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Old 04-24-2009, 12:58 PM   #20 (permalink)
jamesqf
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Southcross View Post
isn't 70mpg based on running on the battery, typically city driving?
Not with the Insight. Its hybrid system works differently from the Prius, and it can't (normally, anyway) run on the battery alone. Instead, the electric motor provides a boost when accelerating or climbing hills, allowing it to use the very small gas engine efficiently at cruising speed.

My own experience, and I've owned one for about six years now, is that it will get very much better mph in highway cruising, especially if you can manage speed & road conditions to stay in the "lean burn" zone. For long distance driving, though, the speeds for that are likely to be a bit below average freeway speed. If you try to keep a consistent 70 mph or more, you'll see mpg drop to 50-55 range.
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