Ive just bought a 2012 1.4i zetec...

37.5 mpg is poor... or is this the norm..?

No. you should be getting a good 45. The trip slightly over-reads so mine says 50 but it's more like 47 really. Assume the car has been properly serviced and your tyres are correctly inflated.

Have you re-set the MPG trip since you bought it? If not re-set it then do a good long steady run and see what it says.

I would say its about right.... The OBCs (On Board Computers ) are way out on all cars so the only real way is to brim the car and check your mileage against usage next time you fill.

Take NO notice of the published guide figures for any car as these are also way above what we will get in the real world.

As Rick says above a well serviced car will return better MPG and tyre pressures are vital but the biggest factor of all is how the car is driven. A heavy right foot or not going up the gears quick enough will destroy any chance of good MPG.

The 1.4 is a very thirsty engine anyway and both my wife and daughter have had them. Wifes 2009 1.4 is woefull on fuel and the daughters was swapped for a diesel as she does high miles and her car was so thirsty ! And yes it was well maintained !

I agree driving style has a lot to do with it and I like to drive fast but efficiently. It's a fun car to drive and get the most out of the small engine.

I don't agree that it's a thirsty engine. I have manually calculated mine and the trip is only a couple of mpg off. On a motorway run I get over 50. On the commute I get around 45.

If anyone is getting less than 40 from the 1.4 then it's either their driving style or something wrong with the car I would say. Sadly what does tend to happen is that people buy a small engine car for the mpg then tear around everywhere wondering why they are not getting good mpg. The number of small hatches you see passing you at 90 on the motorway is a joke. Completely cancels out the purpose of the small engine.

This isn't aimed at you necessarily - just saying it happens.

Thx for the info guys...i have reset the trip com .. geting around 44mpg now .. no motorway driving as yet.. i owned a 1.4tdci 2004 before..126,000 miles ave 56.7 mpg over all..low 48.6...high 73.1..ecu died. + Dash failed...so i just scrapped the car.....we where going to buy a 2012 1.4tdci again...but the df filtre is dire short journeys.. fill up so quick and cost a fortune to replace...

Ah that's better :)