Gas Mileage Question for Camry Owners

City gas mileage for the new 4-cylinder Camry is listed as 21 mpg.
However, in fine print the sticker says that actual mileage can be
anywhere between something like 17 - 23 (I forget the exact numbers).
Is this range of mpg due to the different driving conditions that may
be encountered, or does it refer to variability in the inherent fuel
economy of the car from one sample to the next?

This potential purchase will be replacing our big minivan that gets
about 16-17 mpg around town (suburbs) and I would be very disappointed
if I bought the relatively smaller Camry and ended up getting 17 mpg
again in those same driving conditions.

Thanks.

"pixel_a_ted" <pixel_a_ted.RemoveThis@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:21de2188-8c1a-43b6-b5d6-a670e387b39d@34g2000hsh.googlegroups.com...
> City gas mileage for the new 4-cylinder Camry is listed as 21 mpg.
> However, in fine print the sticker says that actual mileage can be
> anywhere between something like 17 - 23 (I forget the exact numbers).
> Is this range of mpg due to the different driving conditions that may
> be encountered, or does it refer to variability in the inherent fuel
> economy of the car from one sample to the next?
>
> This potential purchase will be replacing our big minivan that gets
> about 16-17 mpg around town (suburbs) and I would be very disappointed
> if I bought the relatively smaller Camry and ended up getting 17 mpg
> again in those same driving conditions.
>
> Thanks.

I don't know for certain, but it sounds like the variation may be due to
differences in driving styles. If one does jackrabbit starts, drives up to
red lights at the speed limit, etc, he won't expect to get the sort of city
mileage of someone who eases out of a stop light, and looks ahead a block or
two and if he sees a red light in front of him, simply coasts up to it (and
possibly makes it to the green light without having to stop altogether.)
The acceleration from a dead stop to 20-25 mph is where the gas consumption
really ....sucks.
Smoothness of acceleration and not having to be first in line at the next
red light yield important increases in fuel mileage.