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Honda Civic Hybrid MPG-Real World Numbers

540 messages,  Last post on Mar 25, 2013 at 6:51 PM

You are in the Honda Civic Hybrid Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Civic, Hybrid Cars, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Sedan

Messages Page 52 of 55

#508 of 540 Re: hybrid gas mileage [dan11809] by dan11809

Apr 17, 2010 (6:41 am)

Replying to: dan11809 (Mar 30, 2010 5:14 pm)
Slowed down to 68 m.p.h. and mileage went back up to 45 m.p.g. Hope I don't get run over.

#509 of 540 Poor MPG in 2009 HCH by william1942

Feb 16, 2011 (1:49 pm)

I purchased a 2009 HCH last summer. At first I was getting 35 to 38 MPG. now I am down to 21 to 24.5MPG. I live in Philly and don't drive "hard". HELP!!

#510 of 540 Re: Poor MPG in 2009 HCH [william1942] by pf_flyer HOST

Feb 16, 2011 (3:46 pm)

Replying to: william1942 (Feb 16, 2011 1:49 pm)
Time of year and the weather is certainly a factor

#511 of 540 Re: Poor MPG in 2009 HCH [william1942] by frednjudik

Feb 16, 2011 (3:57 pm)

Replying to: william1942 (Feb 16, 2011 1:49 pm)
I feel your pain. I purchased my 2009 HCH on April 01, 2009. Only got 40 mpg on a long 400 mile trip on all Interstate/Frwy. Last month we took the HCH into the dealer as the IMA Light and engine light came on. They indicated there was a service bulletin on the Electric Motor battery and the charging system. We were getting around 35 to 36 mpg both city and highway driving. The Honda dealer didn't indicate what the Service Bulletin fixed, but we are now getting 32 mpg both city and highway driving. It appears that the EM Battery does not hold a charge for very long. This leads to no electric motor assist on acceleration. I am calling them and reporting the problem. I had told the dealer that we were never getting the MPG we would expect from a Hybrid Car ever since we have owned it.
We now have 16,000 miles on the car. Way past any so called break-in period, B.S.
If Honda cannot fix the problem, I am selling the HCH, and going to a Hybrid Toyota Camry. I sacrificed the quiet comfort of our Camry for what I thought was going to be superior MPG. I am convinced that battery operated autos are a waste of auto engineering time. The auto industry needs to develop fuel cell technology for automobiles. No plug in, no batteries, no gasoline. The auto industry and it's Unions are still screwing the public.

#512 of 540 HCH 2007 owner - Honda is the problem, not Hybrids by inmyhumbleop

Apr 09, 2011 (8:42 am)

My sister drives a Prius 2006. I drive it when I visit. She gets 45 mpg. I love her car. She has no issues at all. The A/C works like a dream - used it in Wash DC on a record hot August day - it cooled us down immediately, with no loss of "pep".
The problem is HONDA! They want to offer a Hybrid because Toyota does but they don't have the know-how yet so their Hybrids stink.

#513 of 540 Re: HCH 2007 owner - Honda is the problem, not Hybrids [inmyhumbleop] by frednjudik

Apr 09, 2011 (10:59 am)

Replying to: inmyhumbleop (Apr 09, 2011 8:42 am)
I agree. In my post #511, the Service Bulletin on my Honda 2009 HCH did nothing to improve gasoline mileage. If anything, it made it worse, as the EM Battery does not hold a charge for very long. This reduces the EM Assist when needed. We still get anywhere from 32 to 36 mpg combined city/hwy. Almost traded it in, but mileage, and pric is still better than a Camry Hybrid.
Will put lumbar seat cushions in car for better comfort, and live with the small trunk space. Current Hybrid technology is overpriced, and not practical. Driving around in a hybrid carrying the heavy weignt of EM batteries is not efficient. The best technology is Fuel Cells. for both efficiency and "green"! The fuel is Hydrogen, and the exhaust is water.
The fuel cell technology just has to get affordable. May not happen in my life time!

#514 of 540 2009 civic hybrid - it's in the driving techniques by eddok

Nov 17, 2011 (6:54 pm)

I live in Southern California. I am the original owner of the car. I bought it in Aug 2009. I had a 92 4 runners, and decided to go green. At first I was a bit disappointed with the car, it wasn't quite getting the mpg as expected. My commute is relatively short, 3 mile one way to work. I was getting mid 30s street and high 30s fwy. And then the mileage dropped down to the high 20s to low 30s.
 
I went to the dealer for the initial service, and told the service guy about it. I didn't get a straight answer from the guy, and I wasn't too happy. A few months later IMA light came on, so I took the car to the dealer. They said that the battery was bad and need to be replaced. After the battery was replaced, it drives a better.
 
I was searching the net about the problem that I have and got mixed reviews. But there was a site that I found, I'll have to look for it again now. They describe how to get better mileage from a hybrid (I guess or any gas engine car) by changing the way I drive the car.
 
I have been practicing the driving techniques. And I have been getting better mileage on my civic hybrid, as high as 49 mpg on a 200 miles + hwy trip. But mostly I have been getting mid to high 40s. Even in summer with A/C on, the mpg doesn't suffer that much. I really think the driving technique is the key to get high mpg from these cars.
 
Slow accelerating (in most case, except at the fwy on ramp)
More coasting and less braking (a lot of planning and practice on this one both on the streets and on the freeways)
Keep the engine rev around 2500rpm or lower (I can mantain 2000prm going 65+mph on the freeway)
Street speed between 30-45 mph, Hwy speed between 65-70mph are ideal. Just remember to accelerate slowly if you can and keep the engine rev low and constant.
Plan your route, fewer stop and go, less up hills, etc.
Practice and practice.
I guess the EPA mpg is rated at ideal driving conditions (not much stop and go, slow accelerate, etc), in order to get it, you have to try to achieve those driving conditions.
 
To get higher mileage on the hybrid, or any car, we need to change our driving habits.
 
I also keep the tire pressure a bit higher than honda spec which is 32-34 psi. The factory tires are rated higher (45-50psi). I have been inflating my tires to 38-40psi. The higher the pressure in the tires, the less rolling resistance, the better mpg. But you have to check the pressure limit on your tires, and I wouldn't recommend using the high limit on the tire rating. As the tires get warm, the air inside expands causing the pressure to go higher.

#515 of 540 Re: 2009 civic hybrid - it's in the driving techniques [eddok] by frednjudik

Nov 18, 2011 (11:45 am)

Replying to: eddok (Nov 17, 2011 6:54 pm)
I finally sold my 2009 Honda Civic, which was only getting on average of about 35 mpg. I suspected something wrong with the Battery and Charging system.
I traded it in for a fully loaded 2011 Camry Hybrid. It is much more comfortable and quiter than the cheaper small Civic Hybrid. The big difference was getting 37.5 mpg on the highway, and 35.6 driving around town.
This is with the normal driving technique, not babying the car for better mileage. Toyota is far superior in fuel economy in its Hybrid design than Honda. Please note the new 2012 Toyota Camry, non hybrid, that just came out with a 43 mpg fuel economy.
Honda is okay as a lower priced commuter vehicle, but it just doesn't compete with Toyota in overall fuel economy, and overall driving.

#516 of 540 Re: 2009 civic hybrid - it's in the driving techniques [frednjudik] by krisdef

Nov 22, 2011 (10:36 am)

Replying to: frednjudik (Nov 18, 2011 11:45 am)
frednjudik,
 
I am glad for you. I wish my finiancial was better so I could get rid off my 2008HCH. it is now under 37mpg and that still requires a lot of efforts. I used to get above 44mpg . Same driving techniques, same other factors...it's just that the car's mpg is decreasing...My friend has Prius 2007. I ask his mpg, he says the prius mpg almost stay the same and it is around 48mpg. I wish I bought the prius!

#517 of 540 2011 HCH MPG Significant Drop- what to do now? by csgseattle

Dec 07, 2011 (5:20 pm)

2011 HCH Purchased Feb 2011 - mpg consistent 38 - 40 mpg until Sept 2011.
 
Then steady drops with each tank of gas reaching 29 mpg in Nov 2011.
 
Driving in Seattle, cold weather and heavy traffic for 4 miles of 12 mile one way commute - light traffic on return commute. Commute is 8 miles city/4 miles freeway. Use defroster only while car in warming up and turn off after 2 miles or so.
 
Took to dealer - found no issues - insists I am using wrong gas and that is responsible for 10 mpg drop . Have used same gas (Safeway) from the beginning until last tank when on advice of Dealer, filled up with Chevron. Great burst of mpg just after (50 mpg!), next AM drove .5 miles to intersection and stopped at red light - watch mpg drop from 41 t0 37 while idling at stoplight then continue dropping while in heavy traffic for four miles to 27! After traffic broke and freeway travel ended up at 32 mpg. So much for "premium" gas.
 
Dealer is not responsive - any advice on what to do from here? Besides trading in for a Prius which I am seriously considering depending on the financial hit I would take. HELP!

Messages Page 52 of 55

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