DETROIT — Ford said Friday that it’s talking to the government about the fuel economy of its hybrid cars after a report suggested they’re falling short of targets.

Consumer Reports said last week that Ford’s new C-Max hybrid didn’t meet the published fuel economy of 47 miles per gallon, averaging 38 miles per in the magazine’s testing. Other hybrids — including the Ford Fusion and Toyota Prius V — have also fallen short in the magazine’s tests.

Ford said it followed the Environmental Protection Agency’s guidelines when it set its fuel economy standards. But the EPA’s hybrid tests don’t exactly mimic real-world driving. For example, Consumer Reports said it measures highway fuel use for a car going 65 miles per hour, but the EPA’s highway test speed averages 48 mph.

Ford’s global vehicle development chief Raj Nair said the way owners drive their hybrids can also affect performance. For example, driving a hybrid car 75 miles per hour, instead of 65 miles per hour, can cost the driver seven miles per gallon, Nair said. Hot or cold temperatures can also affect the numbers.

Nair said Ford is talking to the EPA to see if the agency needs to change the way it tests hybrids. The EPA said Friday that it is reviewing Consumer Reports’ results.