If they drove the cars differently, it wouldn't be a very good comparison! They don't drive like a hypermiler because their readers don't. They drive like a regular adult would, not flooring it, not 85MPH, but zippy acceleration and keeping up with traffic on highway. I couldn't find the specifics online, I think I read it in the Car Buying Guide they publish, where they detailed their road test routine. For my Prius and my last two Saturns, my MPG was similar to what they got. I'm not a hypermiler, and I like that I get 45MPG despite hard city driving. I don't drive like a race car, but I don't think buying this car was "stupid" either. My last car was listed as "efficient" at 34/24 and now I get double real world mileage in the city, with a bigger, heavier, faster car. I might not get the BEST possible mileage, but I get everything I want. I never "drive with load", go 75MPH on the highway (faster when passing), blast the AC if I'm hot and leave it running with the dog in it... I'm probably a "real world" driver.

I would imagine most Accord drivers WANT power, since it has so much to give! Some reviewer (CR?) said it has V8 performance with 4cyl economy. Those who are more economy minded might pick a different, less powerful car.

Personally, I don't think anyone has to "learn" to drive a hybrid, unless they want to. That just makes people think these vehicles don't deliver on their promises and are slow and underpowered. Drive like I want AND get great mileage? Now THAT's technology!