It's a Touring Edition, 2.5X. I bought it because it was supposed to have better fuel economy...
No traffic where I am. I have hit it once when I had to drive down to L.A., but that was only once. I've filled my tank 8 times.
My typical highway speed is 65, only because that's the speed limit, give or take 5 mph. I usually drive 5 above, but even when I stay in the slow lane and drive like a granny it doesn't seem to help at all.
I don't accelerate hard at all, especially since it would literally cost me $5 in fuel cost just to do it. I've never had to drive so lightly in my entire life.
Even if I fill up, then get straight on the freeway and drive until I need to fill up again, the mpg is still extremely low.
In terms of "city" driving, I have silky smooth roads all around me, and I live where the weather is literally "perfect" all the time. I'm new to the area so please don't hate me. Gas is $4.30 here!!! Central Coast.
I drive the speed limit and come to complete stops, and when I accelerate I do it gradually. The most I do is whenever I get on the freeway I need to accelerate up to speed, but I am even doing that slower than I've ever had to do before. I think it's kind of dangerous to get on the freeway so slow, but I'm going it just because I want to try increasing my mpg.
I have tried driving at 80, 70, 65, no apparent difference. It's all waaay too low.
The manual says use Regular Unleaded, and I read that if I used Mid or Premium it would actually be worse mpg. True? What about the fuel additive that "cleans" out the system? Seems stupid since it's a brand spankin' new car. I met it when it only had 9 miles on it.
I often have the AC on at the lowest or second lowest setting, only because I feel claustrophobic if there's no airflow. Where I am I can have the windows open all the time, and I often do, but when I get on the freeway I close them because it gets too windy for my kids. If I have the sunroof open all the way, it rattles at 60mph, so I don't ever do that. I've experimented with keeping all windows closed all the time and it hasn't improved anything.
I never need the defroster here.
Original tires, pressure looks fine and they were checked 2000 miles ago when it was driven off the lot. I have thought of checking them again though, but I don't think it's that.
I don't carry lots of cargo. Usually it's empty.
Hand brake is off!!! I use the handbrake to do awesome skids and turns...
(I'm 100% kidding, just in case I need to say.)
I use my right foot for both acceleration and breaking. I don't mean to brag, but I am a "perfect driver." If there was a way to drive this any better, I would be doing it. Of course, I do enjoy going from a full stop to whatever the speed limit is in as short of a time period as possible, but this is the first car where I take my time getting up to speed.
Haven't hit any potholes even though I know how well a Subaru can ride over them nicely. (I took one that I didn't end up buying over a road that should have been closed down - the sales guy told us to, and it was incredible!)
I calculate my fuel economy by keeping track of my mileage and how many gallons I need to use to fill the tank. I also note the brand and the location (and the price) and I have two different apps on my iPhone that I also enter that data into. I do not go by the reading on the dash, because that's really inaccurate. I was told by Subaru that doesn't start to get accurate for a while, and I am only at 2000 miles now.
Did I miss anything?
Thanks everyone for your help!