Morning @kezo
I guess that there’s a chance that we may be calculating our ‘mpg equivalent’ figures differently (it still bugs me that you can’t just use the figure on the fuel computer, unlike an ICE car, unless you never charge it), but I think that the main reason is that our usage is entirely different. The shortest journey that I ever make is around a 30 mile round trip, and that’s only around once or twice a week.
I calculate the mpg equivalent (petrol plus all charge costs) every single time that I fill up with petrol, rather than on an ad hoc basis, so the results vary considerably depending on the mix of driving. On the last long journey I started with a full tank and full charge and filled up again at the end, hence I know that the 38mpg equivalent is spot on as it was calculated rather than using the overstated figure on the fuel computer (which was something like 52 mpg). Like you, I put it in to Auto mode on longer journeys and the Sat Nav is always used.
The car does not recharge to 100% now but does as yours does – generates some miles and then deploys them. When it did that before it was when the car was new and I was playing around with the various settings. It may be that I put it into HEV mode even when the battery still had some charge, whereas when the car itself decides to go into HEV mode (when the battery is depleted) it doesn’t do that?
I’m going to work out the true mpg equivalent figures on our two short breaks and then I’m done with it. From that point on I’ll do what most PHEV drivers do and kid myself that the mpg stated in the car is correct, as all my charges are free 🤔
Thankfully I never choose a car based on running costs, but I was determined to establish whether or not a PHEV suits our driving pattern and I think the honest answer is that it doesn’t! I expected that there would be a substantial saving in petrol costs that would offset the faff of having to charge it after every use, but that hasn’t been the case. I fully appreciate though that for many people who do lots more shorter journeys the savings can be meaningful.
I should take a leaf out of my late Uncle’s book. He died too young at 78, but when I last saw him (6 months before) he roared up in his Porsche Macan GTS with Porsche sports exhaust (sounded phenomenal) and he told me that his neighbour had recoiled in horror and asked him what mpg he got out of it. “I don’t have a clue and I don’t care” was his reply! His daughter looked at the computer and told him it was 23 mpg 😂