I really don't think EPA numbers are the best case scenario, rather average case IMO and that means some people will do better and some worse. I never had a car that would not meet EPA estimates at least most of the time. What kills TCH MPG are: short trips, jumpy traffic, where drivers race from light to light and steep hills, as Flopshot mentioned already. I would imagine you have all three things put together. What I would like to know is: what was MPG you were getting in your previous car? Because usually the same conditions that kill TCH MPG are also not very optimal for regular cars. BTW SF is not any city by any means, it is the most hilly city I've ever seen and I've seen many cities. Not to rub it in but I commute daily to NYC and I average 41 MPG, but I had some trips as low as 38 and as high as 46 and if the traffic is really bad it takes like 10 miles just to get above 25mpg on my 30 mile commute each day. If my commute was much shorter I would be getting 30 mpg as well even without any hills. Try to watch instant MPG gauge and see how very little changes in throttle position can have drastic changes in fuel burned. Sometimes 2-3 miles per hour can mean a difference between running 20 mpg and 60 mpg.