The 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid is the latest among a growing list of gas-electric models to take hits for what critics contend are overly optimistic and misleading mileage claims.
It’s not the first time Honda has been faulted for its hybrid mileage ratings – an estimated 47 mpg on the 2014 Accord version – but it’s far from alone, Ford last year lowering its own numbers for the Fusion C-Max that initially also had a 47 mpg rating.
But most manufacturers have been sticking by their fuel economy numbers, which are based on testing by the Environmental Protection Agency, despite concerns that the industry has been “gaming” the system by tuning vehicles to maximize results in those tests while delivering lower results in real-world driving.
“We’ve found that the EPA tests often exaggerate the fuel economy of hybrids,” said Jake Fisher, director of automotive testing for Consumer Reports.
In its own test of the 2014 Honda Accord Hybrid, the influential magazine found that the gas electric model – priced from $29,155 to $34,905 — averaged just 40 mpg in the EPA Combined cycle, a full 7miles per gallon below the figure on its window, sticker.
That discrepancy can work out to a significantly higher annual fuel bill. At 47 mpg, a typical motorist clocking 15,000 miles a year would expect to burn around 320 gallons annually. At $4 a gallon that would work out to around $1,280. Reduce fuel economy to 40 mpg and the same vehicle’s annual gas consumption would jump to 375 gallons, and a total bill of around $1,500.
This isn’t the first time Honda has taken shots for its hybrid mileage ratings. A dispute with one owner of an older Civic version turned into a major news story when she took the case to small claims court and won – before the verdict was tossed out on appeal. But Honda then reached settlement in a close action dispute.
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