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.
Make & model | CR overall mpg | EPA combined mpg | Difference |
---|---|---|---|
Ford C-Max SE | 37 | 47 | 10 |
Ford Fusion Hybrid SE | 39 | 47 | 8 |
Toyota Prius C Two | 43 | 50 | 7 |
Toyota Prius | 44 | 50 | 6 |
Honda Civic Hybrid | 40 | 44 | 4 |
Infiniti M35h | 25 | 29 | 4 |
Lexus ES 300h | 36 | 40 | 4 |
Buick LaCrosse (4-cyl., eAssist) | 26 | 29 | 3 |
Honda Insight EX | 38 | 41 | 3 |
Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | 33 | 36 | 3 |
Lexus RX 450h | 26 | 29 | 3 |
Lexus CT 200h | 40 | 42 | 2 |
Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE | 38 | 40 | 2 |
Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid | 19 | 20 | 1 |
Toyota Highlander Hybrid | 27 | 28 | 1 |
Toyota Prius V Three | 41 | 42 | 1 |
Chevrolet Malibu Eco | 29 | 29 | 0 |
Honda CR-Z EX (manual) | 35 | 34 | -1 |
Each week, I'll keep you up-to-date on the latest car deals and news that might affect your purchase. This includes...
- Best Rebates, Incentives, and Lease Deals
- Latest Car Buying Scams and Tricks
- The Best & Worst Time to Buy a Car
- Which Cars You Should Avoid
About The Author
Gregg Fidan is the founder of RealCarTips. After being ripped off on his first car purchase, he devoted several years to figuring out the best ways to avoid scams and negotiate the best car deals. He has written hundreds of articles on the subject of car buying and taught thousands of car shoppers how to get the best deals.Latest Weekly Car Buying Tips
May 2024
- Biggest Price Drops on New Cars (Spring 2024) May 02, 2024
- Best Car Deals Around the Country May 02, 2024
- Real Prices of Compact Cars May 02, 2024
- New Cars You Should Wait to Buy May 02, 2024
April 2024
- New Cars with the Most Available Inventory Apr 25, 2024
- Best Car Deals by Category Apr 25, 2024
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars for 2024 Apr 25, 2024
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs Apr 25, 2024
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Apr 18, 2024
- Worst Cars to Lease Right Now Apr 18, 2024
- Cars With the Largest Rebates Apr 18, 2024
- Real Prices of Midsize Cars Apr 18, 2024
- Best 0% Finance Deals May 2024 Apr 11, 2024
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Apr 11, 2024
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Apr 11, 2024
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Apr 11, 2024
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars Apr 04, 2024
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Apr 04, 2024
- Largest Hidden Dealer Rebates Apr 04, 2024