Civic Hybrid owner sues Honda over fuel economy claims
According to a story in the Detroit News, the owner of a Honda Civic Hybrid has started a class-action lawsuit based on the fact that his Civic Hybrid averages just 32 MPG -- nowhere near the EPA estimated mileage figures of 51 city, 49 highway.
I have mixed feelings about this -- setting aside my cynicism about lawsuits and the fact that Americans' habit of suing at the drop of a hat has eroded the concept of personal responsibility. (Furthermore, it seems the only ones that make out in class-action lawsuits are the lawyers. You watch -- if the suit is successful, the lawyers will make a bundle and the plaintiffs will wind up with a coupon for $10 off their next purchase of a $20,000 Honda.)
It's pretty widely known that EPA figures are almost always higher than real-world mileage; that's why the EPA has instituted a new formula for 2008. Current EPA figures are good for comparison, but are in no way a reasonable estimate of real-world results.
But here's why I think the suit may have merit: The automakers know as well as anyone else that EPA figures have little basis in reality, and yet since gas prices started going through the roof, bunches of them have started to rely heavily on EPA estimates in their advertising and promotion. You've seen the ads -- Chevrolet claims "8 models that get 30 highway miles per gallon or better ." Honda touts themselves as the most fuel-efficient automaker in America. Toyota's website even has a fuel savings calculator that tells you how much you could save on gas by driving a Prius hybrid -- with costs based on an EPA estimated 55 MPG, a figure nearly 20% higher than what most Prius owners see in real-world driving (around 45 MPG). So maybe the idea of a lawsuit isn't that far-fetched.
On the other hand, fuel economy depends a lot on driving style; About.com Cars test driver Philip Powell reviewed the Civic Hybrid in 2006 and averaged an easy 50 MPG. (I'll be taking an '07 Civic Hybrid on a road trip later this summer.)So what do you think -- is the lawsuit justified? Are the automakers wrong to make advertising claims based on optimistic EPA estimates? Or is this simply a case of "caveat emptor"? Click the "comments" link below and share your thoughts. -- Aaron Gold
Photo © Philip Powell
Full story: Hybrid owner sues Honda over mileage claims
Comments
Yes the lawsuit is justified…if only in the mind of the plaintiff and thier attorney. Here’s why I feel the case has little merit. The EPA rating is nothing more thana yardstick by which we can compare one vehicle’s rate of fuel consumption versus another’s. Nowhere does any Government ever state that these are numbers that anyone can expect from their vehicle. It is a controlled situation that reflects what various cars consume under the same exact circumstances.The fact that the Gov’t numbers rarely reflect what we normally have to live with, is not wht is pertinent here. The fact that the carmakers use these numbers to market their vehicles as more fuel efficient than their competitors is 100% justified and is loyal to the precept of “truth in marketing”. Moreover, it really is possible to achieve EPA numbers and even exceed them as demonstrated by recent letters to this venue by myself and I explained clearly how this was achieved.Unfortunately, this shall most likely bring disappointment to the plaintiff, but much appreciated publicity for a probabably unknown lawyer or law office.
Not justified. EPAs are clearly stated as estimates based on governement testing methods and that actual mileage varies. The only way it could be justified is if an impartial balanced test was done to determine actual mileage of the car line as a whole and it was determined that the EPA was way off base. Has the owner had his car checked to see if it is running properly, etc??? What a waste of time!!!
Fact of the matter is if you drive your Hybrid like a lead-footed moron, pulling away from traffic lights with your foot flat to the floor, or rolling on and off the accelerator while cruising along rather than holding a steady speed, your fuel economy will drop through the floor. Keep a steady speed and drive conservatively and you’ll see the gas mileage rise massively. If this driver is getting 32mpg out of his Hybrid, I suggest he’s driving like a clueless imbecile, and as such has only got himself to blame. It’s like eating 50 McDonalds hamburgers and then suing them for making you sick.
Not justified, probably.
I say probably because the real answer to this question depends on the legal basis for the suit. If the plaintiff argues that he/she has not been able to achieve the EPA estimated MPG, then the plaintiff will have a very hard time making their case. If that is the basis of the suit, you can bet that Honda will bring in a parade of hybrid owners who do achieve or better the mileage estimates.
But if the suit is based on the fact that Honda uses the EPA estimates in their advertising, knowing that the estimates are overblown, then the suit may have a chance. Especially if the suit is brought in a judgment-happy state such as California, New York or Massachusetts.
But whether the suit has a chance of success or not, I agree with Aaron’s feelings about class-action lawsuits. Frankly, I think that either the U.S. Congress or all 50 state legislatures should outlaw the whole class-action concept. These suits have become nothing more than a wealth transfer mechanism from industries to lawyers.
On a related subject, I routinely get better mileage than the EPA estimates for my car, although I don’t own a hybrid. In my routine, suburban-type driving my ’07 Escape 4-cylinder has and is averaging 25 mpg. My rare highway trip averages 27 mpg. The EPA estimated mileage for this car is 23 city, 26 highway.
The secret of getting better than EPA mileage is not difficult. You simply drive as Tom McCahill said in his column in Mechanix Illustrated more than 50 years ago: “Drive like you had an egg between your foot and both the accelerator and the brake.” I read that when I was a kid, and I have been following his advice ever since. It works.
Interesting… Reading the Detroit News article you reference doesn’t really give enough detail to tip my opinion in either direction. It did say he only had 6000 miles on the car, which is (in my opinion) hardly enough data. I agree his driving style will certainly effect the mileage, but I think you really have to work at it to get 40% less mpg than what the EPA says (Think about an SUV that is only getting 12 when it “should” be getting 20). And the article doesn’t say anything about him having the car checked out by a dealer to see if it’s running right - which I would certainly advocate before suing Honda…
It’ll be interesting to see how it all shakes out. My guess is that Honda will pay him off, and make sure that there’s new language somewhere that will not allow for any further problems like this.
Good for him. I actually received a settlement from Hyundai for something similar. I bought a 2002 Sonata and the window sticker said the engine had 135HP when it turned out it was more in the neighborhood of 125HP or something like that. I think I received about $350-$500 because they overstated the power of their engine.
For the amount of money that people pay for these cars they should sue them. The break-even point for the hybrid premium over a gas engine was like 5 years if they actually got the 50 MPG but with the actual MPGs so low, they’ll have to drive those cars for nearly 8-10 years just to break-even with the gas version.
Yes, the lawsuit is justified. You mention in your article that lawsuits have caused the erosion of personal responsibility, but in actuality lawsuits are increasing due to the erosion of corporate responsibility. Honda’s advertised MPG is substantially higher than the actual MPG.
P.S. I’m surprised at your criticism of lawyers with your last name being Gold.
It is akin to saying that you can drink for a week on a gallon of milk. Some people can, others can’t. It is incredibly naive for anyone to think that any car company can tell you what mileage you will get on any car. The EPA estimate is just for comparison purposes. They are for comparing one make/model to another. The new EPA rating system will likely be more reasonable but still will only be for comparison purposes.
It is like anything else. Mileage on the same identical vehicle can vary tremendously (30 – 40 % ?) depending on whether it is your dad or your son is driving it.
The whole thing is illogical and likely instigated by some group of lawyers that stand to make a fortune. It is at a minimum, a sad commentary on our society, and our intelligence and our lack of common sense; at worst, it is a criminal abuse of our justice system.
Derek — I criticized the lawsuit mentality and the results of most class-action lawsuits, not the lawyers themselves; I judge people on their words and deeds, not their choice of profession. Second, is there some connection between lawyers and precious metals that I’m missing?
Not justified. They should complain to the entity that generates the garbage data; the EPA. Honda does not publish their own test results, they are REQUIRED to put the EPA estimates on the window sticker.
It does not have merit. Since you cannot sue the EPA, which is where the real problem is, then there is no case. The EPA is the biggest boondoggle to come down the road in this country ever. It has a track record of being wrong on MANY things. Thanks, Richard Nixon.
The lawsuit is not justified, if he should sue amyone it should be the EPA.
PS: Derek is an anti-semite, and not a very good one either, lol.
I don’t understand how anyone could possibly believe this lawsuit is justified. Why would someone sue a car manufacturer when the information clearly states “EPA mileage” not Honda’s estimated mileage?
Stupid lawsuit. If you read the Monroney, it clearly states that mileage will vary and that EPA tests are done (up to 2007) by a consortium of manufacturers, government officials, and 3rd party media sources. By all means, not the best sample group. People need to stop playing dumb. People need to realize that a car is a car, not a robot. Much of what we think we know about a car is based on salesmanship, merchandising, and “my friend’s uncle told me…” People’s expectations (based on fear and ignorance) far exceed logical engineering capabilities. If people are really that dumb, then we have far worse problems than EPA estimates.
First off, anyone who’s worked in the car business knows that the EPA tests these vehicles at sea level, in a building with a controlled environment, with no wind resistance, windows up, standard tires on a low drag surface… and probably with no A/C on. If any one of those factors were to change, the MPG would start dropping.
Second, anyone who’s looked at a Monroney sticker (new car sticker) knows that it clearly states that the advertised MPG is an estimate. In fact, the number listed in bold is printed above the high/low average per city and highway just below it.
I agree about the typical American mentality concerning suing people. Also, having worked for Honda for many years, I can also tell you that I’ve seen people do the weirdest stuff with their cars. For instance, one person threatened to sue my dealership, and Honda itself, for not honoring their warranty on their engine. Problem was that they used their 2004 Civic Hybrid for search and rescue and it got flooded. The SAR clearly violated the terms of use. Moron.
I find it interesting that everybody assumes that the biggest variable here is the driver. Why can’t it be the car? I have a spectra5 that I’ve had many people tell me, via internet, that I should easily get better then 30 mpg at 65 to 70 mph. 25 mpg is my norm. And believe me, I do drive with the proverbial egg amongst the pedals. We did get 30 once though. (sigh, that was nice). Anyway, I was told by the traveling Kia rep. that he hears a lot of complaints of low gas mileage. (yes, my car has been thoughly check to see that it’s in tune) Now I’m thinking, if there are a lot that say they do good and a lot that say they do bad in the same approx. circumstances, could it be the car itself that is the determining factor? Of course it could. You know there would be an easy test, albiet expensive, that would allow Honda to just hook up any car and run it, thus getting an acurate baseline mileage to check it. One cup of fuel, five minutes at a set rpm with a set drag on the drive wheels would result in checking a relative fuel accuracy. That would be a close enough test, I would think.
I would like to say that I agree with Derek, I think there has been an erosion of corporate responsibility. They put the word “estimated” on the window sticker and expect that they are excluded from whatever comes after that word. Sad.
I think that whether the lawsuit is justified or not remains to be seen. But, it is a class action so it’s not like it’s just one man on a mission.
I think that neither party is completely fault free in this case.
51/49? Even if you granny it along, you may only get that going downhill with a tailwind. The advertised estimates almost always turn out to be over-inflated. Yes, it is sad and misleading, but true.
Conversely, if you are only getting 32mpg (mixed) in the hybrid, you are probably squealing tires from every light, on-and-off the gas, and crankin the a/c while trying to set a record hill-climb time at Pike’s Peak. Nowadays, many people tend to drive pretty aggressively. That has it’s cost as well. You are dumping quite a bit of fuel to keep yourself pinned to the seat. Keep that in mind when you launch your car as the light turns green.
Figure reality to be somewhere in the middle-ground.
just my $0.02
Andy
Jim asked why can’t it be the car? Well, in my post that was primarily what I was hinting at it. I never pointed a finger at the car or the driver.
I don’t think that Honda has any responsibility. The EPA does the testing and if a car company wants to sell in America than they follow the rules. It’s not as if Honda put the number on the sticker. Second, having sold Honda’s, I’ve always told a customer exactly where the, and how, the number is derived.
Now, having never driven anything other than Honda’s or Acura’s (1 Accord, 2 Civics and an Integra) I can tell you that no way is this guy getting 32 mph in a hybrid. This guy has done soemthing to change one of the test group factors in a major way. Let’s not all forget that there are also different grades of gasoline. Especially the specific formulas being sold in the midwest are horrible for gas mileage.
It’s going to be primarily his fault. That’s assuming that it’s not the individual vehicle that is at fault. Before he files a class action, I’m sure there were some requirements of which the car in question was tested by mechanics for working order.
Last, I don’t think just because it’s a class action has anything to do with whether or not it’s one man’s mission. Most people who join a class action suit do so because they can, not because they were slighted.
I doubt anyone on this board could know for certain that a lawsuit is justified in this case. Not enough information available. Of course he has the right but Honda has very deep pockets so someone is going to be out a lot of bucks.
Derek,
You get to be the new pariah on the board with that ethnic remark. But, I think your issue of lawsuits and personal responsibility vs corporate responsibility is like the chicken and egg cunundrum. We could use a little tweaking in our judicial system because it’s far too easy to bring frivolous lawsuits to court. Take the lost pants lawsuit for example. $54 million for a lost pair of trousers?
c
If I were to hazard a guess, I’d say this lawsuit is not justified. Besides the fact that the article makes no mention of whether this guy actually had his car checked out by the manufacturer, the phrase “Your mileage may vary” means exactly that. Some will be able to achieve that value, and others will not.
No manufacturer can possibly account for every users environmental driving conditions or style. The EPA standards are controlled standards because that is the only way to get any kind of consistent results. It is at best, an estimate, and it is generally unrealistic to expect the same results in real life as those obtained under such highly controlled conditions.
Well, the truth is, every vehicle purchase should be an exercise in caveat emptor practices. It is simply unwise to purchase any vehicle without performing due diligence, and there is enough evidence that EPA mileage is, at best, a general standardized measure, that any reasonable person should not have expected laboratory mileage from real world driving.
I can see the point about EPA mileage being misleading, but the truth is, there has to be some form of standardized testing. Anything else is would really be a guess. A calculated guess maybe, but a guess nonetheless. But since you\’ve had an About.com driver actually validate the original EPA mileage claim, it can\’t entirely be off the wall.
We really don\’t have enough information to make an objective evaluation, but history would suggest that this is just another case of a customer with unreasonable expectations resorting to litigation to make a quick payday on his dissatisfaction.
The test is not meant to be any sort of accurate mileage claim, it would be impossible to make any sort of claim and have it hold up. There are far too many variables, the biggest is the driver but even if everyone drove exactly the same the other variables would still yield different results. The environment, terrain, traffic congestion, the blend of fuel in your area, and variations in production tolerances would all give different results. The point that most people overlook is that all cars are tested exactly the same, which makes the EPA mileage estimate valid as a comparison, which is exactly what it was intended to be. Nothing more, nothing less, when you are shopping for a car and see one with 35 MPG on the sticker, and another with 30 MPG then the car with the higher number should get better mileage than the other. They are not saying car A will get 35 and car B will get 30, they are saying car A should get better mileage than car B. This is all clearly spelled out in the fine print for anyone that bothers to read it, and on the EPA website, but few ever bother to look past the big number on the sticker.
There is one thing that would invalidate the test though, and thats when the car company cheats on it. IIRC Honda did actually get caught doing so back in the 90s. They wrote a program into the computer that would recognize when the car was running the EPA mileage test and ran a very different fuel program when it was running the test. Honda had to recall a lot of cars and pay some big fines for that one. The same has been done for the EPAs emissions drive cycle, and OEMs have been caught cheating on that one too. I seem to recall Honda and Ford being nailed cheating on these tests around the same time frame, but my memory could be wrong.
I have no problem with having a standardized third-party (government) estimate of fuel economy. Where would a buyer be without it if fuel economy even entered into his/her buying equation? If the artificial test “driving” conditions tend to produce a somewhat higher economy rating, buyers are savy enough to know real world conditions may be different.
On a road trip I typically achieve close to the EPA estimates. City driving has more variety of situations and the EPA estimates may or may not be close to actual experience. The EPA ratings are primarily useful for comparison among vehicles and as a buyer I am grateful to have it.
Oh, yeah. I believe the lawsuit is frivolous.
It is not right to comment justified/not justified based on the article alone as it may not be telling the entire story.
Though poor driving habits would decrease the mileage, do we really know how the owner drove his hybrid? Perhaps he drove reasonably well, and there was something wrong with the car that the Honda dealership refused to admit or were unable to fix in spite of his repeated requests. But how can you prove good driving style in the court of law?
On the other hand, automakers are not required to furnish revised (2008) EPA estimates for models 2007 and older and are quite used to people suing them for one reason or another.
Finally, the hybrid owner may be justified in filing a lawsuit provided he has a hell of case with a lot of meat.
Derek, Derek, Derek…Did they let you near the computer at the KKK compound again? Did you change your name again? We rememeber your past endearing comments about confederate flags and all…sorry, but you can change your name, or even have one of your aryan brother’s write this blog for you…but we know who you are…but we won’t take your comments with a grain of salt, but rather a lump of…
Lots of good…and questionable comments here. I agree with the fact that there is just not enough information here to make a determination.
I too would prefer a more realistic determination of mileage estimates, I think they could come up with something a bit more realistic, however, it would be impossible to account for all variables, especially the driver.
I think the question here is whether or not the sales pitch and advertising played a major part in the purchase. I had my ‘05 Odyssey in for service and was checking out an Accord Hybrid and had the sales hawk swoop down on me quoting the outstanding mileage as evident in the EPA numbers.
I dont think the problem lies with the driver of the car.
My 81 year old mom drives a hybrid Civic. If she aint driving like a little old lady, I dont know who is. She doesnt know how to reset the mileage computer, so I would venture to guess it has never been reset since new. Her mileage , 39.7 mpg.
Mike your 81 yr. mom is still driving, well bless her…and every one around her on the highway! Just kidding…but I believe that the MPG is done with no A/C, at 50mph, no wind, hills, etc. Plus how well does mom maintain the car(air filter,etc)…besides how do you that when mom is at that lonely stop sign in the country, with nobody ooking, she pops that smirk and FLOORS THAT PEDAL??? She’ll never tell!
Check out this article for more info on how the EPA tests are carried out.
Copy that, Aaron…but just below that ,in your related articles are the ratings in the related articles…are they the new or old method…and if they’re the old, has anyone posted the new ones yet for the upcoming ‘08 cars? I’m bout to buy a car soon(maybe an ‘07…and that sure would be helpful…Thanks,Don
Everyone knows the EPA mileage test is just an estimate under ideal driving conditions. Well, in this case almost everyone…LOL
I have a 2006 Civic Hybrid. I drive it reasonably and obtain between 40 and 51 MPG during the last year. Cold temperatures, very hot temperatures, AC and wind will decrease MPG. Ideal conditions with temperatures between 60-80 deg F for me will produce in the upper ranges. I’d have to be driving somewhat crazy to get 32 MPG. Also, my digital MPG readout reads consistently lower by almost 1.5 MPG than calculating manually. …again how you going to sue the EPA, especially with the disclaimer “your mileage may vary”.
Don — If the EPA estimates shown are derived from the new formula, I’ll note that in the introduction; check out the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer review for an example.
I bought an ‘05 Hyundai Elantra GT, with a 5 speed manual transmission.
I get 33-34 mpg in a mix of highway and city driving. In 100% highway driving, I get 36-37 mpg. This is at speeds of 70-74 mph.
This exceeds the EPA estimates for this car. I have no problem beating the EPA numbers with most cars that I drive!
If Honda was trying to hide their true gas mileage, why would they add to the guage display a MPG reading? I think she has a flat foot, hopefully that year Honda Civic has Aircraft style Black Box memory (newer cars have varous OBDII Emission and Air Bag deployment info stored accessable only by Direct Factory Reps, not Local Dealer Perssonel) that notes her driving style.
Also you all might be interested in Googling “HyperMilers” articles, such as the lady getting 57mpg in her Civic Hybrid and over a 100mpg in some Pruises
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18923454/
Bring the lawsuit against the EPA. They are the ones publishing inflated mileage ratings!
I’ve never had a tank below 51mpg in my 2007 Civic Hybrid. And taking into account both a federal tax credit and state rebate, I paid less for the Hybrid than I would have an EX-trim-level Civic. I ran the TCO numbers myself. I was going to buy an LX, but I got an under-$20k price on the Hybrid and that tipped the scale. Got 51.6 on my first tank and it’s gone up on nearly every tank since (can’t control my wife’s use of the car, and she’s a leadfoot). My guess is that Mr. True has some unresolved mechanical issue with his vehicle, or he’s hauling more (KBs, amps?) than the 109hp 1.3l engine can handle without using the IMA all the time. Sounds like he needs a Jetta TDI.
In any event the suit’s silly, certainly names the wrong defendants, misses the obvious Honda defense of compliance with EPA’s requirements, and needlessly undermines the record of performance that thousands of people are experiencing with their Hybrids.
The American legal system is a marvel but it’s not a substitute for our frontal lobes, people.
The suit is completely without merit. The EPA is responsible for those figures, not Honda.
IT’S ABOUT TIME !!!
Reasonable argument. Automakers should be held accountable for false advertising. It’s enough that they hold us hostage to buying new cars that sell for the price of an inexpensive co-op or condo. Shoddy craftmanship, and now off the wall claims of EPA’s that simply can’t be achieved by the average consumer.
So, why not tighten up the hype? What could possibly be so bad about keeping automakers honest?
Totally without Merit. If your going to sue, sue the EPA not Honda, it’s their numbers. Just in case you don’t know this already, Honda put a eay to read MPG readout on the dash. Think if I was going to cheat, I’d leave that off or at least adjust it so it’s less accurate. No, they did not. Suggest you all Google the term “Hypermilers” and read about a lady getting 59mpg average in a Civic Hybrid.
Some people just sue to add drama to their bored life, I guess.
you guys all lawyers? judges?
I am… a lawyer, that is. Class actions favor attorneys b/c they put in inordinate amounts of work.
Also, I’ll leave it to the judges to prove the merits of this case. If honda can point to the epa standard being an estimate, this case won’t make it to trial, then again, if not, there is definitely merit to it.
I don’t come to your jobs and tell you how to do them, so I would appreciate some car journalists/commenters to keep it to themselves.
I recently read an article which told about some people who are regularly getting over 80 mpg in their hybrids. (albeit with very gentle driving, along with some various mileage tricks.)
Why couldn’t Honda arrange for one of those drivers to take out the offending hybrid and see if it’s the vehicle or the driver? Overall, a very simple solution. Maybe even Honda could pay for the gas involved, which would be far cheaper than even 1/2 an hour of an attorney’s time.
I feel that if a car company is going to display a fuel mileage to sell cars, they certainly should be within 5% of what it will do. If they are that far off they need to get sued. Regardless of what the plaintiff gets. Our nations car business is running a muck and it is partially because of false advertising
Randy,
“Our nations car business is running a muck”???
Are you from Japan Randy? You DO know this is all about HONDA? Because I believe that the advertising claims most auto makers make(even the ones here in good ole U.S.A.) are fairly accurate and are all subject to individual experiences.
C
Another frivolous lawsuit, another great payday for the lawyers!
However, the auto marketers should specify on their ads, in LARGE print, that actual mileage could be as much as 20% less than EPA.
People need to be more sceptacle and need to take more responsibility for their actions. They hear what they want to hear and believe what they want to believe, ,
I think, for an abrupt about face change in my normal opinion of such things, this lawsuit may be justified. The car companies are touting the increased mileage capable hybrids. They are charging more money for the hybrids. While “mileage may vary” IS a proper disclaimer it, in my opinion, should not vary to this degree based on the exagerated claims of the car company.
Justified. I have the same car. It does only get 31 MPG. It’s not due to how I drive. I can drive it like an old lady, or my wife can drive it, same bad mileage. I am constantly, constantly resetting the odomoeter, which gives the mpg, to see if I can do better. Unless I’m going down hill, I can’t get anywhere near the mileage that was claimed. If I reset after coming to speed at 55mpg, I can get maybe 40mpg, but that is quickly brought down with some normal driving. If you do not have enough regenerative breaking, there is no power assist.
Sorry to hear that Rob…but on this trip that I just did to to Savanah and back to Lauderdale…800mi. I averaged 40 MPG on my NON-Hybrid Civic…either there is a recurring serious problem with these hybrids or there is some quirk that some drivers have that defeats their fuel saving tech…but as I’ve said before, the std. Civic @40mpg is just fine for me, and it never gets less than 32city…why would I spend extra money for a Hybrid, except to show everyone what a “greenie” I am. No thanx…rather keep the green in my pocket!
Just because these hippy hybrid drivers can’t drive their cars properly doesn’t warrant a class action lawsuit. Heh, let me drive the Civic around and if I can’t their EPA rating, then a lawsuit is warranted
I purchased one of these 07 hybrid civics. Its not that the epa sticker states you can get this type of mpg but the sales staff and dealers say you can too. I get about 32 to 35 in city when I complained to the dealer where I purchased the car they told me there was a break in period of 2000 miles, I waited ,now that I have past that, they now tell me it may take up to 10,000 miles to brake in and get the est.. miles. If they would have told me this before I purchased the civic I never would have. I purchased my car based partly on the sticker but I never expected to get the miles listed on it. I figured I would get around 40 to 43 in town and about 45 to 48 on the hwy, not even close. if you read the epa sticker it says the mileage may vary , it list a low of 41 to 49 in the city and list hwy from 51 to 57 mpg in small print. I have friends that have the non hybrid civics and they get the same or better mpg than I get. If the dealer and sales staff were honest with me I would have never bought the hybrid. I would have bought the non hybrid civic. But since they misrepresented the car to me and if they did the same to the person suing Honda I think the suit is justified.
Sorry to hear that Abdy,but salespeople and their managers are in the dark as much as you. They are not all sitting in the managers office laughing how they pulled the gas mileage scam on you. Perhaps the next time any of us wants to know what the “real world” gas mileage of a car is, we should go back and talk with the service writers…I’m sure they have a better handle on this issue than Honda World Headquarters!
hawaiian don, I am not sure there in the dark with all the complaints I seen. anyway I just had my civic checked at the dealer, and like I thought they found nothing wrong with it. they just told me I needed a longer breakin period. oh well I will just keep recording my experience and calling Honda every couple of weeks, do not think that it will do any good but worth a shot. At this point I not sure anything is going to help.
I bought a new 2006 Civic Hybrid and in Feb. 2006. At first I got between 48 and 51 mpg on combination driving around town and short trips on I95. The mileage kept getting worse and I now am only getting between 41.5 and 42 mpg. I am disappointed in the mileage as I was expecting closer to a consistant 48 mpg.
I don’t drive fast or jack rabbit start when taking off. I think the suit is justified and I hope he wins.
My dad has had a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid since 2004, his average MPG is 50.7. But, his is a stick shift (manual) which gets a higher MPG. If someone is only getting 32, he isn’t driving right. A regular Hondad civic automatic gets 29 MPG and if he is so close to that and he has a hybrid…. He is doing something wrong