Find the Best Car Deals Near You ⤵
How Accurate are MPG Figures?
October 30, 2014
As we all know, high gas prices are here to stay, which means fuel efficiency has become an important factor when it comes to choosing a new car. However, consumers need to be aware that the MPG shown on a car's window sticker may not be completely accurate. Consumer Reports recently conducted a study to see how accurately the promised city, highway and combined MPG stood up in the real world.
At the top of the list is the Honda CR-Z EX, which according to Consumer Reports promised a 34 overall MPG and performed better with an experienced overall MPG of 35. And on the other side of the spectrum is the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, which fell 11 points short of its promised 45 combined MPG when tested. Below is a look at 19 vehicles tested by Consumer Reports and their results.
| Consumer Reports MPG | EPA MPG | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle | Overall | City/Highway | Combined | City/Highway | Difference EPA vs. CR Overall |
| Honda CR-Z EX | 35 | 26/45 | 34 | 31/38 | -1 |
| Toyota Prius V Three | 41 | 33/47 | 42 | 44/40 | 1 |
| Lexus CT 200h | 40 | 31/47 | 42 | 43/40 | 2 |
| Toyota Camry Hybrid XLE | 38 | 32/43 | 40 | 40/38 | 2 |
| Lexus RX 450h | 26 | 22/31 | 29 | 30/28 | 3 |
| Subaru XV Crosstrek Hybrid | 28 | 21/35 | 31 | 29/33 | 3 |
| Honda Insight EX | 38 | 29/45 | 42 | 41/44 | 4 |
| Lexus ES 300h | 36 | 28/44 | 40 | 40/39 | 4 |
| Toyota Avalon Hybrid Limited | 36 | 29/43 | 40 | 40/39 | 4 |
| Honda Civic Hybrid | 40 | 28/50 | 45 | 44/47 | 5 |
| Hyundai Sonata Hybrid | 33 | 24/40 | 38 | 36/40 | 5 |
| Ford C-MAX Hybrid SE | 37 | 35/38 | 43 | 45/40 | 6 |
| Infiniti Q70 Hybrid | 25 | 17/33 | 31 | 29/34 | 6 |
| Toyota Prius Four | 44 | 32/55 | 50 | 51/48 | 6 |
| Honda Accord Hybrid | 40 | 32/47 | 47 | 50/45 | 7 |
| Toyota Prius C Two | 43 | 37/48 | 50 | 53/46 | 7 |
| Ford Fusion SE Hybrid | 39 | 35/41 | 47 | 47/47 | 8 |
| Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid | 37 | 29/45 | 45 | 42/48 | 8 |
| Lincoln MKZ Hybrid | 34 | 29/38 | 45 | 45/45 | 11 |
Signup for The Weekly Newsletter
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
September 2025
- Best 0% Finance Deals September 2025 Sep 11, 2025
- Best Bang for Your Buck Lease Deals Sep 11, 2025
- Best Electric, Hybrid Lease Deals Sep 11, 2025
- Real Prices of Midsize Cars Sep 11, 2025
- Worst Cars to Lease Right Now Sep 04, 2025
- Best Car Deals Around the Country Sep 04, 2025
- Real Prices of Large SUVs Sep 04, 2025
- Largest Hidden Dealer Rebates Sep 04, 2025
August 2025
- The Best Labor Day 2025 Car Deals Aug 28, 2025
- Which Cars Better to Lease or Buy Aug 28, 2025
- Cheapest Luxury Lease Deals Aug 28, 2025
- Real Prices of Pickup Trucks Aug 28, 2025
- All SUV Lease Deals Compared August 2025 Aug 21, 2025
- New Cars with the Most Available Inventory Aug 21, 2025
- Cars With the Largest Rebates Aug 21, 2025
- Price Comparison of Subcompact SUVs Aug 21, 2025
- Top 100 Cheapest Lease Deals Aug 14, 2025
- Biggest Discounts on New Cars August 2025 Aug 14, 2025
- Top 100 Cheapest New Cars Right Now Aug 14, 2025
- Real Prices of New Compact SUVs Aug 14, 2025
- Real Prices of Compact Cars Aug 07, 2025
I welcome your car buying questions. Email Me and I'll be glad to answer them!
