New MPG for MY08 RX350

As you are aware, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the new test methods for calculating the fuel economy estimates, which are posted on the Monroney Label of new cars and trucks. These estimates help consumers compare the fuel economy of different vehicles for both city and highway driving.

EPA’s new methods are designed to bring the miles per gallon (mpg) estimates closer to consumers’ actual fuel economy by including factors such as high speeds, quicker accelerations, air conditioning use, and driving in cold temperatures. The new estimates will take effect with the 2008 model year.

The RX350 will be the first Lexus vehicle that will incorporate the new EPA fuel economy calculation. Lexus will post on Dealer Daily fuel economy information that shows the EPA estimates using both the old calculation and new calculation to assist you in answering customer questions for each new 2008 model year vehicle as they become available.

The fuel economy information for the 2008 model year RX350 is as follows:

City / Highway / Combined

FWD:
New
18 / 23 / 20
Old
20 / 25 / 22

AWD
New
17 / 22 / 19
Old
19 / 24 / 21


So it has shown an even 2mpg drop across the board, or in other words, almost 10%.

And don't even get me started on why the hell Lexus decided to make the 2007 model year RX last only 4 months and is releasing the 2008 in February of 2007. If it were a ground up redesign, I'd understand, but the ground up redesign comes for the 2009 model year.

 

If dealers are smart they will show the 2007 and 2008 standard side by side, maybe even have a few print outs handy explaining the drop. That will help people cross shopping '07 and '08 models.

 

Aren't the economy ratings for the 2008 Malibu based on the new test?

 

Yes, they did give the preliminary results using the new methods when they released the new Malibu at the auto show. That car isn't for sale yet, though. Dunno why Lexus is making the RX available so early as an '08 when it isn't being redesigned.

 

<rant mode>

I never understood why manufacturers are allowed to sell a car all the way up to october, and labelling it next model year.

For pete's sake, if the car is released in 2006 to the dealer, then it is 2006 model year. If it's released even in september, it's still 2006. They could call it 2006.5, but why on earth call it 2007?

This happened when Mazda released its 6 series in 2003 (but advertised as model year 2004). Come February 2004, you could buy a used 6 with 35,000 kms on it, and the ads always said 2004.

Does the Ministry of Transportation register the vehicle as model year, or current year? I'd be pissed to buy a 4 year old car to find out it really is 5 years old.

</rant mode>

 

That's why vehicles have the build date on a sticker either on the driver side door, or on the doorjamb. My 1999 Dodge Ram was built in October of 1998.

 

The Dodge Avenger's numbers were released during the Detroit autoshow.