I doubt it's that your dealer lied to you. It's more likely that he, like too many others, simply doesn't have any first-hand knowledge and is ignorant about the technology. Any car suffers from short trips. As far as stop-and-go driving, numerous publications claim this is the best condition for hybrids, so it's natural that he would think so.

You want the truth?

Today's full hybrids are optimized for speeds around 35-40 miles per hour. Real stop-and-go traffic, though, means you likely won't average 35-40 and you'll be kicking that engine on to scoot up fifty feet only to brake and come to a stop. The reason I'm at about 46 MPG instead of 50+ is because of the traffic at my school.

Mild hybrids, like conventional cars, do better on the highway versus the city because they can't drive in all-electric. Most articles don't even mention that Honda makes mild hybrids.

You're likely still receiving better mileage than you would with a non-hybrid, so I wouldn't be too disappointed. Perhaps it's 18 MPG versus 14.

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