Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.To get a better idea of how well fuel-economy estimates from the EPA match actual experience for owners, Edmunds dug into their accumulated long-term fleet test data, spanning a bunch of hybrids. Hybrids tend to carry the most tempting numbers on the lot, sometimes even over 50 mpg combined. The findings are mixed. While they confirmed that many of the EPA's "best-in-class" estimates would be difficult or impossible for most people to reach, the results also showed that those estimates were closer to being accurate for owners who have a very light touch on the gas pedal. Driving style, weather, terrain, all of it chips away at the number that drew you into the dealership in the first place.HyundaiClosest And Furthest From EPA EstimatesAcross the Edmunds' fleet over the years, almost every hybrid came in under its EPA rating, some by a little, others by a lot. The 2021 Toyota Sienna came closest, landing at 35 mpg against an EPA estimate of 37 mpg, just a 2 mpg shortfall. The 2016 Prius wasn't far behind, averaging 49 mpg versus its 52 mpg rating.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe biggest miss belonged to the 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid. It averaged just 29.6 mpg against an EPA figure of 38 mpg, a gap of more than 8 mpg. Other notable "fails" include the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid (41 mpg vs. 48 mpg EPA), 2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro Hybrid (18 mpg vs. 23 mpg EPA), and the 2025 Hyundai Santa Fe Hybrid (26.7 mpg vs. 34 mpg EPA).View the 2 images of this gallery on the original articleSo Which Hybrids Actually Rank Highest?Although there are some hybrids that do not reach their EPA estimates in the real world, there's no denying that most are still superior compared to their gas-only counterparts at the pump. Given how small the gap between the EPA numbers and real-world efficiency can get, it still makes sense to pick from the EPA-toppers list if efficiency is a priority. ToyotaThe Toyota Prius remains near the top of the pack with combined ratings as high as 57 mpg depending on trim, alongside other efficiency leaders like the Hyundai Elantra Hybrid and Toyota Camry Hybrid, both rated near 50 mpg combined. Just don't expect the number on the window sticker to be what you base your running costs on, especially if your right foot is heavy.AdvertisementAdvertisementThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jun 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the Features section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.