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Author	Topic: Inflated Hyundai, Kia fuel ratings put focus on whether EPA will get tough	Post a Reply Back to Topics

BurntOrange Champion Author Austin Posts:8,875 Points:1,609,740 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 9:42:13 AM Ignore BurntOrange Report Abuse The Environmental Protection Agency's disclosure last month that Hyundai and Kia inflated fuel economy ratings over three years prompted industry observers to wonder whether the government is taking a more aggressive stance on policing the ratings, which largely are based on the honor system. Consumers often have questioned automakers' gas mileage claims, especially when drivers' own calculations yield a different result. But rarely has the EPA called out a company and forced it to reimburse customers for exaggerating fuel economy. "When something like this happens, the whole industry is hurt," said Robert Bienenfeld, senior manager of environment and energy strategy for Honda. "It's very important that people have confidence in the system. Even if there was not an event like this, ... Visit Detroit Free Press for full article

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The Environmental Protection Agency's disclosure last month that Hyundai and Kia inflated fuel economy ratings over three years prompted industry observers to wonder whether the government is taking a more aggressive stance on policing the ratings, which largely are based on the honor system.

Consumers often have questioned automakers' gas mileage claims, especially when drivers' own calculations yield a different result. But rarely has the EPA called out a company and forced it to reimburse customers for exaggerating fuel economy.

"When something like this happens, the whole industry is hurt," said Robert Bienenfeld, senior manager of environment and energy strategy for Honda. "It's very important that people have confidence in the system. Even if there was not an event like this, ...
Visit Detroit Free Press for full article

REPLIES (newest first)Ignore Short Messages

DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,491 Points:1,270,050 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Dec 6, 2012 7:55:47 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse As usual, the answer is to disregard the EPA's mileage ratings. There are other much more reliable sources for this information.
TruthMatters Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,583 Points:557,620 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Dec 6, 2012 2:59:54 PM Ignore TruthMatters Report Abuse :EPA needs to get real- as in providing real world numbers- rather than giving us mileage numbers crunched out from a laboratory somewhere.
ClarkSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:3,214 Points:1,038,130 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Dec 6, 2012 7:16:22 AM Ignore ClarkSC Report Abuse Go after the others.
Nancy&Len Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,173 Points:1,969,615 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Dec 6, 2012 6:32:25 AM Ignore Nancy&Len Report Abuse Get rid of the EPA instead!
EvergreenON Champion Author Ontario Posts:1,073 Points:510,110 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Dec 6, 2012 6:13:10 AM Ignore EvergreenON Report Abuse Promess
iFueler Champion Author Durham Posts:64,983 Points:204,800 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Dec 6, 2012 1:48:44 AM Ignore iFueler Report Abuse time for realistic estimates
rcornel All-Star Author San Diego Posts:804 Points:250,495 Joined:Jun 2012	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 9:54:30 PM Ignore rcornel Report Abuse They should!!!
crep1291 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:2,636 Points:486,070 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 2:39:42 PM Ignore crep1291 Report Abuse I'm not sure why the EPA doesn't test every single model available for sale in the US BEFORE they go out for sale.
mitt4prez Champion Author Tacoma Posts:1,883 Points:1,272,925 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 2:27:57 PM Ignore mitt4prez Report Abuse All Kia has to do is make a big campaign contribution and all will be well. Those dolts who think government regulators can't be captured by those they regulate need to go back to mainlining Hopenchange, purchased by their local Won peddler.
Discovery02 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:2,815 Points:337,390 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 2:09:30 PM Ignore Discovery02 Report Abuse But we can always rely on businesses to only do what's in the best interests of the people right? TThat's why they don't need government oversight.
schvanda63 Champion Author Lansing Posts:1,411 Points:280,120 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 1:46:21 PM Ignore schvanda63 Report Abuse Now they can add Ford to their list.
LostInNY Champion Author New York Posts:1,854 Points:674,545 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 1:34:34 PM Ignore LostInNY Report Abuse Doubt the EPA will do anything, just another slap on the wrist
kag2010 Champion Author Winnipeg Posts:5,394 Points:1,047,460 Joined:Apr 2010	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 1:20:44 PM Ignore kag2010 Report Abuse If you drove downhill both ways that ok if can do it.
Zuegma Champion Author Nova Scotia Posts:1,123 Points:284,630 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 12:58:25 PM Ignore Zuegma Report Abuse Ratings are typically set under a controlled set of conditions. They hardly reflect on how and where "we" might drive. It doesn't hurt if once in a while the EPA performs a verification of claimed ratings.
GingoutMD Champion Author Maryland Posts:3,495 Points:713,305 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 12:41:16 PM Ignore GingoutMD Report Abuse I have always used the manufacturer fuel ratings as a guide. I use the blogs to see what real mileage is obtained by real drivers in real situations.
hrjjml All-Star Author Florida Posts:590 Points:403,150 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 12:39:17 PM Ignore hrjjml Report Abuse EPA is useless period
bcline909 Veteran Author Virginia Posts:401 Points:80,170 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 12:13:07 PM Ignore bcline909 Report Abuse def cheating
fedupMN Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:3,090 Points:598,980 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 11:35:06 AM Ignore fedupMN Report Abuse Big surprise! KIA was criticized for their gas mileage reports and is sending back rebates to its customers.... So where are the rest of the car companies in their rebates? I own a 2012 KIA Sorento with the 2.4 4-cyl and at 55 mph I can get 35+ mpg, however at 70, depending on the wind anywhere from 22 to 27.
uglytom Champion Author Florida Posts:7,464 Points:1,542,015 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 11:28:50 AM Ignore uglytom Report Abuse Who verifies the numbers on the sticker?
wrunner Champion Author Virginia Posts:4,582 Points:1,163,310 Joined:Dec 2009	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 11:02:54 AM Ignore wrunner Report Abuse Fuel economy ratings are overrated.
lesabreAZ Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,814 Points:437,970 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 10:56:42 AM Ignore lesabreAZ Report Abuse The numbers worked, if you drove downhill both ways....
ceklea Veteran Author Twin Cities Posts:369 Points:1,312,265 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 10:45:46 AM Ignore ceklea Report Abuse One of the industry's challenges is that "many consumers don't understand that the EPA's fuel economy ratings are a guide post, not a promise."
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:35,298 Points:2,398,095 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 10:28:14 AM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse if they do ford is doomed, along with gm and fiat.............
bluebird1 Champion Author Toronto Posts:15,868 Points:3,133,875 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 10:21:48 AM Ignore bluebird1 Report Abuse If ridiculously out, then they should or they do the testing & maybe will keep EPA busy & out of other things they shouldn't be in like Ethanol content. Ford's hybrid is 10 - 15 mpg off what 3 independent mag's testing acheived in mpg tests (ie. not just a writer jotting down what he got in a test drive). I have to assume reasonable drivers used with likely more than reasonable driving care & conditions not extreme...so this looks like a far cry from the Kia/Hyundai claims that were 1-3 mpg higher in tests than on sticker (their mini-SUV excluded).
TripleHs Champion Author Austin Posts:3,435 Points:940,090 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 10:18:47 AM Ignore TripleHs Report Abuse cheating no doubt
TripleHs Champion Author Austin Posts:3,435 Points:940,090 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 10:18:28 AM Ignore TripleHs Report Abuse cheating not doubt
hornet17 Champion Author Vancouver Posts:1,323 Points:440,865 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 10:12:34 AM Ignore hornet17 Report Abuse no one in their right mind would belive they would get the same numbers as EPA.
Mota Sophomore Author Louisville Posts:102 Points:171,675 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 10:02:46 AM Ignore Mota Report Abuse It would be nice for the EPA to actually use science and engineering to develop a real-world test that would allow consumers to compare models and also allow repeatable independent verification of results. But substituting good scientific and engineering practices for political beliefs in their decision making process just isn't going to happen with the EPA.
VomVom Champion Author Calgary Posts:3,863 Points:1,647,725 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 10:00:38 AM Ignore VomVom Report Abuse Not too long ago, Honda was sued for its mileage claim on the Civic hybrid. So Honda, Hyundai and Kia were caught. Who else over stated their mileage numbers but were not caught? May be it is time for the testing to be done by independent 3rd party laboratories.
bar1035 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:9,336 Points:1,324,945 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 9:59:27 AM Ignore bar1035 Report Abuse so where's the EPA on the newer Ford Fusion mileage exaggerations?
Buckeyee Champion Author Maine Posts:4,766 Points:923,350 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 9:52:16 AM Ignore Buckeyee Report Abuse Another repost of a repost !!
orphancarguyPE Champion Author PEI Posts:3,905 Points:758,100 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 9:48:31 AM Ignore orphancarguyPE Report Abuse So, we should shut down police forces because thieves hold up banks?
RONALD777 Champion Author Houston Posts:3,313 Points:390,455 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 9:43:52 AM Ignore RONALD777 Report Abuse The EPA should be closed down.
BurntOrange Champion Author Austin Posts:8,875 Points:1,609,740 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Dec 5, 2012 9:43:13 AM Ignore BurntOrange Report Abuse The EPA is tough at preventing energy production. Helping the consumer, not so much.