How much did MPG drop when you lifted your vehicle?

[Bster13]

I know manufacturers are making their cars lower and lower these days (I'm looking at you new Prius), in part because it improves MPG.  To my understanding, the lower the body of the car is, the less frontal area is exposed from the tires, thus less drag, and better fuel economy.  

With that said, I'm looking for real world experiences from others who have lifted their vehicles and if they noticed a drop in MPG? (As I write this, I'm thinking folks changed to more aggressive tires at the same time, so hard to isolate for the lift kit itself, eh?)  Thanks!

 

[SternWake]

Well, A lift also allows taller heavier tires too.

I switched only from 235/75/15 to 30x9.5x15, which is only a slightly larger and wider tire, but now my Speedo is dead nuts accurate, where before it read fast.

Apparent MPG has dropped even if actual MPG is very similar, but a taller and heavier tire also reduces MPG's, as well as makes brakes weaker as there is more leverage working against the brakes. I do believe my around town MPG has suffered. highway perhaps none, but the speedo is now accurate, before it was 2 mph fast throwing off mpg readings too, making them appear better than actual.

 

[Bster13]

Well, A lift also allows taller heavier tires too.

I switched only from 235/75/15 to 30x9.5x15, which is only a slightly larger and wider tire, but now my Speedo is dead nuts accurate, where before it read fast.

Apparent MPG has dropped even if actual MPG is very similar, but a taller and heavier tire also reduces MPG's, as well as makes brakes weaker as there is more leverage working against the brakes.  I do believe my around town MPG has suffered. highway perhaps none, but the speedo is now accurate, before it was 2 mph fast throwing off mpg readings too, making them appear better than actual.

Hrmm... well then if I lift the vehicle a bit, but don't touch the tires whatsoever, then would you assume the hit to MPG would be minimal?  You're only changing ride height, you are keeping the type of tread, the circumference, and weight of the tire the same.

 

[highdesertranger]

let me ask this, how are you planning to lift your vehicle? and yes your MPG will take a hit. highdesertranger

 

[Bster13]

let me ask this,  how are you planning to lift your vehicle?  and yes your MPG will take a hit.  highdesertranger

Well on the cheap end, for a few hundred it looks like I can just add spacers, on the high end, I could go with full on coilovers.  It seems the RAV4 is much better supported with lift options than the Prius.  Haha.

 

[squatting dog2]

the bigger drain on mpg is ethanol fuel.  I have a 1999 Suzuki I purchased new. always gave 29 mpg. (I check it all the time... still do) When ethanol fuel became the norm, I immediately saw the mpg drop to 26. To be sure, I will on occasion fill with non-ethanol fuel and sure as the sun rises, the mpg goes back to 29. The cost of non-ethanol however, cancels out the mpg difference, and, it is difficult to always find non-ethanol. Back to the lift issue. I would suspect that taller tires would hurt mpg around town, but, would not hurt on highway running as the taller circumference allows the vehicle to travel farther on one revolution of the tire. 
I guess one could always build a flying door stop to improve mpg.   We did, but, mpg wasn't the issue.