Ask the Car People.SM


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 53 of 54

#520 of 540 Re: 2011 HCH MPG Significant Drop- what to do now? [mrwaug] by inmyhumbleop

Dec 08, 2011 (11:25 am)

Replying to: mrwaug (Dec 07, 2011 6:46 pm)
For Mrwaug,
  How do you get 45 mpg on an 07 HCH? Did you not get the software upgrade? I get 30 mpg and I drive with fuel economy in mind! I no longer have low resistant tires, but still.
 
My original tires got chewed up at 32,000 miles due to some sort of suspension defect. I thought my car was going to fall apart, it was shaking so bad. Went to Les Shwab assuming I needed an alignment. They said tires were SHOT! They also couldn't align it properly due to this defect. Went to Honda who put in control arm fix (whatever that is). This was a KNOWN issue, they just didn't bother to fix it until asked. My replacement tires were not low resistance and I noticed a 2 mpg or so decrease. What I would really like an answer to is HOW I got my car serviced and tires rotated at Honda and NO ONE said a thing about the abnormal wear on my tires.
Bottom line is since the software upgrade, shortly after my new tires, my mpg took another hit. The battery constantly recals - every 10 miles or so - and the auto stop hardly ever comes on. Honda just blames it on the tires.
My sister loves her 2006 Prius and so do I when I drive it - 50 mpg no problem.

#521 of 540 Re: 2011 HCH MPG Significant Drop- what to do now? [mrwaug] by csgseattle

Dec 08, 2011 (11:55 am)

Replying to: mrwaug (Dec 07, 2011 6:46 pm)
Yes - I reset trip A for each tank of gas. In Feb under the same driving conditions I was getting 38-40 mpg, now I am getting 29-31 and I had never seen the mpg gauge drop while idling like the other day. A few tenths I can accept, but not 5 mpgs in 60 seconds! Nothing has changed except my mpg and Honda has no explanation.
 
Can anyone advise on how to escalate with Honda?

#522 of 540 Re: 2011 HCH MPG Significant Drop- what to do now? [csgseattle] by frednjudik

Dec 08, 2011 (12:45 pm)

Replying to: csgseattle (Dec 08, 2011 11:55 am)
Escalate to your Regional Honda Corp., tell them the problems with your MPG and the Dealer that appears to not have fixed anything. Other than that, sell it, and buy a Toyota, or try the Ford Fusion.

#523 of 540 Re: 2011 HCH MPG Significant Drop- what to do now? [frednjudik] by mrwaug

Dec 11, 2011 (2:55 pm)

Replying to: frednjudik (Dec 08, 2011 12:45 pm)
I read about about the suspension up date on Edmunds and got that taken care of right away, I kept the original tires until the were bald (45k) and then bought Bridgestone LRR tires. I had the computer up date done last year. It did not change the actual fuel mileage, but the average fuel readout now reads about 3 mpg less than actual mileage. You did mention Cold day in Seattle, That will Kill your mileage. It may be a Hybrid, but it is still an internal combustion engine. The effects of temperature, humidity and altitude affect the efficiency. So any condition that creates and oxygen rich atmosphere will cause more fuel to be consumed, So living in Seattle you have three strikes, Cold, High Humidity and sea level. Most cars would not show much difference, but an high efficiency in most hybrid cars are greatly effected. Things like low tire pressure, anything other than 0-20 oil, sand bags in the trunk are going to effect fuel mileage.

#524 of 540 Re: 2011 HCH MPG Significant Drop- what to do now? [csgseattle] by mrb1959

Jan 21, 2012 (4:09 pm)

Replying to: csgseattle (Dec 08, 2011 11:55 am)
You wont get any joy from Honda.
This is an issue and its gonna cost too much for Honda to fix.
Those who opt-out of the Class Action suit may get some joy if Honda think the numbers are within there tolerance.
 
I have written to my congressman because this is more than individuals getting duped, this is about Americans believing in new fuel efficient technology and whether they are taking a "big" risk in wanting to go green.
I for one wont buy a Honda "fuel efficient" vehicle again.

#525 of 540 Re: 2009 civic hybrid - it's in the driving techniques [krisdef] by bionicman1

Mar 21, 2012 (6:38 pm)

Replying to: krisdef (Nov 22, 2011 10:36 am)
I am sorry for your experience. I have just sold my 2008 HCH with a heavy heart - I loved this car, but I fell in love with another car ( which has much worse gas mileage ) and that was that.
 
The 2008 HCH was an incredible performer for me. Toward the end, with 72k miles on it, I could not have gotten bellow 39 had I tried. Most of the time I was getting from 41 to 45 in mixed and not particularly careful driving. One week, determined to wring every last drop of fuel from it, I got an amazing 57 mpg on a tankful of gas.
 
The 08 was incredibly reliable. Not one problem. Not one service visit for anything other than maintenance. It got wonderful gas mileage when I really applied myself to it. When I didn't, I got lower gas mileage, but never less than 39.
 
It's all in how you drive it. My new car is rated at 28 - 32 city/highway. I'm currently getting 37 mpg out of it, having been well trained by the HCH.

#526 of 540 Re: 2009 civic hybrid - it's in the driving techniques [bionicman1] by william1942

Mar 22, 2012 (7:28 am)

Replying to: bionicman1 (Mar 21, 2012 6:38 pm)
It is a shame that you sound like a HONDA representative. My own gas mileage dropped from 35 city/ 40 Hwy down to 24City/28 Hwy over almost two years. I was repeatedly told that I just didn't know how to drive. I replaced my original tires at 33k miles to a much less recommended tire, got no reduction in gas mileage at all. (the dealer tried to tell me "That is the problem" until I showed him me records of mileage over the last two years (EXCEL Spreadsheet). He gave me some more crap until I started to get angry in the dealership and online. He had the audacity to complain that he didn't appreciate me telling him " I'm just blowing smoke up your butt". However after they actually did a thorough testing of the car's electrical system, they replaced the IMA battery and, so far it seems to be running better. I will report back after I have gone through a full tank of regular gas.
 
Bill

#527 of 540 Re: 2009 civic hybrid - it's in the driving techniques [bionicman1] by inmyhumbleop

Mar 22, 2012 (10:07 am)

Replying to: bionicman1 (Mar 21, 2012 6:38 pm)
I believe you couldn't get below 39 mpg even had you tried. I also believe pigs can fly.

#528 of 540 Re: 2009 civic hybrid - it's in the driving techniques [william1942] by william1942

Mar 28, 2012 (12:15 pm)

Replying to: william1942 (Mar 22, 2012 7:28 am)
This is the message I sent back to the Honda Dealer today.
 
I got the IMA battery Cell replacement on 3/14-15. I just finished the first gas tank since and calculated that, with a 60 mile trip on I95 I still got less than 32mpg. I am very disappointed with the results I have experienced. My purchase of new tires was done in March and does not seem to show any change in mileage. I am not sure what to do now. Was the IMA battery changed or just a bad cell? At least the “AUTO STOP” is now working and the IMA battery charge stays near half charged 90% of the time.
 
  
 
What do you suggest?
 
Bill
 
  
 
26-Jan-12 33321 164 4.7070 34.84 Trip to Havre de Grace
 
17-Feb-12 33489 168 8.1160 20.70 Check Engine & IMA lights on &
off sporadically
 
3-Mar-12 33693 204 7.9290 25.73 Check Engine & IMA lights on & off sporadically
  
 Took car to Piazza Honda (33737) - Cost $194 upgraded Software "No more problems with IMA Light coming on" - IMA Light and Check engine light came on that afternoon. The next day the check engine light stayed on for our trip to the GYM.
  
16-Mar-12 33904 211 7.3270 28.80 Check Engine Light on constantly and IMA light on & off sporadically. Car to PIAZZA HONDA - New IMA battery 14-Mar-12
  
28-Mar-12 34155 251 7.9500 31.57

#529 of 540 Re: 2009 civic hybrid - it's in the driving techniques [william1942] by inmyhumbleop

Mar 28, 2012 (4:28 pm)

Replying to: william1942 (Mar 28, 2012 12:15 pm)
I suggest you need to thoroughly google Honda Civic Hybrid software update. Seriously. I also commiserate with you. I have a 2007 HCH and it's been hell. Wait until your car stops accelerating reliably. I was angry about the mpg, but now I don't even care. I just want my car to act like a "real" car. Did they tell you it was because your tires were not Low Resistance and you needed these kinds of tires? They tried to tell me that. Glad I didn't buy them, altho I thought about it. Not that I thought it would make a big difference, but to prove a point. But I can't afford to do it to "prove a point" so I didn't. Google, please.

Messages Page 53 of 54

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement