[421800]

Reading through this thread, I'm left wondering if we are all driving the same model of car?

In the UK, the official 'combined' fuel consumption figure for the all-wheel drive CR-V hybrid is 51.4 mpgUK. That's equivalent to 42.8 mpgUS - because a US gallon is smaller than a UK one.

I routinely and almost unfailingly attain that figure, and very often beat it. Today I drove 28 miles of mixed town, motorway (freeway) and country roads and got 57.5 mpgUK or 47.9 mpgUS - using the CR-V's speed limiter to cruise at exactly the limit wherever it was safe to do that. Outside temperature was 8C, which is 46F. 'Econ' mode around town (less than a quarter of my journey), 'normal' mode for the rest of it. Two adults on board, no luggage. No mountains either, but gently rolling country with some hills and gradients. A couple of quick getaways from the lights too - because it's fun!

In warmer weather and lower cruising speeds, I can get 65 mpgUK/54 mpgUS

Maybe the big differences in fuel consumption that we all seem to be reporting are just attributable to the 'conditions of service'?: terrain, temperature, cruising speeds, vehicle load, fuel quality, driving style - and the weight of our right feet!

I do suspect the fuel makes some difference, because you all use expensive petrol vs. our cheap gasoline, which also contains 10% alcohol , BUT

As a Prius-trained driver I can tell you that in every vehicle I have driven in the past 10+ years I have been beating the EPA mpg and miles/kWh figures by 5-10% - regardless of the vehicle type. Same roads, same driving techniques, same load, same weather conditions throughout the year.

Blanda is the only automobile I have had in the past 10+ years that won't let me do that, lagging behind the already low EPA est. of 38 mpg combined (40 city and 35 highway, I think). The winter mpg loss is much higher than either in the Prius or the ICE-only cars I have had.

Is it possible that the US version is not quite as advanced as the European one?

 

[Schmullis]

Reading through this thread, I'm left wondering if we are all driving the same model of car?

In the UK, the official 'combined' fuel consumption figure for the all-wheel drive CR-V hybrid is 51.4 mpgUK. That's equivalent to 42.8 mpgUS - because a US gallon is smaller than a UK one.

I routinely and almost unfailingly attain that figure, and very often beat it. Today I drove 28 miles of mixed town, motorway (freeway) and country roads and got 57.5 mpgUK or 47.9 mpgUS - using the CR-V's speed limiter to cruise at exactly the limit wherever it was safe to do that. Outside temperature was 8C, which is 46F. 'Econ' mode around town (less than a quarter of my journey), 'normal' mode for the rest of it. Two adults on board, no luggage. No mountains either, but gently rolling country with some hills and gradients. A couple of quick getaways from the lights too - because it's fun!

In warmer weather and lower cruising speeds, I can get 65 mpgUK/54 mpgUS

Maybe the big differences in fuel consumption that we all seem to be reporting are just attributable to the 'conditions of service'?: terrain, temperature, cruising speeds, vehicle load, fuel quality, driving style - and the weight of our right feet!

View attachment 144974

Agreed. Use the cruise control (speed limiter) and accelerate slowly from a stop, avoid any full throttle accelerations, unless you need to for safety sake. Use Power mode only when you really need to accelerate, otherwise the petrol engine stays engaged constantly. I can't say I do this consistently.

 

[Alfettaman]

I do suspect the fuel makes some difference, because you all use expensive petrol vs. our cheap gasoline, which also contains 10% alcohol , BUT

As a Prius-trained driver I can tell you that in every vehicle I have driven in the past 10+ years I have been beating the EPA mpg and miles/kWh figures by 5-10% - regardless of the vehicle type. Same roads, same driving techniques, same load, same weather conditions throughout the year.

Blanda is the only automobile I have had in the past 10+ years that won't let me do that, lagging behind the already low EPA est. of 38 mpg combined (40 city and 35 highway, I think). The winter mpg loss is much higher than either in the Prius or the ICE-only cars I have had.

Is it possible that the US version is not quite as advanced as the European one?

Regular unleaded fuel in the UK contains up to 5% ethanol too, and that is rising to 10% this year.

Really interesting to hear that you normally get 5%-10% more than the EPA mpg. I've been driving hybrid cars for a decade too, and they really do 'teach' you how to drive efficiently!

My 2012 Honda Insight has an official combined fuel consumption of 61.4 mpgUK (51.1 mpgUS), but 76.5 mpgUK (63.7 mpgUS) is attainable. Even my much larger and heavier CR-V can do 70+ mpgUK (58+ mpgUS) if the driver makes a decent effort and the conditions are right.

You're clearly a skilled hyper-miler, so it does indeed seem very strange that your CR-V does not appear to be able to achieve the EPA mpg, while my UK-spec car has no problem routinely beating the official figures. Maybe UK and US versions really ARE different?

So here's a question: are there any US CR-V hybrid owners out there who get similar mpg to me...?

2012 Honda Insight: (officially 61.4 mpgUK combined)

2019 Honda CR-V Hybrid: (officially 51.4 mpgUK)

 

[TheDarkKnight]

Impressive MPG figures!

 

[421800]

Regular unleaded fuel in the UK contains up to 5% ethanol too, and that is rising to 10% this year.

Really interesting to hear that you normally get 5%-10% more than the EPA mpg. I've been driving hybrid cars for a decade too, and they really do 'teach' you how to drive efficiently!

My 2012 Honda Insight has an official combined fuel consumption of 61.4 mpgUK (51.1 mpgUS), but 76.5 mpgUK (63.7 mpgUS) is attainable. Even my much larger and heavier CR-V can do 70+ mpgUK (58+ mpgUS) if the driver makes a decent effort and the conditions are right.

You're clearly a skilled hyper-miler, so it does indeed seem very strange that your CR-V does not appear to be able to achieve the EPA mpg, while my UK-spec car has no problem routinely beating the official figures. Maybe UK and US versions really ARE different?

So here's a question: are there any US CR-V hybrid owners out there who get similar mpg to me...?

I must say I am very impressed by your figures. Partially of course it's the mountain-free terrain and the relatively mild UK climate, much of it is skill, but now I think there is also an x-factor of some nature.

Here is the link to Fuelly, where 2020 CRV-Hybrid owners report their mpg. Currently it's 33 mpg average, quite a bit below than the EPA's 38 mpg, and is approximately what the new Highlander Hybrid gets - while being a 3-row SUV. I can see only one driver with 40+ mpg record, and there are many with <30 mpg, which is what the non-hybrid CRV is rated for.

2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid MPG - Actual MPG from 59 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid owners

The most accurate 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrids MPG estimates based on real world results of 1.4 million miles driven in 59 Honda CR-V Hybrids

www.fuelly.com

 

[TheDarkKnight]

Partially of course it's the mountain-free terrain and the relatively mild UK climate

Neither of which are true.

 

[metcalfjohn]

I think your figures are extraordinary. The upper end of owners on Fuelly are showing 42-45 US mpg. 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid MPG - Actual MPG from 36 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid owners

Edit: The WhatCar "True MPG" test also seems generally more consistent with the upper end of Fuelly owners' reports: https://www.whatcar.com/true-mpg/results?ids=87858

You're clearly a skilled hyper-miler, so it does indeed seem very strange that your CR-V does not appear to be able to achieve the EPA mpg, while my UK-spec car has no problem routinely beating the official figures. Maybe UK and US versions really ARE different?

So here's a question: are there any US CR-V hybrid owners out there who get similar mpg to me...?

 

[Alfettaman]

I think your figures are extraordinary. The upper end of owners on Fuelly are showing 42-45 US mpg. 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid MPG - Actual MPG from 36 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid owners

Edit: The WhatCar "True MPG" test also seems generally more consistent with the upper end of Fuelly owners' reports: https://www.whatcar.com/true-mpg/results?ids=87858

Don't misunderstand me: I don't unfailingly get these figures. Sometimes I "drive it like I stole it" (because that's fun on a clear day, a clear road and with a clear head) and then, of course, I get nowhere near the EPA. And sometimes I'm a bit tired, distracted or clumsy and it doesn't work out.

I guess the point I really wanted to make is that our cars are certainly capable of these extraordinary figures. To achieve them takes a bit of practice and skill, and of course doing so is entirely optional!

Whatever you choose to do, enjoy your motoring!

 

[Charlie1960]

I’m up there at in the low to mid 50s mpg. My driving style changed when I moved from manual cars to the Hybrid. It’s not easy to describe but I feel I drive with empathy knowing the cars limitations and by that I mean it’s strengths and weaknesses. I drive it as fast as the roads allow whether that is a legislated speed or road conditions whether that be traffic flow, weather or type of road.

I find the car superb and can’t fault it’s driving characteristics. I don’t practice any strange driving procedures to maximise mpg but I try and stay in it’s power sweet spot when accelerating. That all adds up to 50+ mpg.

Saying that I’ve driven in some states in the US where I’d be run off the road if I drove there like I do here.

 

[421800]

I’m up there at in the low to mid 50s mpg. My driving style changed when I moved from manual cars to the Hybrid. It’s not easy to describe but I feel I drive with empathy knowing the cars limitations and by that I mean it’s strengths and weaknesses. I drive it as fast as the roads allow whether that is a legislated speed or road conditions whether that be traffic flow, weather or type of road.

I find the car superb and can’t fault it’s driving characteristics. I don’t practice any strange driving procedures to maximise mpg but I try and stay in it’s power sweet spot when accelerating. That all adds up to 50+ mpg.

Saying that I’ve driven in some states in the US where I’d be run off the road if I drove there like I do here.

I drive in a similar way - no unorthodox tricks, only common sense: avoiding unnecessary hard acceleration, coasting to stop where it's safe to do so, and observing speed limits. This kind of behavior, in my experience, should yield average fuel efficiency 5 to 10% above the EPA figures, which would be 40 to 42 mpg (US) or 48-50 mpg (UK). Unfortunately, I can only get there in ideal weather. In winter I would have expected my mpg to drop to 36-38, but it went down way lower, averaging about 32 in Jan-Feb. Scratching my head and looking - again! - at the RAV4; still can't stomach its looks.

 

[Kazoo2U]

Saying that I’ve driven in some states in the US where I’d be run off the road if I drove there like I do here.

Spent 3 weeks driving through Central Europe in 2017: Germany, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Germany. Felt safer driving @ 140Kph there than I feel driving on I-35 here in TX. The majority of European drivers adhering to lane discipline makes for an enjoyable trip for all.

 

[TerriZ]

If you want to maximize your mileage keep the little car in the center of this screen

 

[TheDarkKnight]

Stunned you have racked up over 16k miles!

 

[dave 2020]

Cold weather mileage drop of 10 mpg ......

 

[beww]

Cold weather mileage drop of 10 mpg ......

I've seen about a 5 or 6 mpg drop, I attribute it to:
Running the ICE to keep the cabin warm.
Winter fuel blend.
Snowy roads.
The hybrid forces you to confront the fact that if you want to keep warm you must burn fuel.
I am making use of the heated seats, they reduce the need for cabin heat.
Have you encountered "EV Mode not Available, Cabin being Heated" yet?

 

[michaelj3]

Given the frigid weather here in MN last few days, I am seeing 21-22 MPG around town on trips ~5-10 miles. Not surprising, experinece the same issue in my non-hybrid vehicles too.

My conclusion, as before, is this power train does not love the cold. Looking forward to the warm weather!

 

[TheDarkKnight]

My conclusion, as before, is this power train does not love the cold.

Not sure any engine does.

Especially those battery-powered-EV droids that some eco-people would have us believe will deliver us all an electric-Utopia....they are even worse in the cold.

Turn on the heater, lose 50 miles range. Headlights on, another 50 miles range lost. Heated seats? That'll cost you another 50 miles range.....

No thanks.

 

[wesleystripes]

Averaging 28.5 mpg over the first 3300 miles on my non-hybrid Touring. In extreme cold and snow, with lots of idle time, primarily in S mode, on winter tires, a mix of mountain, city, town, and state highway miles. I'm impressed so far as I know this figure will improve with warmer weather and more ideal longer trips and as the vehicle breaks in. I'm not shy about wringing out the motor and using the turbo, either.

 

[421800]

Averaging 28.5 mpg over the first 3300 miles on my non-hybrid Touring. In extreme cold and snow, with lots of idle time, primarily in S mode, on winter tires, a mix of mountain, city, town, and state highway miles. I'm impressed so far as I know this figure will improve with warmer weather and more ideal longer trips and as the vehicle breaks in. I'm not shy about wringing out the motor and using the turbo, either.

This is a very impressive result, given that yours is not a hybrid - in fact, it's only 10% below my January average of 31.7 mpg. And we only had snow for a couple of days, and it was not Siberia-cold, mostly in the 25F-45F bracket.

 

[Deanna Maginnis]

Ars Technica CR-V hybrid review

We’ve not yet driven enough to have our own fuel economy numbers (<50 miles to date), but the Ars reviewer’s result seems implausibly low. How is everyone else finding the fuel consumption?

My first week with my 2021 Hybrid EX, drove 365 miles, had to fill up with 11.1 gallons.....so 32.9 mpg.....but it's a banner February in the mid-Atlantic region, snow and more snow, and everyone on this forum is saying cold weather is tough on the power efficiency. My little dashboard number started at around 17 mpg, and with each trip it would inch up to a slightly bigger number. In my second week, that number has finally gotten above 30. I feel like I've been playing a video game with each drive, keeping my speed in check, turning off the heat, paddle shifting...trying to see if my driving skills can influence that darn mpg! BTW - the car did GREAT in the snow!