I checked out this car from work for business and traveled over 1,000 miles in a few weeks. I must say, for a hybrid, the gas mileage is horrendous. At about 75 MPH on the interstate it gets a measly 33 MPG! On the flat backroads, it gets up to 40 MPG at 60 MPH. That is if you have the wind at your back. If you are traveling into the wind, it drops to about 34 MPG.
It has to drop down a gear just to make it up small hills at over 60 MPH, and the acceleration is on par with a Nash Rambler.
I came up with these figures using the trip meters that give you MPG along with distance and drove a minimum of 40-60 miles before accepting the figures as true. I drove about 500 miles in the past 4 days (most of it was highway) and only got 35 MPG total.
For those looking for a hybrid, this one is a joke, especially at the price tag. Buy an early 2000s Saturn or other 4 cylinder. They get better mileage. Or if you still like hybrids, the Prius gets 43-50 at about 70 MPH.
If you had done your research, you would not have bought a hybrid if you do mainly freeway commuting. A hybrid returns higher mileage under stop and go driving conditions such as one would encounter in the city vs a standard IC powered car. Otherwise you are better off with a non-hybrid (you'll save money).
Also, slow down. Cars run most efficiently at 55 mph (that is where the EPA figures come from). At speeds higher than that, the drag makes the engine work harder to maintain speed, thus your mileage goes down.
Don't blame the car for your choice and driving habits.
BTW the combined mileage of that car is 42MPG!
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