2005 civic hybrid not getting advertised MPG

Hello :

My civic hybrid is only averaging 35 MPG, hardly good enough to
justify the extra cost for a hybrid car. Can anyone make any
suggestions for improvements?

Thanks

Matthew

 

Driving style makes a lot of difference. For normal acceleration, I come
away from a stop at 3,000 RPM, holding that RPM as the road speed climbs.

On the open road, cruising speed plays a big role, but keeping up with
high speed traffic where the speed fluctuates really knocks the mileage
down as you slow and accelerate. The high speed accelerations in heavy
traffic go well over the 3,000 rpm point that I have set as my economy
marker.

I find that A/C is a big hit. I dropped from 47-50 to 41-43 during a
stretch where the A/C was on all the time. Those were also a lot of short
mile trips, no highway.

What kind of driving mix are you doing?

 

Heh, my 1999 Civic HX gets 45 mpg on secondary highways if I keep it between
50-60 mph. Interstate and 70 mph make it drop down to 35 or so. You want
to look first at your driving style and road conditions, to see if you are
responsible for the less than expected fuel economy.

Other reasons to buy a hybrid car are state motor vehicle sales tax breaks
and free parking in some jurisdictions.

Saludos cordiales,

Earle

 

And keep in mind that the A/C probably runs whenever you set the
system to DEF. Maybe the hybrids don't do this but other cars do -
check the manual.

 

Is that a stick or the CVT? I looked at the HX, and might have gone with
it if it were available in a four door. It wasn't, and now I think it is
gone altogether.

My Civic Hybrid CVT gets 60 mpg in mixed driving at 50-55 mph over a 50
mile stretch of hilly country road. 52 mpg at 65-70 in light traffic.