36 is pretty low. The lowest reading I had on any trip meter on my 2003 HCH was 37.7, given the following:

1) A lot of my trips were relatively short, and I live on top of a high, steep hill
2) My tires were pretty deflated at the time
3) I also was driving fast on the freeway (around 75)

I don't however use the AC very much, and I've seen many peopel just run with it on constantly, doing that could definitely lead to 36MPG. When I pack things away in the car like groceries I'll roll all the windows down so the car can cool down, then roll them back up before starting up and going. If the car starts to get hot in the car while driving, I'll run the AC in short bursts to kill the heat.

Yes, absolutely. 36 MPG on the Civic Hybrid is pretty hard to do. Out of 78 currently in the database, there are only two at 36 MPG, and that's as low as it goes.

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There are three that I see and I think one of them is mine.

BTW, my current tank is reading 49.2 right now. So I suspect next tank my average will have jumped up a tad. Leaving 76 out of 78 HCH drivers getting better than 36 mpg

I looked at the tank data for those averaging below 40mpg. Very few tanks were 36mpg or below. I think I had the most. I might note however I tend to use remote start a few times in the winter.

My hydroponics experiment

You ever notice how hard it is to lip read cartoon characters?
"Crazy is what the sane call Delta Flyer"

I run AC at about 72 when necessary. When driving on city streets I might just roll the windows down if the noise/pollution level is not too bad. Usually that fresh air is way better than what you get through the circulation system anyway.

I see maybe a 2-3 mpg hit when running it, but the killer is the lack of autostop. That leads to idling, which seems to hit you by about 20%.

Apparently in the HCH the A/C is powered by the main engine. With a hybrid battery sitting there it could just be electrically powered. Hopefully that is what they will do with the 2006.

Ah, how it keeps improving! We live in an exciting era of automobile innovation.

I think when you run the ac if you have the fan on some speed other than auto then you will still get circulation and the auto-stop function still works. The only draw back is the air isn't as cool as if the compressor was running but it will be cool enough to get you through the time you are stopped at a light

My hydroponics experiment

You ever notice how hard it is to lip read cartoon characters?
"Crazy is what the sane call Delta Flyer"

You know, I almost didn't buy this car because of that 36 mpg rating in Consumer Reports. I just assumed the lazy dudes over there just drove a normal Civic and then wrote up one piece for the hybrid. My car gets 45.7 mpg on average...I don't do anything special. When I feel like thinking about it, I'll do some of the old tricks. Since it is finally above freezin, my car moved into the 48 zone. Now I'm at 50.3 mpg. I don't know what I'm doing that would be different from others. I use the air conditioner all the time too.

That's what misinformation does! It changes the public's view regardless of fact. Unfortunate. All the more reason to educate!

Visit my newly-acquired website, Volconvo Debate Forums!

When I bought my car, everyone was telling me all these stories about how Honda and the hybrid car market are a part of the great socialist conspiracy to overthrow the American Government and impregnant our women. Although I only partially agree with that, these people also tell me that the hybrid car is a scam. I don't know. I think disinformation is rampant, but I get great mileage. I love my car. I bought my car for the low emissions anyway, not for the mileage. It may just be a small token to make me feel less guilty for guttin' the earth, but it's all I have — outside of taking the initiative to walk, run or ride a bike, God forbid. haha.

I've had my HCH for a week and was disappointed in my gas mileage in my first tank (38.6 mpg) but then I found this site and am driving slower and such and my second tank average was 42.7 mpg and currently in my third tank I am at 47.2 mpg!!! I keep on telling anyone and everyone about it and am so excited about it. I think they think I'm a little crazy. But now I think they are all crazy, those that could care less about their fuel efficiency.

That is how it starts. The next thing you know, your friends and family are holding a "mileage intervention" to stop the madness. I've had mine since January and my mileage keeps increasing and let everyone know. I mean, it has gotten to the point of becoming socially dehabilitating. I talk too much about my mileage. And you will too. Be prepared, 'cause loved ones and complete strangers on the street trying to mind their own **** business won't understand.