37MPG TOPS

[nyon69 1]

At 2k miles my average logged in Fuelly is 39.7mpg(us). The car computer runs almost 10% too optimistic and reports much higher numbers than the actual calculated fill value. Each tank usually has one 5 mile stretch of aggressive backroads driving, otherwise it’s in Comfort and is almost exclusively highway miles cruising at 75-80.

My wife’s new 2026 Civic Hatchback hybrid drives the same routes I do and manages much better numbers, she’s at 1k miles and her trip computer is telling her ~50 mpg per tank. Either her trip computer is off by a factor of 20% or she’s managing much better numbers out of the same engine. She’s got a lead foot so driving style is not in her favor and she doesn’t play with the regen paddles at all.

 

[PR76UDE139 80]

At 2k miles my average logged in Fuelly is 39.7mpg(us). The car computer runs almost 10% too optimistic and reports much higher numbers than the actual calculated fill value. Each tank usually has one 5 mile stretch of aggressive backroads driving, otherwise it’s in Comfort and is almost exclusively highway miles cruising at 75-80.

My wife’s new 2026 Civic Hatchback hybrid drives the same routes I do and manages much better numbers, she’s at 1k miles and her trip computer is telling her ~50 mpg per tank. Either her trip computer is off by a factor of 20% or she’s managing much better numbers out of the same engine. She’s got a lead foot so driving style is not in her favor and she doesn’t play with the regen paddles at all.

Your numbers sound about right given the highway speeds you drive. Is she crusing 5-10mph slower? Could easily account for that entire difference.

 

[nyon69 1]

Your numbers sound about right given the highway speeds you drive. Is she crusing 5-10mph slower? Could easily account for that entire difference.

Same cruising speed. I know the civic is a little bit narrower which should make it a bit more aerodynamic, and she’s got the stock tires on still. Still hard to believe the difference is that drastic given nearly identical drives. I’ll have to get my OBD logger on hers and get hard numbers to demonstrate the similarities in drives while showing hers at least 5mpg better.

 

[pillred33 24]

At 2k miles my average logged in Fuelly is 39.7mpg(us). The car computer runs almost 10% too optimistic and reports much higher numbers than the actual calculated fill value. Each tank usually has one 5 mile stretch of aggressive backroads driving, otherwise it’s in Comfort and is almost exclusively highway miles cruising at 75-80.

My wife’s new 2026 Civic Hatchback hybrid drives the same routes I do and manages much better numbers, she’s at 1k miles and her trip computer is telling her ~50 mpg per tank. Either her trip computer is off by a factor of 20% or she’s managing much better numbers out of the same engine. She’s got a lead foot so driving style is not in her favor and she doesn’t play with the regen paddles at all.

75-80 is not the Prelude's friend. Our speed limit here is 70mph I usually set the cruise at around 65/68 and usually get low 60s. It's surprising how much difference that extra mph is costing you. Generally, motorway driving is not conducive to good returns with hybrids. I have had a Civic very recently drive in the same way on the same roads, and my average in the Prelude is actually currently slightly better than what I achieved in the Civic; maybe subconsciously you are driving the Prelude in a more spirited way? And anyway, nearly 40mpg US is still way better than most similar cars could only dream about.

 

[rexracer52 1]

75-80 is not the Prelude's friend. Our speed limit here is 70mph I usually set the cruise at around 65/68 and usually get low 60s. It's surprising how much difference that extra mph is costing you. Generally, motorway driving is not conducive to good returns with hybrids. I have had a Civic very recently drive in the same way on the same roads, and my average in the Prelude is actually currently slightly better than what I achieved in the Civic; maybe subconsciously you are driving the Prelude in a more spirited way? And anyway, nearly 40mpg US is still way better than most similar cars could only dream about.

I drove a '25 Prius on a 10 day road trip from the US to Montreal. I was driving 75-85 mph on the highway with the A/C on. It did not get anywhere near the 50mpg it is advertised to get. It averaged 38-40mpg for the entire 2K mile trip. And trust me, the Prius is no where near as fun as the Prelude is to drive. Not remotely close as far as fun.

 

[PR76UDE139 80]

Think I'm finally getting the hang of short trip efficiency

 

[Alex_Waverley122 25]

I must say that we don't pay much attention to this. It clobbers my BRZ and Outback and that is good enough for my wife.

 

[Alfettaman1]

My wife's previous mpg record of 70.6mpg [UK] over 57.3 miles has been broken.

Today she drove 27.4 miles with a mix of small country roads, some larger roads cruising at 50-55mph, a bit of slow traffic - and one full-throttle overtake of a tractor ! Mostly level terrain, about 16 deg.C, 75 mpg [UK].

I am blown away by how efficient these cars are...

 

[PR76UDE139 80]

My personal best so far, with a passenger, dog, and two suitcases full in the back.

 

[Alfettaman1]

My personal best so far, with a passenger, dog, and two suitcases full in the back.

My wife's recent 75.0 mpg included a passenger (me), two full suitcases -
but no dog...

 

[PR76UDE139 80]

My wife's recent 75.0 mpg included a passenger (me), two full suitcases -
but no dog...

I knew it was the dog's fault...

 

[Alfettaman1]

I knew it was the dog's fault...

Yup - looks like you're right about that. Remove dog and try again...?

 

[pillred33 24]

Yup - looks like you're right about that. Remove dog and try again...?

Whilst in these times of high petrol prices, it's great that our cars are so economical. I find it's better not to get too hung up on it. I just drive mine for the sheer joy of how it drives; the economy is just a nice bonus. I rarely look now at what it does to the gallon because I know it's a lot better than almost any comparable car you can buy and better by quite a large margin.

 

[Preluderic2]

That surprised me. I got the impression from testers that the Prelude was heavier. Another thing: the official 0 to60 for the Civic is faster than the Prelude. Again, I have no idea why that would be if the Prelude is indeed lighter; the time for the Advance is 8.1 and for the Prelude 8.2, though we know they are both quite a bit faster than that.

8.2 in 0 to 60? I read 6.4 to 6.5 when I googled it. Civic Hybrid 6.2 to 6.5 seconds

 

[pillred33 24]

8.2 in 0 to 60? I read 6.4 to 6.5 when I googled it. Civic Hybrid 6.2 to 6.5 seconds

I don't think Honda brake boost either when they publish their "official" timings, but overall the "official" times are slightly faster for the Civic here in the UK than the Prelude. The base model Civics official figure here is 7.9 seconds, as it's lighter than the Advance model, again I have no Idea how the Prelude can be heavier than a Civic Advance that has electric motors in the seats, 4 doors and a panoramic electric glass sunroof.

 

[PR76UDE139 80]

I don't think Honda brake boost either when they publish their "official" timings, but overall the "official" times are slightly faster for the Civic here in the UK than the Prelude. The base model Civics official figure here is 7.9 seconds, as it's lighter than the Advance model, again I have no Idea how the Prelude can be heavier than a Civic Advance that has electric motors in the seats, 4 doors and a panoramic electric glass sunroof.

I'm guessing/hoping it's down to fancy brakes/suspension and chassis strengthening.

 

[Alfettaman1]

Whilst in these times of high petrol prices, it's great that our cars are so economical. I find it's better not to get too hung up on it. I just drive mine for the sheer joy of how it drives; the economy is just a nice bonus. I rarely look now at what it does to the gallon because I know it's a lot better than almost any comparable car you can buy and better by quite a large margin.

I agree - what matters is that we enjoy our cars! My fully electric Honda e costs me 2p (less than 3 US cents) per mile in electricity if I'm really careful, but only about 3p per mile (4 US cents) if I just whizz around in it having fun! Can you guess which I do more often?

The Prelude is kind of the same: 50 mpg [UK] without making any real effort, or 65+ mpg [UK] if you enjoy the challenge of doing that...

 

[PR76UDE139 80]

I agree - what matters is that we enjoy our cars! My fully electric Honda e costs me 2p (less than 3 US cents) per mile in electricity if I'm really careful, but only about 3p per mile (4 US cents) if I just whizz around in it having fun! Can you guess which I do more often?

The Prelude is kind of the same: 50 mpg [UK] without making any real effort, or 65+ mpg [UK] if you enjoy the challenge of doing that...

It is nice being able to hit 45MPG when you had your foot to the floor 90% of the time...