2004 X5 4.4i getting 15 mpg combined?

[Perrodulce]

This can't be right, I drive this vehicle as lightly as I can and I still only get 15 mpg combined. It only has 45K miles, has been maintained at dealership, any ideas why this is the case? I was told 17 in town, 20 on the highway, 18 combined is what I should expect. Thanks in advance.

[dkl]

17 in town is a bit optimistic...too many variables to make mpg predictions for stop-n-go. 15mpg combined for the 4.4i isn't bad at all. I'm only getting 16mpg combined for my 2004 3.0i with 36k miles on the clock.

[vinuneuro]

Check your tire pressure, use good gasoline (Shell), check airfilter etc. See if those make a difference.

[Sudesh]

In My opinion the MPG read out has to be reset everytime you switch on the ignition to get a proper read out.

[Junster]

just about right. 17 mpg at most.

[Sudesh]

Do you guys do alot of city driving and heavy on the gas? I have a 4.6 and I average 22mpg, my best is 26mpg on a long drive!!

[nupe10123]

I check every week, seems to vary from 16 - 19 for me. I can usually 'explain' the difference based on how much stop and go versus highwy - but only annectdotal. You should reset and check every so often too. If you never get any better than 15, I'd be surprised, but I would not anticipate hitting 18 regularly.

[bjo]

I avg 15-16mpg in my 03 3.0L. The best I got was 20 mpg round-trip from Houston to Austin.

[ek415]

I have the same year and model, after my transmission software upgrade, the best I can get now is 15mpg both local and freeway. Before the upgrade, it was over 20mpg most of the time.

[Thunder22]

that's what my '04 4.4i sport averaged.... better on long trips.