All About the Honda Insight Hybrid Mileage
Did you know that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates for mileage are not the last word on what kind of fuel efficiency you will get? It’s true, especially for hybrid vehicles. There can be quite a bit of wiggle room between what is estimated, and what you can actually pull off. Do you know how your hybrid Honda Insight mileage stacks up in comparison to what’s standard, and what some car-owners get?
What’s standard.
The 2000 model Honda Insight mileage set records. According to the EPA, it was the most (gasoline) fuel-efficient vehicle ever, and it rated with a combined 53 MPG in city and highway conditions. The hybrid fuel economy of the most recent Insight model, for 2014, is approximately 41 city, and 44 highway. It’s comparable to other hybrid vehicles, though slightly under the estimates for the Honda Civic hybrid, which rates at a combined 44 MPG.
What some people get.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the unofficial estimates for Honda Insight mileage average out to about 50.6 MPG, with 39 MPG on the low end for some users, and 63 MPG on the high end for others. Obviously, these numbers vary greatly from standard estimates. For hybrid owners that get much higher MPG, a little bit of finesse is required. Getting the most mileage out of a hybrid requires working with the hybrid battery and it’s regenerative charging capabilities.
What you can do to get better.
If you want to know how to get the best MPG, you need to consult someone who practices the art of fuel-efficient driving. If you have a lead-foot, if you jack-rabbit at stoplights, and if you’re not mindful of using every bit of energy that your car produces, then it’s going to be difficult to get better mileage from your vehicle. However, if you want to get a boost that doesn’t necessarily come from your driving habits, consider a hybrid car battery replacement. A new battery can cost between $3,000 and $4,000 on average in the U.S., but it can come with the benefit of an increased lifespan, and contributing towards better fuel-efficiency.
If the average MPG that you’re getting doesn’t compare well to the standard, or to what other drivers are capable of getting, then it may be time to modify your driving habits, or upgrade the battery. After all, you probably wouldn’t have gotten a hybrid in the first place unless you wanted excellent fuel efficiency. Getting better mileage is no big secret, and now that you know how your vehicle measures up, you can take steps to get more miles out of each gallon.
