What I would supsect is the case is that the Consumer Reports testing involves hard speeding almost the entire way without a lot of stop and go. Going much faster than 70 really eats into fuel economy quick, and if most of their miles were driven at 85, ignoring things like driving "with load" (ie, a bit quicker downhill, a bit slower uphill), then the hybrid tech woudln't actually be used at all for steady speed driving... although steady speed driving at that rate would burn through a lot of fuel still, making the milage both lower, and closer to a regular ICE car. If you're interested in driving your car like a race car, a hybrid is a pretty stupid decision.

I drive a '03 HCH, whcih they gave 36mph. My worst-case-scenario tank was driven lead-foot style--average 75mph+, powering my way over hills, lots of fast accelerations, passing people etc. Add into the mix the fact that my tires had fallen to a noticably low PSI, they felt sloppy to drive on. That tank was about 38 mpg. Had they done that with the AC on, I could see getting 36. I also live on top of a big hill, and took mostly very, very, short trips that tank.

My most recent tank has the complete opposite philosophy, using a lot of the mileage tricks described around here. I've been getting 55mpg, despite living on top of the hill (I've actually got climbing the hill I live on down to a fine art, I know exactly how much electric assist to use to get the full usefulness out of my battery pack by the time I get to the top.) For long "flat" highway trips I sometimes average over 60.

the HAH would be a perfect car for someone who plans to drive conservatively most of the time on the highway, yet would still like the available power to pass cars on mountain roads quickly, or be able to handle a uphill trip in a hurry if necessary, or drive the car like a race car on occasion.