Do you get the EPA MPG

Exactly, but my point is the EPA figures are do-able in the real world- IF you consider the conditions of the test (under 60 miles per hour driving). If people aren't getting the EPA numbers, it is probably due to driving style or driving conditions. People may think they are driving highway driving when they are actually closer to city driving, or they drive with more acceleration than it needed, and they brake late and don't anticipate stops, etc. And if you buy "comfort" tires, of course it's going to use more miles per gallon than getting the harder performance or low rolling resistance tires.

The only arguement I have seen against the EPA rules that is legitimate is that hybrids in the EPA tests have full batteries, whereas in the real world if you start off with a battery that is somewhat drained, it could use up some power-efficiency (in the Prius-Escape, it will actually run the engine to recharge the battery- in the Hondas, it will be less a problem unless it gets really low, then the battery stops extra electrical power- the battery is not empty, it just won't let you get any more juice- and you just have to use extra engine power). So, in a general sense, hybrids are very dependent on driving style . Driving in such a way that keeps the battery topped up gives the best fuel economy.

Also, hybrids might experience worse fuel economy in severe winter conditions because the batteries can't store as much power in the cold (Priuses in Canada might get low 30's MPG, for instance, in the winter). This works with regular gasoline and diesel vehicles too, though, because winter fuel often has oxygenates or anti-gel additives (such as kerosene) that have less energy value- but it's a less extreme penalty. They add oxygenates (usually ethanol, much lower BTU's than gasoline) to gasoline because catalytic converters that are cold don't perform as well, which means they'll be polluting more.