numbers are more like US driving, but also driven by a low skill driver. i.e. you will get a lot better if you know what you are doing and are in less city dirving, unless it is hybrid.

 

[Shaman]

I don't know if it has been said, but the test cycle is this
fuel consumption at 10-15 modes, l/100km

http://www.dieselnet.com/standards/cycles/jp_10-15mode.html

The ads on TV say 24km to the liter here in Japan.