I currently have the Civic hybrid; my long-term average is 55.7 mpg. I'm hoping my Prelude, when I eventually get it in September, will be near that. Do you drive it quite hard, or is the British gallon larger than your country's, like it is compared to a US gallon?
37MPG TOPS
- Thread starter xnoybis
- Start date
We had a ’12 Prius and my wife was nicked named Golden Toe for getting 62 mpg once. The average was closer to 42 mpg. That was considered great mpg back then. Only fault was the Prius was really boring to drive. We sold it for a BRZ. The BRZ got around 28-30 mpg but was a LOT more fun. The Prelude seems like it might be the best of both worlds. Finally a fun hybrid.
I drove a friend’s ’25 Prius on a long road trip and averaged less than 39mpg the entire 1000+ mile trip. We drove about 80-85 mph with the A/C on all the time. The ’25 Prius is more fun than my old ’12 Prius but no way I would recommend one based on a fun factor. I think a Civic Hybrid is way more fun to drive.
- Jan 24, 2026
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I drove up north last weekend, it was a 67km ride, and I got an average of 3.9 liter/100km.
So in US gallon/mile that gives me 60MPG... and it's not the first time that I average 3.8 to 4.1 liter/100km.
Strangely this is more than what Honda advertise... and I sure won't complain...
In comfort mode not S+
So in US gallon/mile that gives me 60MPG... and it's not the first time that I average 3.8 to 4.1 liter/100km.
Strangely this is more than what Honda advertise... and I sure won't complain...
In comfort mode not S+
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- Jun 26, 2026
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I get quite similar numbers with mine in daily commute. I have started to use the paddles lately (when not in S-Plus) to use more regen braking. Seems to make some noteable difference.
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- Apr 25, 2026
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British imperial gallon is significantly larger than US gallon.
After 2,600 miles my average is 54mpg.
- Jan 24, 2026
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I use them a lot, maybe that's the reason......I have started to use the paddles lately .. to use more regen braking. ...
- Aug 24, 2025
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I am in EU, so I used a google conversion... My medium number in 9000km is 5.3lt/100km = 19km/lt... my record is 3.3lt/100km = 30km/lt... I drive on highway for 75% of the time at 130kmh = 80mph...
Whereas the Civic and Prelude are not bad on motorways, it's not what you would call their natural habitat. I do 90% of my driving on country B roads and urban roads, today for instance I drove 10 miles from the Honda dealer back to my house mostly the roads as described earlier, I averaged 73.3mpg I think it's the 80mph on the highway which is dragging down your overall average, mind you even a 45mpg average is something I could only have dreamt about 40 years ago when I started driving, I once had a Renault 5 GT turbo that was lucky to do 25mpg so the Preludes economy is a minor miracle if you ask me.
- Apr 4, 2026
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I've gotten my best mpg (44) on road trips to the beach and back (about 200 miles one way). I could just about make it on one tank if I pushed it. I actually get worse mileage around town. I'm at 37 average. But, I almost always drive with S+, sport mode, and flog it. Because why not, it's what it's built for.
37 for you is the Equivalent of around 43mpg here in England. If you're getting that and still enjoying yourself, what's not to like?
How is your Civic compared to your Prelude?
I am part-exchanging it today (Tuesday). I have only had a test drive in the Prelude. The reason I am buying it is that I enjoy driving the Civic so much. Those who say the Prelude is too underpowered or slow have never driven one in day-to-day driving. I found the Civic to be exactly what I expected: responsive and comfortable. I'm 70. Hence, my boy racer days are behind me. Personally, the Civic feels genuinely quick to me in all situations, even on the motorway. If I suddenly have to accelerate, it does almost instantly; the thing is there is only me. My wife and the Civic with its 5 seats and large boot is wasted on us; the Prelude, to me, is a better-looking Civic, so I get the looks of the Prelude with the performance and the economy of the Civic, win-win.
Man I suck at this, getting low 60s at best so far. I think a lot of it is my routes, not enough of the right mix of smooth moderate speeds without interruption. Mostly been city heavy with tons of stop start, or long motorway runs so far for me.
What's your running average? I have only done 283 miles, but it sits at 61mpg I have seen mid-70s on some runs, but where I drive, it's mostly A and B roads. It seems to like urban driving too; even on the motorway, I usually get around the low 60s, but I do drive it mostly under 65mph.
Long term about 55, though I think a lot of short trips is the culprit. About 500 miles covered.
I have found that short trips are less economical, though once over about about 5 or 6 miles the consumption drops a lot, I also found when I had the Civic hybrid it was quite a bit less economical when the weather got colder, so expect that average to go down a bit as winter draws in, 55mpg sounds pretty good to me, I live in a rural area and tend to drive outside busy times as I'm retired, hence why my average is so good, if you had told me 40 years ago that a car with a 2-litre engine that had the performance of the Prelude I would average 60mpg I would have laughed at you. I had a 1.3 Escort back in the 80s and was lucky to average 35mpg.
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There does seem to be a HUGE warmup penalty, a 4 mile run (each way) to the supermarket cracks about 45mpg but barely. My Ampera/Volt did similar numbers, but that thing did ~45mpg no matter how I drove or what kind of journey I did, was weirdly consistent. I had expected the Prelude to be similarly consistent as it's largely the same principle in how it works, but it's been quite the opposite in how wildly variable it is.
I've completed 4,760miles so far and have reserved my Trip A counter for monitoring the long term MPG. In mainly GT mode, I'm hitting 58.5 mpg (UK) and I'm very pleased, especially with fuel heading towards £1.90 /litre.
I'm also finding the Prelude to be at least as economical as, if not more economical than, the Civic, which has surprised me, as it's supposedly less economical because of the extra weight. However, how a car with no glass panoramic roof, 2 fewer doors and no electric motors in the seats can weigh more is frankly puzzling to me.
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