In the last Insight post, I noted that we did not have a cumulative eco score. Well, we do indeed have a score. The manual did not mention that the car has to be running for a while for the eco score to appear (at least until the eco guide screen can begin scoring, I assume). So there it is, we're getting an average score. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it stays there for the duration of its time with us, since I spent every moment behind the wheel this weekend trying to get a flower atop my five leafy stems. Everywhere I went, I drove as though I had buckets of nitroglycerine in my lap - all for naught. I'm not sure how we'll manage to get one of these elusive flowers outside of cheating with a tow truck and a long downhill highway.
Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor @ 7,181 miles
jeepsrt says:
10:54 AM, 10/13/09
If you drive it hard do the leaves fall off and the trees die?
crowb says:
10:56 AM, 10/13/09
HA! Mark, based on some of your other posts, I bet it was the worst kind of torture for you to have to drive that way. And all for naught.
canddmeyer says:
12:41 PM, 10/13/09
ECO score...........who gives a hoot.
jacarig says:
01:59 PM, 10/13/09
I'm glad that more "normal" cars are coming equipped with "eco" lights and screens. Sometimes they really can help you learn to drive more "efficiently." Not to mention, it can be something fun to do when driving the same boring commute everyday. "See how long I can make the light stay on," or off if that's more of your thing.
cwc1 says:
04:35 PM, 10/13/09
What a gimmick.
hybris says:
06:14 PM, 10/13/09
+1 to the Gimmick Theory
firstwagon says:
08:54 PM, 10/13/09
+1 jacarig
One only has to look at the mileage the Long term fleet (and many posters) get to see most people don't know how to drive efficiently. It's tough to explain to most that you don't have to drive like a hyper-miler to see a significant jump in gas mileage. You just have to drive better .
All cars should have something like this.
super_ongoy says:
11:06 PM, 10/13/09
What next? Will it come with a tamagochi built in next?
noflash1 says:
07:31 AM, 10/14/09
How dare Honda try to change our driving habits to improve fuel economy! That's cheating!
nf
yellowmiata says:
10:17 AM, 10/14/09
Even in my 370Z there is an instant mpg (yes I know "instant MPG" is an illogical conclusion) and it does make me feather the gas more. Thank goodness I can choose not to view it. Regardless, I've yet to really set any high mileage numbers (high for a high-strung V6). I like the instant feedback, it does increase my mpg when I'm crawling around in traffic.
cr_driver says:
11:57 AM, 10/14/09
Boring, but what else is to be expected if you buy this car?
saranghae1314 says:
12:16 PM, 10/14/09
Cool concept~
mheikka says:
04:34 PM, 10/14/09
It is very easy to get a good ECO SCORE, without watching any of the admittedly gimmicky MID displays. All you have to do is keep a casual eye on the speedometer backlight. If the backlight is blue, you're not driving efficiently. If it's green, you are. It can't get any simpler than that. If you keep "in the green" for the bulk of your commute, you'll do better than you have done.
Specifically, keep the car under 70mph or 4000 rpm and use moderate acceleration and braking. Jackrabbit starts and 75-80MPH won't get you there faster.
I've never gotten under 42 MPG this way, and I'm not a hypermiler.