He was Previously Frustrated With The Mileage on His 2025 Honda CRV Hybrid, but He's Suddenly Getting the Expected Mileage after 1000 Miles

Like many others, Jim Williamson was frustrated with the fuel economy of his 2025 Honda CRV hybrid, resigning himself to the possibility he would get less per kilometer than advertised for the duration of his ownership. In an interesting turn of events, he opted to reset the B trip odometer, and that’s when things changed. Per his post on the Honda CR-V Enthusiasts Facebook Group,

“Like many other people, I was frustrated with the mpg on the 2025 Honda CRV Hybrid. A few days ago, I filled up the tank and noticed I had just turned 1000 miles on the car, so I reset the B trip odometer. Also, the weather has been slightly warmer, and suddenly, I'm getting the mileage I expected to get. Not sure if it was the weather or the 1000 miles?”

There are several potential causes of the improvement in fuel economy. As Williamson mentioned in his post, the weather has been slightly warmer as spring rolls in, which could be part of the reason for better mileage. Hybrid vehicles rely on lithium-ion batteries, which slow down in colder weather. This time, the battery may operate more efficiently, allowing longer electric-only driving.

Similarly, the warmer weather allows the engine to warm up faster, reducing unnecessary fuel consumption. That said, Jim did indicate he had just passed 1,000 miles before resetting, and the mileage problem had been experienced by others in the community.

This is true considering a poll among the CR-V hybrid owners found that half of the respondents had observed a fuel economy below 36 miles to the gallon, which falls short of the EPA's estimated 38 mpg rating. Real-world testing done by Edmunds also showed that the 2020 model struggled to achieve 32 mpg on a standardized 115-mile driving evaluation route. Review comments indicated the gasoline engine worked too hard to keep up with traffic, and the boost from the electric motor was insufficient at speeds of higher than 45 miles per hour.

The Break-in Period affects Fuel Economy

Vehicle manufacturers do provide a fuel economy rating for their models, but this rating may be affected by initial system calibrations. New vehicles often require a break-in period, allowing the engine parts to settle into optimal alignment, thus increasing efficiency over time.

The same is true for hybrid vehicles, as they may adjust power management strategies based on driving patterns the vehicle observes during the initial miles. Honda owner manuals also typically recommend a period of 600 miles, asking drivers to avoid sudden acceleration or heavy braking. This would allow engine components to settle into their alignment, allowing for better fuel economy.

It has also been practically experienced apart from the owner of the post. For example, a 2024 Honda Civic Hybrid owner indicated that after 900 miles, their efficiency increased from the high 30s to 35 miles per gallon. The learning curve goes both ways with the breaking-in period as well. As drivers become more familiar with their hybrid vehicles, they typically adopt driving styles that maximize the fuel economy, including smoother acceleration or better anticipation for braking. As the vehicle owner gets used to the car, they start to know how it responds regarding acceleration and braking.

Real-world vs. EPA Estimates

EPA fuel economy is calculated under controlled laboratory conditions, which do not reflect the variances in real-world driving. These tests utilize a standardized driving style under optimal acceleration and minimal use of climate control. Unfortunately, it can lead to inflated expectations for the hybrid owners. The real world entails elevation changes, extreme weather, and traffic congestion. This may have led to the initial fuel economy over 1000 miles as the vehicle went from pristine conditions to the real world.

Community Reactions and Owner Experience

Community reactions to the fuel efficiency of the 2025 Honda CRV Hybrid may vary widely. Some owners have expressed disappointment with the lower-than-expected mileage. In this case, Williamson acknowledged the frustration of many community members with fuel efficiency. Conversely, other owners have reported satisfactory fuel economy. One Reddit user also claimed they had experienced satisfactory mileage with their 2023 CRV Sport.

The owner indicated he was averaging 37.8 mpg overall. He lived in a hilly suburban area and had driven on the highway at 70 miles per hour for more than half their mileage. The terrain and their driving style illustrate a relaxed opinion on fuel efficiency. While the fuel economy of the 2025 Honda CRV hybrid remains a topic of discussion, breaking in periods, driving habits, and environmental conditions have a direct effect on mileage.

Williamson reported improvements after going past 1,000 miles, but others have struggled to meet the EPA estimates, indicating the gap between lab-tested efficiency and real-world performance. Though resetting the B trip odometer does not directly improve fuel economy, it helps to track performance trends, which can guide adjustments in driving behavior.

Image source: Grok AI and Honda CR-V Hybrid Enthusiasts Group.

Nicholas Muhoro is an automotive journalist covering car news and has a decade of experience sharing working at HotCars and TopSpeed. You can follow Nicholas on X and on LinkedIn to stay in touch and follow his news coverage at Torque News.