Honda has claimed that the EPA mileage tests are invalid for hybrids and the numbers supplied by the government are grossly overstated.
A quote from Honda customer relations:
"I can understand his complaint/concern that his actual mileage differs from the mileage estimate provided on the Monroney Label. Advised client the tests performed were developed over 30 years ago and do not reflect real driving situations, let alone driving habits of consumers in the modern day. advised additionally these tests do not take Hybrid vehicles into consideration, and Hybrid vehicle estimates are inflated based on the test procedures. Advised client Hybrid vehicles are more dramatically affected by outside influences such as air conditioning, driving habits, windows up/down, and vehicle load than normal combustion engines. Advised Hybrids require a particular driving style in order to be fuel efficient, and short trips penalize hybrid efficiency more so than regular cars."
What's the deal?
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