It should be illegal to market only highway fuel economy
Why does the gov make it so easy for automakers to deceive consumers?
Like Honda Civic hybrid lawsuit, automakers should be held libel for deceiving consumers
Hey Los Angeles. Gasoline prices are rising. What’s the cure? A new car that achieves such and such fuel economy on the highway of course.
Who cares that highway fuel economy doesn’t help at all when you’re stuck in LA traffic. In fact almost no one that lives in Southern California and most urban areas averages highway fuel economy — if even anyone does.
I mean, what’s next, going down hill fuel economy?
I know these automakers state that it’s only highway fuel economy, but is that really enough?
Check out automotive blogs and websites and monitor the comments regarding fuel economy. A significant amount of consumers believe that highway fuel economy equates to average fuel economy. When an automaker claims a fuel economy number, they simply assume that’s average, real world fuel economy. I see it all the time. Automakers know this and they use it to their advantage, but ultimately to the disadvantage of their consumers and the nation as a whole.
If the EPA wants to help push consumers into more fuel efficient vehicles, why not start by forcing automakers to provide better real world fuel economy estimates? Transparent honesty is free.
For instance, why not just make average fuel economy THE number, while including relevant highway and city data so that those that drive more in the city or on the highway can better understand how their individual fuel economy could vary from the norm?
KISS! Why is that such a difficult concept for the government? I’m guessing lobbyists, special interests, etc.
I know that 33 instead of 42 or 18 instead of 22, makes it harder to sell cars and trucks. The truth just doesn’t offer as much sizzle for duping customers into making a costly mistake. Obviously, it’s not customers that matter, its profit margins and share value.
Of course, in a country where CAFE has no basis in the real world, why should anyone be surprised that knowingly deceptive marketing isn’t just good business, but also a lie enabled by the Feds. Niiiiice! And the 99 percent wonder why the 1 percent has all the power. Because they perpetually lie to us and we’re continually stupid enough to believe them.
In general though.. there are several other ways to verify claimed mileage.
I generally do not believe the American numbers and do believe Toyota numbers….
but the basic point is that people do stupid things like buy cars not only without verifying mileage but also not looking at their repair records (that Consumer also provides).
People buy homes they cannot afford and the homes themselves without having an inspector look at them prior to buying.
People take out $10-20K a year in college loans and do not have a clue what they are going to get a degree in much less whether their job will pay them enough to pay back the loan.
we can’t pass laws against people being stupid.
I agree in general CR does give real world numbers, but in the 3rd Gen Prius Case, I beg to differ. I own a 2011 Prius and my own personal observations is that, they are way off. As stated on the Priuschat website and my own personal experiences;
@ 50 MPH you get 68 to 70 MPG,
@ 60 MPH you get 60 MPG,
@ 70 MPH you get 50 MPG. On one 260 mile round trip with 6 % and 8 % grades thrown in I got around 42 MPG averaging 77-78 MPH w/o any Hyper-mile techniques. I observed using the Power mode climbing a steep 8 % grade,I averaged 30 MPG at 75 MPH. I averaged 58 MPG on a 35 mile trip on a busy LA freeway with stop and go traffic. Bumper to Bumper traffic, which I try to avoid, yields amazing numbers(60-70+ MPG) which make CR’s 44 MPG look like a joke. I think in general, advertising ICE only HWY MPG numbers are a joke. They can’t compete with Hybrids or EVs.
Consumer Reports usually gives the real-world numbers. You can’t legislate stupid when it comes to consumers.
A bunch of them also bought houses they could not afford and now are getting college loans they cannot afford. Cars are chump change.
There are so many people who are duped by the high HWY MPG, that they purchase these vehicles. When reality rears its ugly head, you get Lawsuits from the duped people and Manufacturers pleading the 5th and claiming the litigant did not read the fine print, aka HWY. I agree there should be an enforced rule of Truth in Advertising. Shame shame to these automakers!