28.4 mpg GL350 roadtrip
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i did boston to orlando and back with 6 people (4 full size and two kids) plus whatever trunk space filled up with luggage going 70-75 most of the time and got 27-28 mpg. that factors in the obligatory nyc and washington dc miles long traffic jams.
if i was suicidal and went 55 mph all the way i would have topped 30 no question about it
if i was suicidal and went 55 mph all the way i would have topped 30 no question about it
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Audi S5, GL350, Audi A4
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From: Minnesota
2008 GL 320 CDI Black/Black
Makes me wonder if the newer blue techs have something different about them creating better mileage? I've never seen above 25. In fact when I am driving down the freeway at 75 sometimes I'll reset the system and it always starts at 24.9....then goes a bit down from there. Never goes any higher.
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2011 GL 350-Lighting Pkg-P2-Parktronic-Blind spot assist-Heated everything-Running brds ,etc
Makes me wonder if the newer blue techs have something different about them creating better mileage? I've never seen above 25. In fact when I am driving down the freeway at 75 sometimes I'll reset the system and it always starts at 24.9....then goes a bit down from there. Never goes any higher.
See my earlier post..(https://mbworld.org/forums/4747478-post16.html) The average speed is close to 35.. yet good mileage.... City is Miami (no ups/downs)
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From: East Texas
2004 Volvo XC70; 2012 GLK 350 4matic
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From: Bedford, MA
2013 S350, 2021 GLS450, 2003 SLK32
Have you guys tried hand calculating your mpg? I get excited about the mpg that my dash displays on my R-class, but hand calcs show the car's estimate to be off by about 3 mpg.
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Makes me wonder if the newer blue techs have something different about them creating better mileage? I've never seen above 25. In fact when I am driving down the freeway at 75 sometimes I'll reset the system and it always starts at 24.9....then goes a bit down from there. Never goes any higher.
my mpg is pessimistic. it at 28 mpg pen and paper shows 25.5 on the mfd
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15 GL550
Makes me wonder if the newer blue techs have something different about them creating better mileage? I've never seen above 25. In fact when I am driving down the freeway at 75 sometimes I'll reset the system and it always starts at 24.9....then goes a bit down from there. Never goes any higher.
A couple weeks ago I did a round trip on I-70 that was as flat as can be. I had the cruise set on 70. The wind was blowing east with up to 40 mph gusts. West bound I got 20 mpg on the computer. East bound I got 31 mpg. So, wind plays a huge factor in mpg.
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2016 GL450
How about we all log in "mpg" and speed ranges on our long trips in this post and try sharing our experiences... may be also throw in experiments in boosting the GL mpg like 'lifting off' pedal as suggested by "alx"...(I will try on my GL)
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: NW corner of CONUS
2008 GL 320 CDI, 2004 VW V10 Touareg TDI
Seriously, steady at any speed (except >80) is better than up and down speed. It costs more energy to accelerate the rolling parts of the car AND the main mass than to keep it steady. That, along with careful anticipation of what is coming up ahead of you so you don't have to brake, is vital. I have also found that I DON'T like to use cruise control going down hill - the cruise system automatically applies the brake to keep the speed down to setpoint. Most times allowing the car to pick up a few mph on its own isn't dangerous.
I carefully measure the tank-to-tank mpg and compare it with the car computer and I always find the computer is optimistic by 2-2.5mpg.
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From: San Francisco, CA / Middlebury, CT
600 SWB
I travelled from Connecticut to Virginia last summer in 82 degree humid weather--almost 500 miles and got 30mpg going about 65mph on the freeway with two major stops and some stop-n-go traffic on I-95. Nothing like a GL350 for long road trips.
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From: Minnesota
2008 GL 320 CDI Black/Black
learn to lift off- it is a very easy diesel trick - as you are going on a flat surface at say 70 try lifting up a bit the throttle pedal (just a bit)- notice how the truck keeps going at the same speed... with practice you can learn to drive mostly in the lift off mode...
my mpg is pessimistic. it at 28 mpg pen and paper shows 25.5 on the mfd
my mpg is pessimistic. it at 28 mpg pen and paper shows 25.5 on the mfd
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Joined: Apr 2010
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2016 GL450
learn to lift off- it is a very easy diesel trick - as you are going on a flat surface at say 70 try lifting up a bit the throttle pedal (just a bit)- notice how the truck keeps going at the same speed... with practice you can learn to drive mostly in the lift off mode...
my mpg is pessimistic. it at 28 mpg pen and paper shows 25.5 on the mfd
my mpg is pessimistic. it at 28 mpg pen and paper shows 25.5 on the mfd
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Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Middlesex, NJ
03 Nissan Altima 2.5S, 07 MB GL450
Sad but my new personal best mpg so far indicated at has been 19.6 mpg aproximately. That's the price I get for driving a GL450 and not a diesel. At least I get faster quicker acceleration and can beat most SUVs and trucks and cheap sedans on the road. 
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actually from traffic light to traffic light the 450 is not faster.. it is when speeds go over 50-ish mph when the 450 is faster.
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From: In my garage
E55, GLS450, GL63, GLE350
http://www.insideline.com/mercedes-b...gl320-cdi.html
The GL40 is around or under 7 seconds to 60.
http://www.insideline.com/mercedes-b...enz-gl450.html
Last edited by BlownV8; Jan 13, 2012 at 09:22 PM.
