I got a 2025 Corolla Cross Hybrid Nightshade Edition last Friday. When I left the lot, the Distance to Empty said 400 miles, but I had to get gas after just 330 miles. Is this normal? It feels like every mile I drive takes off more than one mile from the meter. Could this be a problem, or is this just how it works? Would love to hear from others.
Every car does this. Once the meter says 0, you usually still have 5-15 liters left. Things like acceleration, remote starts, speed changes, and temperature all affect the estimate. I’ve driven many cars, and they all behave this way. Sometimes you beat the estimate, sometimes you don’t. There are videos online about ‘how far you can go on empty,’ but really, it’s just an estimate. Drive carefully, and don’t overthink it. Seen this question a lot, so you’re not alone.
Just fill up the tank before it runs low. Driving on empty isn’t worth the risk, especially with a brand-new car.
It depends on how you drive and other factors like weather or idling. Hybrids usually do better in city driving than on highways. If you’re doing mostly highway driving, that could explain the shorter range.
If you use remote start or idle a lot, it’ll cut down your range significantly.
Mine said 1007 km to empty when it was new, but now it’s around 700-800. It changes as the car learns your driving habits.
It takes a few weeks for the system to adjust to how you drive. I bought a '21 Corolla LE recently, and at first, the DTE was about 345 miles. After driving more efficiently over a few thousand miles, it went up to 410 miles. Give it some time.
The car is still learning your driving style. It’ll get better.
It’s just an estimate, not an exact science. Is this your first car?
This isn’t dishonesty; it’s just how it works. The estimate is based on average conditions, but actual usage varies depending on things like terrain, wind, and how you drive. Since your car is new, it doesn’t have much data to base the estimates on yet. It’ll improve over time, but it’ll never be perfect—it’s just math, not magic.
Plan on the DTE being around 75-80% accurate most of the time.
Flynn said:
Plan on the DTE being around 75-80% accurate most of the time.
So there’s no fix? It’s just how all Corollas are?
Flynn said:
Plan on the DTE being around 75-80% accurate most of the time.
So there’s no fix? It’s just how all Corollas are?
It’s not just Corollas—it’s all cars. The estimates are based on ideal driving conditions, which most of us don’t achieve consistently.
Flynn said:
Plan on the DTE being around 75-80% accurate most of the time.
So there’s no fix? It’s just how all Corollas are?
It’ll improve over time. Even when the meter says zero, you usually have about two gallons left. And fun fact: speedometers aren’t 100% accurate either!
Flynn said:
Plan on the DTE being around 75-80% accurate most of the time.
So there’s no fix? It’s just how all Corollas are?
If you always drove at a steady speed with no wind or stops, the estimate might be more accurate. But real driving isn’t like that. It’s just giving you its best guess.
I’ve got a 2022 Corolla, and the range estimates have always been way off. I wouldn’t trust it too much.
All cars only give approximate estimates. The lower half of the tank often drains faster than the top half, and frequent stops or acceleration increase fuel use. I personally track it by resetting all counters when I fill up and checking after a few fill-ups. That helps me figure out how accurate the car’s estimate is for my driving.