I'm in Europe right now. Where are those fuel efficient cars? 60 mpg van? Imperial MPG MAYBE, if hypermiled on a warm day.
I get a nice 55 (US)mpg from my 2nd gen Insight but I do all the tricks to get there. My colleague has a Skoda 1.2 Greenline 3-cylinder 1.2l turbodiesel, which is rated for about 70 mpg, and gets 40 mpg from it, tops. He does the speed limit where possible.
Go figure.
If there is any conspiracy, it is about setting crazy FE ratings for the European market that cannot be realized in anything but ideal conditions.
FE apparently stands for 'Fairy Economy'.
The difference between the American EPA and European NEDC rating is about 25% for the Insight... I barely break NEDC, I'm obviously a lousy driver
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2011 Honda Insight + HID, LEDs, tiny PV panel, extra brake pad return springs, neutral wheel alignment, 44/42 PSI (air), PHEV light (inop), tightened wheel nut.
lifetime FE over 0.2 Gmeter or 0.13 Mmile.
For confirmation go to people just like you.
For education go to people unlike yourself.