The old test did not consider air conditioning and ran vehicles at 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with speeds that averaged 48 mph and didn't top 60 mph. The new test uses air conditioning, and runs vehicles at higher speeds and temperatures as low as 20 degrees.

The EPA predicts this could drop city driving mileage an average 12 percent on most models and highway performance 8 percent. The new procedures are part of the EPA's effort to make vehicle window stickers -- which have not been updated since 1984 -- more useful to consumers. The last time EPA revamped the stickers, which first appeared on vehicles in the 1970s, fuel economy levels dropped by as much as 22 percent.

An EPA document shows the averages for Toyota and Nissan Motor Co. will drop 11 percent for city mileage and 7 percent for highway.

The declines reflect new fuel efficiency testing procedures the EPA will require beginning with 2008 models to account for real-world driving conditions, such as aggressive driving, high speeds, the use of air conditioning and cold weather.

 

I own a 2006 xB and I was wondering what kind of gas mileage are you getting? Actually I am curious as to anybody's gas mileage for an xB.

 

that can be found here actually:
https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=151342

 

The new test will be under more real-world conditions. Nobody drives around at 48 mph without air conditioning. Of course the new numbers will be lower. So much for sales spin...

Back in Oct I took a road trip and over 1500 miles I actually averaged 30mpg. Mostly highway and a few days driving around Houston.

 

I can just hear the big suv owners crying allready.....LOL

 

not crying that bad, the thing is if you notice all the threads, the average seems to be about 29 or 28, not bad when you consider 30 was the EPA estimate

 

In Sept I took a road trip from Louisville KY to New Hampshire and back in a loop, over 2500 miles. My 06 xB manual averaged 35 mpg. It was mostly Interstate, with about 700 miles of 2-lane country roads in the hills of New England and Pennsylvania, as well as going into Philadelphia and Boston to spend nights.

 

ok, you win.