AC use penalty on 2007 Toyota Matrix

Thought y'all might be interested to know the results of some informal testing I did on how much turning on the A/C can cost on a 2007 Toyota Matrix.



Based on my tests, it costs:

10.66%



Setup:

Start from Park n' Ride center, and do an out and back drive on the (relatively) flat freeway here.

Attempt to maintain 60 MPH as best as possible (My car doesn't have cruise control).

Vehicle: 2007 Toyota Matrix, base. Mods: Passenger mirror delete, antenna delete, smooth hubcaps. Scangauge equipped, of course.

Ambient temp during the test ranged from 84 to 96 (per my car's built in gauge).

Distance: 21.2 miles on each loop.

Condition A: No A/C, just outside air blowing in on fan setting 2 of 4.

Condition B: A/C on, fan setting on 4 of 4, recirculate on.



Run A1: 39.6 MPG, 0.53g, time 26:15, 48MPH avg

Run B: 35.2 MPG, 0.60g, time 26:16, 48 MPH avg

Run A2: 39.2 MPG, 0.54g, time 25:35, 49 MPH avg



Average the two A runs to get 39.4 MPG. 39.4-25.3=4.2MPG. 4.2MPG/39.4 = 10.66%.



Needless to say, I'm going to avoid running the AC from now on... :D



-MPGee

AC use penalty on 2007 Toyota Matrix