Personally, I don't put much stock one way or the other in MPG readouts. As others have stated... so many variables are at play with respect to how the number is realized at any given point in time. I will use a trip meter setting for a long drive during vacation or something... more out of curiosity then anything else. At a macro level.. a long trip will tick my MPG upward, and then when I return to in town driving (which I do most of the time) it begins to tick back down over time. The MPG ratings on the factory stickers are achieved under controlled and repeatable conditions and processes (to demonstrate a compliance level more so then average driver attainability).
What I DO however do is I keep an eye on the instant MPG bar as I drive... because that gives me a good instant view of how I am driving in terms of acceleration. I mostly do in town driving... so it is normal for my total accumulated MPG to be in the lower 20s. For me personally, on days when I am behind schedule or otherwise in a rush.. I definitely notice my foot is heavier on the pedal and will use the instant MPG bar to remind me to ease up a bit. It is also a good method to gain general awareness of how my CRV is doing as well... as if there are any throttle problems I will see them as an abnormal event in the instant MPG. A good reference example of this would be the differences when the vehicle is started for the first time of the day and the engine is cold VS a warm engine. Generally around town, on a warmed engine, when simply driving down the road at speed.... my instant MPG readout will be between 35 and 45 MPG. It's all those starts, stops, and waits at intersections that really eat in to the fuel economy... though I would note that at idle the vehicle seems to not pull much fuel at all (simply based on watching the miles to empty readout showing no draw down on MPG if idling for as long 5-10 minutes). Acceleration from stop (or passing, etc) though is where I think most of us chew up fuel with this engine... particularly given how little turbo-lag and how smooth and robust the acceleration characteristics of this engine are.... it simply teases the driver to juice it some.

I admit I will accelerate to speed in town fairly quickly and then ease back on the throttle and cruise in that 35-45 sweet zone as I go down the road. I have no idea if softer accelerations for me would alter my fuel economy much (I'm sure it depends on the number of intersections stops).
On paper (ie: the factory stickers) my 2017 CRV would pencil out at about 30-35% better MPG then my old 2008 CRV.. .and in fact.. comparing long term MPG number readouts... low and behold that is about what I am seeing with the 2017 CRV... so that to me is the best measure of improved engine fuel efficiency as it is in the context of my actual driving habits and conditions.
Anyway... this sort of topic very much falls into the ever popular meme of "your mileage may vary"
