Civic hybrid MPG suit still not fully settled
What's the real mileage?In 2007 a class action lawsuit was brought against Honda for a number of advertisements and commercials that inflated the real world mileage of the Civic hybrid.
Consequently, owners of Civic hybrids from 2003 - 2008 will receive a DVD for improving fuel economy, $100 cash or a $1000 rebate on their next Honda.
26 states, however, have objected to this settlement, largely because the rebate does not apply to new Civic hybrids, the Insight hybrid, Fit or CRZ. Plus, a number of state attorney generals have objected to the fact that the attorneys filing this class action lawsuit are set to receive almost $3 million in legal fees.
Labels: honda civic hybrid, honda insight hybrid, Hybrid Vehicles
posted by Dahcredyns at
9:08 AM
3 Comments:
Indigo Incarnates
Why is Honda getting sued? It's the EPA that determines gas mileage estimates. I believe the testing methods used were updated in 2008 *because* the old system didn't reliably report a hybrid's real gas mileage.
From my understanding it was the way that Honda made the claims in a few marketing pieces. Had they simply left it at 'according to the EPA', they would have been fine, but they suggested more than that.
It's one thing for the EPA to put out the numbers.
It's another issue as to how you use those EPA numbers in your advertising. (GM is very clear to mention that their 30 mpg mileage is "highway". )
The other issue is the fact that the Toyota Prius can meet the EPA numbers for almost any driver, where as in a Civic Hybrid you really have to use all the hypermiling techniques to get the EPA numbers.
I'll bet if you put a Civic Hybrid driver into a Prius, he would get rediculous mileage numbers.(Probably near 60 mpg.) If you put a Prius driver into a Civic Hybrid he'll probably get less mileage..
Post a Comment
<< Home