- In our 75 mph highway fuel economy test, we found the fuel economy of Long-term Kia Carnival 3 miles per gallon (or 12 percent) improvement with its factory crossbars removed.
- Having those bars suspended in the airflow increases aerodynamic drag, which increasingly affects fuel economy as the car moves faster.
- Our results with the removal of crossbars equated to approximately 60 miles increased highway driving range and about $14 per 1000 mile fuel cost savings based on national average gas prices. present.
During our long-term testing Kia Carnival 2022, we were initially disappointed in the fuel economy we observed. Speculating factory-installed crossbars, the $360 option, were the culprit, we opted to remove them to see how much of a difference it made. Disassembly takes about 10 minutes and includes all tools: remove the end caps on either side of the crossbar and loosen the clips that attach the bars to the roof rails found on SX and SX Prestige equipped versions . Once removed, we immediately saw an increase in efficiency numbers, prompting us to give it a second try in the 75 mph highway fuel economy test. On the second run, we beat our previous attempt with 3 mpg (25 mpg to 28 mpg), a 12 percent increase and also better than the EPA’s 26 mpg highway figure.
While our Carnival equipped units have an air-friendly shape, they still make a sizable impact on its ability to cut through the air. This increase in drag increases exponentially as speed increases, so driving around the city will have less of an impact on fuel economy than driving on the highway.
The additional 3 mpg we gained after parting with our crossbars means about a 60-mile increase in highway driving range, from 470 to 530 miles. Hypothetically, if a driver were making a 1000-mile trip, this could only make one refueling stop when starting with a full tank of gas instead of two stops when installing the fuel tanks. crossbar. And use current national average gas price, total fuel costs will also be reduced, saving $14 per 1000 miles when using conventional 87 octane fuel. Lasting more than a year and assuming half of the driving miles are completed on the highway, motorists could see nearly triple-digit savings based on United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration The average annual mileage is 13,476. That’s almost enough to cover a whole year of Disney+ subscriptions.
The Masquerade Festival’s increase in effectiveness doesn’t exactly bring it to world-beater territory. Most recent, Toyota Sienna only has hybrid and Chrysler Pacific The eHybrid we tested leads the way among minivans at 33 mpg, with the Sienna’s numbers being a bit more impressive since our test vehicle had all-wheel drive. The bronze medalist was the gas-only Pacifica with 31 mpg, followed by the Honda Odyssey at 30 mpg. Even with this new performance, the Carnival held last place against other minivans in our highway fuel economy test. However, the final driving range is another story. The Kia, without crossbars, trails only the Toyota in that category, and by just 10 miles (530 and 540 miles, respectively).
Of course, attaching a cargo rack, kayak, paddle board or other large accessory to those crossbars will reduce fuel economy even more. But the point is, you should take a few minutes to remove the crossbars when you’re not using them.
