Consumer Reports only got 36 mpg on their Civic Hybrid during tests. I wonder how they got this low number? Even before I started following the tips for getting max mpg, I was getting mid forties at worst.

probably using an automatic and not having the econo mode button selected Or was using the A/C or heater in non auto mode.

Two notes:

I bought my manual tranny 2004 HCH "used" with 4823 miles on it. The "Trip B" meter is at the same miles as the overall odometer, so I know for sure that the Trip B MPG number is the "lifetime MPG" for the car.

It was sitting at a pitiful 34.4 MPG.

I have no idea what the car was used for in the first 4823 miles. I have since raised it to 40.1 over the first 4700 miles I have put on the car.

Note #2:

A consultant at my company this week rented a 2003 CVT HCH. His MPG after about 80 miles is EXACTLY 34.4 in all city driving.

Seems like if you just "drive an HCH like any other car" the range you will get is probably in the 32-36 MPG range.

It requires efficient driving techniques to get 45+ MPG.

My average calculated MPG is 45.41 through 30K miles.... My previous nine tanks were all about the EPA average.

Tire pressure should be at least 38 PSI.

really depends on what kind of driving and temps as well - if it's cold out, and you're running the heat alot - even with econo pushed, the auto stop doesn't function as often. city/local driving is killer (as most of mine is) because of all the stops and then acceleration- even mild acceleration draws the battery down, and without highway or long down grades to recharge, it's going to charge as you drive, further reducing mpg.

and if the tires came factory at 30psi.....

admitedly I have a short sample (owned the car for 3 weeks) but my first week was horrible- and I'm not a hotrodder. 30 psi in tires, and cold out; mid 20s. I was getting 35mpg. bumped the tires up to 40psi, mileage went up to 38-39. 95% of my driving is just local around the neighborhood - I was really struggling to get above 40mpg. So I can definitly see average or "normal" driving getting only 35mpg.

started my second tank with a 120 mile highway trip and average of 47mpg. now I'm maintaining 46.6mpg so-far around town. moderate acceleration to speed, and coast whenever I can, neutral down hills (CVT) when I'm charged. I'm dying to be a hypermiler - but I don't know how to get there.

Regarding the CR average of 36mpg: I noticed that they rate the regular Civic at 29mpg, and the EPA averages are 32-38. So it seems like in general, whatever CR does, it results in mpg's below the EPA for other cars as well.

As a benchmark, a 20% difference between the two models (29 versus 36) is not off by that much. Popular Mechanics drove both cars across country and got a 24% mpg difference. The EPA combined averages of 47 (hybrid) versus 35 (non-hybrid) is about 25.5%.

My personal experience is way higher than the CR value, in my HCH CVT: currently 45 city, 50 highway, using 'normal' driving techniques. But I'm just saying that whatever paces CR puts the cars through, it seems to have a negative effect on mpg for all cars, not just hybrids.

CR gets incredibly bad gas mileage for ALL the cars they test. They used to have that info posted for free on their website, but now it seems like almost every part of their website requires a pay membership. At any rate, cars like the Prius and Civic Hybrid are among their top gas mileage cars. They get things like 18mpg for the Accord and 9mpg for trucks and SUV's they test. Their gas mileage tests seem to be like a worst possible scenario, and not very reflective of what real owners achieve.

I just have to say that I was getting 34mpg or so in the winter before I over inflated my tires. I drive 22 miles 45 minutes each way, every day to work and back with about 12-20 lights in between. By the time I get up to about 35 or 40 mpg I have to break for the next light. There is no real way to time the lights because I either have to accelerate very fast to get through the light or drive slower than 20mpg. They may be driving a similar route.

Perhaps that creates more of the image angle they want.

Scandal.

Got to justify their existence.

Consumer Reports listed their overall mileage at 36. BUT on their web page they also state their city average was 26 and highway 45. In addition, they report 44 on their standard 150 mile trip. This is with the CVT. Seems like the problem is with their city mileage.

Incidentally, I looked at a new car buying guide from Consumers Guide (entirely different than Consumer Reports) at the newstand and they report experiencing 38 for the CVT and 46 for the MT.