16 Hybrid Vehicles With False MPG Ratings

A number of hybrid cars have been shown to fall far below their fuel economy claims when put through real-world tests, according to an article on ConsumerReports.org this past week. This comes on the heels of Hyundai admiting their advertised fuel economy numbers were incorrect.

The article cites 16 hybrid vehicles that resulted in a lower EPA combined mpg estimate when tested. The list is topped by the Ford C-Max SE, which had a 47 combined mpg that when tested by Consumer Reports only had 37 mpg overall.

The reason car manufacturers can get away with false numbers is because the EPA only audits a small percentage of vehicles. Furthermore, the EPA has to rely on vehicles provided by the manufacturers, which can be altered to perform better on the tests. Car shoppers should definitely take fuel economy claims with a grain of salt and check user-reported sources such as Fuelly.com, TrueDelta.com, and CleanMPG.com before deciding on a vehicle.

Here is a list of the hybrids Consumer Reports tested and their findings.