Car and Driver: Ford Maverick Hybrid Misses Its MPG Estimates, but We're Not Surprised

[Larrythelunatic]

Returning 30mpg while driving 200 miles at 75mph sounds great to me. And plausible though I still don't a Maverick yet so my opinion carries little weight. Car and Driver almost always report lower mpg numbers than the EPA because their testing methods are different. As stated in the article:

"Missing EPA estimated fuel-economy ratings isn't rare. Car and Driver's testing procedure differs from the EPA's purposely to reflect a more accurate real-world figure... The EPA's process is that of a climate-controlled laboratory that has a much lower average speed."

Real world baloney!
Got 1700 miles so far, 2.5 months. When I took delivery, had 11 miles on the clock, 22mpg. On and off assembly line, delivery train, trucks, etc. I left it alone, with the idea of watching the improvement as I went.
During MY drive time, I do highways (65-85 generally) when necessary; country roads when I can. No jackrabbit starts. Most of the old ladies beat me off the line, slow down, and I catch up and pass them when able. As for speed limits, I’m a scofflaw, as I suspect most of us are, admittedly or otherwise.
Tires came with 40+/- lbs in ‘em. I left them alone.
So…………can’t get more “real world“ than that.
Each time I’ve gotten behind the wheel, I note the total accumulated mpg, and aim to come home with the same or better figure. Been successful EVERY time so far.
My mileage? ….43.4 mpg so far.
THAT’s real world.

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[huunvubu]

Knowing "Car and Driver" prefers sport and muscle vehicles they probable put the Hybrid Maverick in "Sport Drive Mode" and always mashed the accelerator as often as they could.

As many have published here is that if you just drive the Hybrid normally you can and will get much much better MPG numbers.

Last night I drove back from from China One. It was about 15 miles and even on the freeway where I gunned it to get up to 70 MPH cruising speed for about 3 miles on the freeway and the rest of the drive was on 45/30 MPH speed limit roads with lots of stops I got 59 MPG an the trip with 75% on electric.

I even was running "All Electric" on some of the 70 MPH freeway and a lot on the other driving miles.

For "Car and Driver" to get their MPG numbers they really must have been driving very aggressive.

 

[Larrythelunatic]

I've driven my Maverick on I-25 in Colorado, and I get about 36 MPG. Mostly 75 MPH, but traffic does slow down and speed up pretty often--so the hybrid is more beneficial than it would be at a truly constant 75 MPH.

Here's a quick 2.2 mile lunch run that got me 107.5mpg's.
1: Drive in ECO mode.
2: Get your cruise control ready, it works at 20mph and above.
3: Pulse and Cruise. Means accelerate from a stop fairly quickly then hit the cruise control. Maverick can be all-electric at 70mph if you're going down hill.
4: Weather has been perfect, so I haven't been using the heater or A.C.

2.2 miles traveled……….107.5mpg
First time I got up this season, I got a hit.……….I’m batting a thousand.
Same thing.

 

[boe757]

It's not all that important what Car and Driver posts, what's important is the cost when YOU fill at the pump with YOUR maverick

 

[mesajoejoe]

Yup. And the Honda Ridgeline I sold for mine doesn’t come close to the Mav In price, value, feature, you name it. it’s the best vehicle I’ve ever owned.

Came from a 2014 SE Ridgeline and while I prefer the design language of Honda over Ford, this Maverick fits the bill way more than the Ridgeline. I do miss the trunk space though, but going from 17mpg MAX to 38mpg MIN in winter while still getting the same functionality is amazing.

 

[Criss944]

EPA now has at least 4 tests that are used as part of the evaluation to arrive at the highway/city numbers. Really they should publish all of those results separately. I believe they have a more rigorous city test, as well as a faster highway test at this point.

And....here they are. Note that the average speeds vary significantly - this is where you can probably best gauge your own driving against EPA ratings.

How long are your trips?
What is your average speed per tank?
How fast do you drive?
How many stops are made during your typical driving trips?

I'm generally somewhere between the city and highway values in all of these categories, but do give it a little off the line (otherwise drive conservatiely) - low and behold, my average is 25mpg, just below the epa average (and after a very harsh winter here in MN).

As a side note, take a look at those acceleration values - the 'high speed' is 0-60 in about 7 seconds max...the rest are 3.3mph/sec! That is 0-60 in like 18 seconds. Grandma why are you still driving?

My problem with C&D is not with their methodology or their results. My problem is with the headline: "Ford Maverick Hybrid Misses Its MPG Estimates." Of course, the 75 mph mpg is worse than the 60 mph mpg.

 

[caj]

The issue is with hybrids on the hyway. They actually get better mileage around the city typically - because they harvest and reuse the energy from Braking (to charge the battery) so tooling along at 75 mph - no brakes - yeah you will be cutting your mileage quite a bit

 

[starfisher50]

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a39539233/ford-maverick-hybrid-fuel-economy-tested/

I've done mostly highway drives over the 800 miles I've put on. Seeing consistently 38-40 mpgs. City driving has been outstanding. Even if they missed the EPA estimate by a few miles, still seems like they're pretty disappointed. Guess Ford didn't throw them the $ they wanted for a more positive headline.

im averaging 44 to 45 mpg

 

[Donald Baker]

I don't know why they drive a constant speed! I have driven 1827 miles and I'm averaging 47.3mpg.

 

[TRQ427]

I don't know why they drive a constant speed! I have driven 1827 miles and I'm averaging 47.3mpg.

Donald,, are those mostly highway miles? Myself, I'm really hoping , and appreciate, real world figures reflecting 80 to 90% highway figures. I know the lack of regen driving at constant speed has to hurt the figure, just trying to judge if a hybrid is even worth it for highway driving, as thats what I do in my profession. Most others in my business buy hybrid Prius and Camry, but I hate cars and really hoping the Maverick could be a viable option. They are slick little trucks, Ford really hit it out of the park with this model. Thanks

 

[RookieBlue7]

I’ve put almost 5k miles on my Ecoboost in about 2 months and I’m pleased with fuel economy. Mostly highway miles

 

[Ricstar]

Donald,, are those mostly highway miles? Myself, I'm really hoping , and appreciate, real world figures reflecting 80 to 90% highway figures. I know the lack of regen driving at constant speed has to hurt the figure, just trying to judge if a hybrid is even worth it for highway driving, as thats what I do in my profession. Most others in my business buy hybrid Prius and Camry, but I hate cars and really hoping the Maverick could be a viable option. They are slick little trucks, Ford really hit it out of the park with this model. Thanks

My real world show it depends on your speed, on a 250 mile round trip at 80-85 I only got 28 mpg. If your highway speed limit is lower you will get much better mpg. Just hit 2500 miles this week and my average is 38mpg, 40% rural (70mph)40% highway(80mph) 20% town(45mph) the 28mpg is still better than any other truck I know of and I need a truck bed.

 

[TRQ427]

My real world show it depends on your speed, on a 250 mile round trip at 80-85 I only got 28 mpg. If your highway speed limit is lower you will get much better mpg. Just hit 2500 miles this week and my average is 38mpg, 40% rural (70mph)40% highway(80mph) 20% town(45mph) the 28mpg is still better than any other truck I know of and I need a truck bed.

That 38 MPG ain't bad at all! I drive a lot,,5200 in March, will be 5500 to 6000 next 6 months or so. I'm finding decent 65 to 70 highway speeds are yielding 2 to 3 more MPG than running 75 or more these days. How hard you drive really makes the difference. I'm actually getting 25 to 26 with my V-6 Caravan in good wind conditions. 25 to 30 MPG wouldn't justify me to buy the Maverick, but 35 on up sure does. I just don't like driving late model FWD cars myself. I had the opportunity to sit in two Mavericks so far,, I like them, they feel like a truck. Remind me of the S-10 and smaller Rangers of years past, not bad at all. Thanks for your info.

 

[FordHybrid]

I wonder what Car & Driver mpg would be if they did a 200 mile loop going 30 mph? Maybe the two loops would give a more realistic city/highway mpg.

 

[TCK]

Funny Car and Driver has not been doing this long enough to realize that the EPA does not test at 75. Garbage in, garbage out…

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