I'm considering the purchase of a 2005 HCH tomorrow (12/14/07) or the next day. It's a "certified used Honda" so it will have the balance of a 7 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty and a 4 year/48,000 mile non-powertrain warranty. The vehicle is in excellent condition and drives well. We have frequent high winds where I live but the winds were calm during the test drive so I could not accurately gauge performance in the wind. I may need to drive the hybrid on frequent long turnpike trips of 90 miles one way in 20-30mph winds. Will the hybrid engine combo be able to sustain 75mph in those wind conditions? Yes, I know 75mph is not the most fuel efficient speed but it is in fact the posted speed limit on the turnpike and I would not want to be flattened by an 18 wheeler because I could not maintain the same speed as other traffic.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

I did have one experience that may help answer your question. I had a 240 mile highway trip into the teeth of a 30+ miles per hour headwind. I had a loaded cargo carrier on the roof and was still able to maintain 70 miles per hour (or better) except on a couple of long hills, where I had to content myself with traveling at the speed limit.

Of course my mileage suffered because of the high relative airspeed (100mph+) and additional drag from the cargo carrier. I only got about 32 mpg. Even so, that's still better than the 24 mpg I used to get in my CRV, with a tail wind!

 

I live in new mexico. I drive 85 miles each way to work across the windy desert with the cruise set at 75 miles per hour. It is absolutely and completely adequate for the job. No worries at all. Sure the mileage goes down (I get 39 or 40 when it's windy instead of 43 or 44), but there's plenty of power to do the job. It is a small car with a small engine, so it will not feel like a race car, but it will have no trouble maintining speed, even in significant winds. This is a real car, not a golf cart. It will achieve and maintain highway speeds in all conditions without difficulty, including hills, winds, highway ramps, etc. No problemo.

I couldn't be more pleased with this car, I highly recommend it. Good luck on your purchase.

 

agreed. it will handle the job fine.

Also to add, i actually get better MPGs at 75 over 65 on the highway (yes, it was identical conditions for both tests). I didn't believe it until I did, but your car may vary. And it'll handle 'passing' speed to 85 fine too