[steve86]

I understand the EPA tests are conducted under low and medium load conditions (moderate intake vacuum, etc.). I have never been able to exceed the EPA results consistently, although a tail wind can certainly do it on a given trip. This includes carbureted and fuel-injected (throttle body and port injection), gas and diesels. Some individual vehicles do post higher numbers. These almost have to be running lean.

Some vehicles get lower. Most have heard about the Jeep Liberty diesel getting half the EPA mileage when tested by Consumer Reports. And they got only 44 MPG in a Prius.

[Publius Valerius]

Well, I can't speak to other cars, but I get about 9 mpg over the EPA rating for my car for highway driving. My car is rated a 26 and I pretty consistently get around 35 on the highway.

Again, I think a big part of it is that I drive the speed limit (or within 5 mph) and I don't accelerate hard. I keep my distance from other cars so when I'm on the highway I'm not constantly braking and accelerating.