Strange city vs highway fuel economy – anyone else?

[viptr]

Hi everyone,

I’ve noticed something strange with my MG3 Hybrid+ and wanted to check if others have seen the same.

From most reviews and technical breakdowns, the hybrid system should perform best in urban conditions—lots of regen braking, electric-only driving, and low-speed efficiency. But in my case, I consistently get better fuel economy on highways than in the city.

Even when driving very gently in traffic, using regen modes, and avoiding sudden acceleration, the fuel consumption remains higher in the city. Meanwhile, on longer highway trips (with constant speeds and minimal regen), I actually see lower fuel usage overall.

It feels like the car isn’t fully taking advantage of its EV capability at low speeds, and the engine runs more often than expected, even with decent battery levels.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Is this normal behavior for the MG3 Hybrid+? Or could it be a matter of system tuning or software strategy?

Would love to hear your thoughts or comparisons.

 

[johnbristol1966]

Yes mine does the same. I tend to average about 45-50mpg when driving around the terrible traffic in my home town, but can get 80mpg on long journeys on motorways or clear A roads.

 

[Coulomb]

Even full EVs can show a similar economy pattern. It depends on how much time is spent waiting at traffic lights or crawling in stop-start congestion. In those circumstances, you achieve zero or very few miles, yet you are still running pumps, computers, screens, lights, HVAC, and so on. That has to be paid for by the energy source, be that electricity or fuel, and affects economy.

Best economy should be found at moderate speeds (35-50 mph), with few stops. Unfortunately, stops and congestion are a frequent feature of modern city driving.

 

[Aitch1]

Hi everyone,

I’ve noticed something strange with my MG3 Hybrid+ and wanted to check if others have seen the same.

From most reviews and technical breakdowns, the hybrid system should perform best in urban conditions—lots of regen braking, electric-only driving, and low-speed efficiency. But in my case, I consistently get better fuel economy on highways than in the city.

Even when driving very gently in traffic, using regen modes, and avoiding sudden acceleration, the fuel consumption remains higher in the city. Meanwhile, on longer highway trips (with constant speeds and minimal regen), I actually see lower fuel usage overall.

It feels like the car isn’t fully taking advantage of its EV capability at low speeds, and the engine runs more often than expected, even with decent battery levels.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Is this normal behavior for the MG3 Hybrid+? Or could it be a matter of system tuning or software strategy?

Would love to hear your thoughts or comparisons.

I agree with you to a point, but disagree with the engine runs more often...etc. In town/village driving i mostly use ACC and in EV mode quite a lot. When stopped, for whatever reason, lights, roadworks, heavy traffic...the engine is always in EV mode. Even in this hot weather and using A/C, I still find myself in EV. My current average MPG is 64.59, and that is with mostly town driving. Aitch
A/C

 

[johnbristol1966]

The thing I hate about being stationary in traffic is the way my car will sit in EV mode when stationary, then when i touch the accelerator to move forward a car length it goes to HEV then instantly back to EV when I stop. This Start / Stop activity often lasts for a whole traffic jam even if I have over 50% battery!

 

[Tuomas]

Today I drove 128 km (average speed 76km/h) and consumption was 4.6 per 100km.

I noticed if speed was 80km/h or less every other kilometer went with EV and every other HEV. If my speed was +90km/h EV was minimal.

 

[Aitch1]

Today I drove 128 km (average speed 76km/h) and consumption was 4.6 per 100km.

I noticed if speed was 80km/h or less every other kilometer went with EV and every other HEV. If my speed was +90km/h EV was minimal.
View attachment 38984

Sorry Tuomas, km and km/h are double-dutch to me. I can only work in pounds, shillings and pence. Thanks for your input, though.

 

[Tuomas]

Sorry Tuomas, km and km/h are double-dutch to me. I can only work in pounds, shillings and pence. Thanks for your input, though.

76km/h is same as 47.22 mph
and 4,6 litres per 100km is 61.41 mpg

 

[All that Jazz]

Sorry Tuomas, km and km/h are double-dutch to me. I can only work in pounds, shillings and pence. Thanks for your input, though.

As a Dutch person, I'll untangle your double Dutch knot with a few double Dutch - English dictionaries:

Fuel Consumption Converter

Convert instantly between kilometers per liter, liters per 100 km, miles per gallon (mpg) and other units of fuel consumption

www.thecalculatorsite.com

MPH to KPH Conversion

MPH to KPH Conversion Calculator, Conversion Table and How to Convert.

calculator-converter.com

Kilometers to Miles conversion: km to mi calculator

Kilometers to Miles (km to miles) conversion calculator for length conversions with additional tables, formulas and additional information.

www.metric-conversions.org

And as for the pounds, shillings and pence this will help: Currency Converter - Best Currency Exchange Rates