Toyota Prius MPG-Real World Numbers

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Comments

  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    No need for experts, it's just a scientific fact that ethanol is not as "energy dense" as gasoline.

    Just spoke with a friend who owns a pair of Prius and although he's not a fanatical mileage tracker like I am, he's saying that he's seeing at least a 5% drop off since ethanol crept into our area of the state.

    He's not happy about that either.
  • oldcoacholdcoach Member Posts: 28
    I have a 08 prius and was getting 48.6 MPG now that it has gotten cold the MPG has drpopped to 42. I drive about 8 miles to work each day. The tem is in low 30's and high 20's. Is this common. :(:(
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    Yep, a mileage dropoff as we move into colder weather is to be expected as we start using the "winter gas" formulation :sick:
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    I buy both. In NC it's primarily 'pure' gas while in VA it's E10. The difference as far as I can estimate is that the E10 gives about 5% less fuel economy..... but it costs about 5% less. So for me it's a wash.
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    It's perfectly normal in winter time for all vehicles to lose a significant amount of fuel economy. It's just more noticeable in the Prius and other hybrids because the fair weather numbers are so high relatively. Lose 10% in winter with a 19 mpg SUV and it's barely noticable. Lose 10% in winter in a 50 mpg Prius and it's immediately noticable. In addition the MFD reports the bad news right away in plain view.

    Here is a post I made here 2 yrs ago on the Camry Hybrid forum. It applies to the Prius obviously but it also applies to all vehicles equally...

    quote:
    Now that winter is fully here you might want to take into consideration some of the following factors which can often be outside your control entirely. These generally act to decrease your fuel economy. But, hey, it's the same for every vehicle on the road as well. For some it's even worse.

    Factors affecting your FE ( and everyone else's also, btw ) in decending order of importance...
    1) Towing anything is a huge penalty possibly as much as a 50% reduction in FE
    2) Lots of weight in the vehicle, passengers cargo etc. ( EPA tests are done empty ) deduct up to 20% from your 'Norm'
    3) Short trips under 10 min - deduct 20% from your 'Norm'
    4) Snow, Rain, sleet - deduct 15%
    5) Strong head wind - deduct 10%
    6) Cold weather - deduct 5 - 10%
    7) High speed driving 0ver 70 mph - deduct 5 - 10%
    8) Many starts from a dead stop ( going from stop sign to stop sign to stop sign ) - deduct 5 - 10%
    9) Terrain - fortunately 'what goes up..' usually this balances out on a RT
    10) Winter fuel - deduct 2 - 5%
    11) Low tire pressure - ? How low

    Now these are cumulative, so short trips with a lot of stops ( -20% ) in winter ( -7% ) on slick pavement ( -15% ) can result in as much as a 40 - 50% loss from your personal 'Norm'. The bright side of this is that your 'Norm' is higher than most others at 39 mpg ( 48 mpg Prius ). If your Norm was only 26 mpg for example you might expect to get 13-15 mpg.

    unquote
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    I'm not so sure those items are absolutely cumulative though. In my expeience, the worst mileage drop I've ever recorded has been on the order of 15%, max. If I see anything worse than that I assume I'm looking at some extraordinary circumstance like being stuck in 5mph traffic for a couple of hours or I'm looking at some kind of issue with the car.

    I think I'd be hard pressed to come up with a situation where my mileage hit for an entire tank would ever get close to 20%, much less 40-50%

    In these days of "instantaneous mileage readouts" you could certainly be aware that when you're sitting at a traffic light idling that you're mileage is really low for that stretch of time. But as with everything else... you mileage may vary! :P
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    The numbers are solid estimates I've gathered from the MFD on the Prius. It's fairly easy to track 20 or 50 or 400 miles of driving in certain conditions.

    As to them being additive ... consider what your fuel economy might be in winter, in icy conditions ( poor traction ), into a headwind, on a short trip of less then 10 min. I'm certain that a Prius would be no more than 30-35 mpg for that trip. A 30 mpg midsized sedan might be in the mid/high teens. if these were your driving conditions for an entire tank or for the entire winter...... The key variable is the length of the trip. It's immediately noticeable on the hybrids that have a data-capturing MFD. The first 5 min of any trip is death on fuel economy. It's this first 5 min segment that has to be overcome in order to improve the total fuel economy.

    The values noted are not additive to the maximum value in every case but it's possible to construct a 20% or 30% or 50% reduction in fuel economy based on outside influences.
  • PF_FlyerPF_Flyer Member Posts: 9,372
    I've been in all those conditions, I've been in multiple combinations of those conditions. I'm not arguing that on a 10 minute trip that my mileage, if I bothered to measure it for THAT 10 minutes, is not going to be low. But I've NEVER been close to a 30-50% reduction in mileage at a fillup on any vehicle. And I don't think I'd get close to that kind of reduction driving a Prius either.

    The instantaneous stuff is interesting, but I'm not sure it really means anything. If I'm stuck on an icy road into a headwind for a 10 minute trip (say for example, driving the 5 miles home from my car dealer after a wintertime service) there's not a lot that I can do about that, nor do I expect that for that VERY small segment of my travels that I'm getting optimal mileage.

    The only vehicle I've ever driven extensively with a mileage readout was a Volvo V70 we had as a one week rental on a vacation in CA. After the initial fascination, I chenged the display so I couldn't see the mileage readout as there were far more important things to watch out for on the freeways of Southern California! ;)
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    So as an example... if I can average, say, 40 mpg under ideal conditions (current car, not a Prius), then if I am driving under the following scenario:

    Cold day, snowy, short distance, many stops, strong headwind (looks like an Alberta Clipper maybe!), full load of passengers, winter fuel, and maybe tires down a few pounds...

    then I am looking at around 90% lower fuel economy, or around 4 mpg. :surprise: Uh... no, I don't think so. It might be as much as 40% less than optimal, maybe 50% if in addition to the above I don't do anything to try to save fuel, such as anticipating stops and using a light foot on the gas. But nothing close to 90%. Unless maybe I were also towing a 3000 pound trailer up a mountain. That might do it. Until the FE drops to zero when the engine blows up. :sick:
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    Good exageration but actually if every one of those conditions occured at the same time then yes you'd be shockingly surprised how low your FE was. As I noted above not every condition will affect you to the Max, but it could if conditions were severe enough.

    Here's two really simple examples. You're stuck in traffic in a snow storm not moving at all. Stay there too long and you'll run out of gas. Yes your fuel economy is ZERO! Anyone who's towed with a truck knows that towing someing will cut fuel economy roughly in half.

    In the Prius it is absolutely clear from the graphical MFD that if you drove an entire tank, or an entire month or all year making just 5 min trips from home to work and back that your fuel economy would be in the 25-35 mpg range at best instead of 48 as most drivers get.

    And the more bad factors that you add to the equation the works the worse is the total.
  • backybacky Member Posts: 18,949
    It was not an exaggeration, but I think the formula you presented is. I live in MN. I have actually been in the scenario I described (except the towing the trailer up a mountain part) many times over the years. The FE numbers I gave weren't estimates, but from real-world experience. I just haven't seen much more than a 50% drop in FE from the ideal, even under the worst conditions.

    I agree that if I sit with the engine running, FE is zero. But that isn't what we are talking about.

    Anyway, if all I used a car for was 5-minute trips to/from work, I'd look for something other than a Prius. A bike or moped, maybe. :) Or a used compact that gets 25 mpg under even those conditions but cost a whole lot less than a Prius.
  • boots3boots3 Member Posts: 5
    Just filled my Prius up for the first time over the weekend, and calculated 46.998 MPG. Computer est. was 49.5. Not to bad for my first tank. hoprfully things will only get better when the weather warms up. :)
  • explorerx4explorerx4 Member Posts: 20,792
    a lady at work has one and she said her mileage has dropped to around half the usual(high 40's). i didn''t think much of it, but i saw someone posted about their prius which had dropped to around 28 mpg from high 40's this year also.
    neither experienced this last year, although it was quite a bit warmer in new england last winter.
    2024 Ford F-150 STX, 2023 Ford Explorer ST, 91 Mustang GT vert
  • kdhspyderkdhspyder Member Posts: 7,160
    Typically the drop is about 10% during winter. That would be from a 45-50 mpg range on average to 40-45 mpg during the deep cold.

    There is plenty of data and evidence available from really cold parts like Colo, Minn and Alberta. Sites such as PriusChat have responders from all over the world.

    Less than 40 mpg is next to impossible - except if the vehicle is driven only 10 miles or less each way and not driven at any other time in the depths of deepest winter. Short trips are the single worst negative effect on fuel economy....for all vehicles. It's just that before the Prius with it's MFD nobody had a graphical and numerical presentation of fuel economy in a vehicle. Almost everybody's prior 'data' was anecdotal at best. 'I got 36 mpg on this trip I took.....'

    It is possible to cut fuel economy in half but external conditions have to be so bad that just getting around is difficult. Combine ice, packed snow, strong winds, bitter temps, winter gas and short trips. Then 30 mpg might be a valid number iso 48 mpg. But under the same external conditions vehicles that 'normally' got 30 mpg are likely to be in the 18 mpg range. All due to external conditions.
  • TagitTagit Member Posts: 1
    I just got a 2009 Prius. Great car, but I can't break 39.9 mpg. I've had it about 4 weeks, 1000 miles. I drive about 40 mins to work with 15 mins highway and the rest local roads. Do I have any hope of increasing mileage? I'm so depressed. :cry:
  • prius2007prius2007 Member Posts: 41
    Hi Tagit,

    1. What was your MPG on your previous car?
    2. How many cars will give you 40MPG?

    I bet 40 looks much better now. Your MPG will improve with:
    1. once the car (and driver) is broken in > 5K miles
    2. warmer weather

    You may want to read this:
    link title

    Be patient,
    Gabe
  • jana6jana6 Member Posts: 17
    I had a lot of trouble getting the mileage I wanted when I first got my Prius in 2007. Now I pay even closer attention to the Energy monitor and try to see 99.9 as much as possible. I take advantage of any little hill and coast and glide as much as possible. It is amazing how, if you lift your foot just a smidgen off the gas peddle, you will still go the same speed but the gas mileage goes up a LOT! What I have noticed is if I don't pay attention to how I am driving and concentrate on all the above as much as possible, my gas mileage drops significantly. Gabe has also given me a lot of hints in the past as well as some others and putting all the ideas into practice have definitely improved my gas mileage.

    Good luck. :)
  • cdhccdhc Member Posts: 11
    Hi, I have a 2008, and have gotten my average up to 57MPG. You may have heard some of these already, but here are my tips.
    Raise your tire air pressure to 40 on all the tires
    Do not drive over 57 MPH as a general rule. Use the cruise control to help.
    As much as possible, coast, and apply light pressure on the brake pedal.
    Put yourself in a mindset that allows you to be taught a new way of driving. With the interactive display on the screen, the car will teach you how to drive it, if you will allow it to do so.
  • prius2007prius2007 Member Posts: 41
    The front tires should be 2 PSI higher than the rear tires to compansate for the extra weight of the car in the front (check owner's manual).
    Gabe
  • prius2007prius2007 Member Posts: 41
    Hi Jana6,

    Glad the tips helped and you're getting better MPG. Thanks for the acknowledgement.

    Keep up the good MPGs:)
    Gabe
  • jana6jana6 Member Posts: 17
    You are most welcome. I really appreciated all your advice.

    There was also a link to a great website "way back when" (within the past year I think) that went over a lot too. If someone could find that link again and post it for the new Prius owners, it should help them get a better picture of what needs to be done and why.

    I'm content with the 48-50 mpg I now experience even though it could be better. I've decided to trade better gas mileage than that with getting places faster (I go over 57 mph a lot!).

    Have a great one!
  • temsleytemsley Member Posts: 4
    I have a question about cold weather driving. Would it make sense to start my car in the driveway for 5 minutes before driving off in the winter so that I am driving it warm or would that waste more gas than it is worth? Thanks!
  • dmathews3dmathews3 Member Posts: 1,739
    I have a remote start on my car and yes it will waste gas but to me the little it wastes is worth the warm feeling, the clear windows and a more responsive engine is well worth it. Just from a safety stand point having the defrost clear the windows is worth the pennies in gas used.
  • cdhccdhc Member Posts: 11
    It seems to me that its six of one, half dozen of another. Your benefit in pre-warming the car would be a warm interior & defrosted windshield. Yes it will use some gas. I've noticed that having the car 'on', if you have the temp setting to 'max high', the gas engine is running all the time. When you have it set for something lower like 75 degrees, the gas engine will cycle on & off. I don't see any other benefit for pre-warming the car.
  • wvgasguywvgasguy Member Posts: 1,405
    I'm planning to get a 2010 Prius and decided to drive the 09 model just to see if it was something I really couldn't live with. I understand the 2010 will address several issues that I might find undesirable so I kept that in mind.

    Upon takiow me how to use the NAV/ FE readouts and I reset them. I noticed the SOC was low so I wasn't surprised that the first 4 miles on 4 lane did not start out all that great, but the battery was charging. I pulled off the interstate and started back towards the dealership on a rural road that went through a small town. By the time I got to the dealership I was sitting with a 48mpg reading. I remembered that I wanted to know how much passing power the Prius had so I took it back out and flogged it pretty good for a couple of miles. It dropped to 43 (which means I was probably around 30 for that short trip. A little dissapointed in the power. Sure you can go fast but you'd better not pull out in front of someone expecting a power surge when you floor it.

    All in all for what I want, and with another 20+hp I think the 2010 will satisfy me. I see no reason why I won't be able to average the 50mpg since I will seldom flog the car :)
  • tiff_ctiff_c Member Posts: 531
    All in all for what I want, and with another 20+hp I think the 2010 will satisfy me. I see no reason why I won't be able to average the 50mpg since I will seldom flog the car

    My wife and I have thought the same thing. The only time we really juice the car is when merging onto the highway. Most of our trips are highway set at 70mph and just cruise. Most of the rest is Sub-urban roads, about 40 mph some roads have a lot of stops others have virtually none. The 20hp extra should fix the problems with the 2009's lack of power. Merging here can be scary as no one will let you in. Our 2009 Honda Fit Sport Auto gets it's Italian tuneups by regularly merging onto the highway. ;)
    Other than that, we drive pretty easy and for good reason, lots of cops out with radar. if you can't go fast you might as well be economical. :D
  • priuswannabe1priuswannabe1 Member Posts: 2
    You have a remote start on your Prius? I didn't think such a thing existed. If so, where did you buy the remote starter?
  • bwilson4webbwilson4web Member Posts: 80
    We picked up our Prius III three days ago and I wanted to share our preliminary results from the car as driven off the dealer's lot:

    50 mph - 67 MPG
    60 mph - 62 MPG
    65 mph - 55 MPG
    70 mph - 53 MPG
    75 mph - 49 MPG
    80 mph - 39 MPG (*)

    Test protocol: two runs in opposite directions averaged, temp: 82-84F, wind 15-20 mph steady; speed cruise control maintained and GPS validated; distance: 7-15 miles per run; mileage trip meter reset after GPS validated speed. (*) Temp: 62F, wind 15 mph steady, defroster on by accident.

    I also ran a series of hill climb tests to compare with our 2,700 lb, 2003 Prius versus the 3,000 lb. 2010 Prius:

    55 mph - .0725 gal. (2003 Prius, 2,700 lbs, straight gas)
    55 mph - .0675 gal. (2010 Prius, 3,040 lbs. E10)

    The 2010 has at least 6.9% better performance. This also shows up as extra power when climbing a hill:

    60-65 mph - gas-only 2003 Prius hill climb speed
    80-85 mph - gas-only 2010 Prius hill climb speed

    The gas-only climb speed is how fast a hybrid goes up a 6% grade hill without drawing on traction battery power. I've climbed this 6% grade hill at 80 mph in my 2003 Prius only to deplete the traction battery at the 525 ft. crest. In contrast, the 2010 Prius will continue up at 80 mph until the gas runs out. But I got this car to replace our oldest, 2001 Echo.

    My wife loves her new, 2010 Prius because compared to the Echo and my 2003 Prius; it is quieter; has more power; more room; more comfortable seats and ride; and burns less gas. Her 2010 Prius handles the road better than the Echo and 2003 Prius with significantly improved safety from the frame and air bags. Happily, my wife's 2001 Echo sold after nine years with 29,500 miles. In three and a half years, I've put 70,000 miles on our 2003 Prius getting just over 52 MPG and I'll continue to drive it "until the wheels fall off."

    I tested the new Honda Insight and hit my head on the door jam. After adjusting the seat, it felt like a coffin with my head barely clearing the roof. Worse, the instruments had to be viewed through the steering wheel and folding down the seats, the interior looked more like a homeless cardboard box so driving was out of the question.

    We've heard a lot about the Jetta TDI but the automatic Jetta TDI does not get better than our 2001 automatic Echo. Worse, VW brags about their engine noise!

    So we voted with our dollars, $24,250, and after four days, are very happy. Our 32 MPG, low mileage Echo went to a family of five for $3,000 and replaced their 22 MPG pickup. Everyone has moved up and the Honda Insight and Jetta TDI remain on the sales lot. – Bob Wilson
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  • john1701ajohn1701a Member Posts: 1,897
    Lots of patience is required to collect all the data. Improvements to the design of Prius when it comes to heat retention and the impact that has on efficiency won't be apparent until the winter.

    But nonetheless, we can enjoy summer reports in the meantime.

    After 4 tanks and 4 weeks, here's mine: 55.0 MPG average at 2,015 miles
    .
  • fantesia28fantesia28 Member Posts: 15
    I just picked up my new 2010 Prius last week. I am still on the first tank of gas, so I haven't been able to calculate this way yet, but according to the computer for my last two trips, I am averaging between 52 - 54 mpg!! Totally beats my Camry's 26-27 MPG on a good day!!
  • jweaver39jweaver39 Member Posts: 15
    had my 09 pruis for 2months/1800 miles driven, just tried to see how far i can go on a tank of gas. got down to the last pip 611 miles-filled up 11gals-approx. 55mpg, no hypermiling 80% city driving/20% highway, just drive like a hybrid should be driven maintain speed limits use battery power whenever possible, i love it (previous vechile 98 suv which got 16-18mpg
  • fantesia28fantesia28 Member Posts: 15
    Wow! I assume you are getting such great gas mileage because of the city driving... my driving is mainly highway thus I assume why it's lower.
  • cheryl06priuscheryl06prius Member Posts: 50
    I recently traded my 2006 Prius for a 2010 Prius II. After 1792 miles, I am averaging 57MPG based on capping the tank-which is a little easier without the bladder. The trip mileage mpg tends to be 2mpg higher than my calculation, that is if the trip mpg is 59, I calculate 57mpg.

    This is a mix of nearly 50/50 city/highway. Nothing negative to say about the car so far and it appears the major change is the improved highway mpg. This is in Western New York with hills in the southern part of the region, northern part mostly level.
  • vanderhorstgvanderhorstg Member Posts: 17
    I'm curious: why did you trade up so soon? I'm absolutely satisfied with my 2006 Prius! It runs like a charm and hasn't needed any service other than oil changes every 5,000 (and some tire issues). The solar AC would be nice - did you get that feature?
  • cheryl06priuscheryl06prius Member Posts: 50
    My 2006 Prius had 73,000 miles and in order to get a reasonable trade in value, I traded. I probably didn't get the maximum trade allowance, at least using Edmunds stats, but I'm hoping the 2010 :Prius will carry me for at least 3 years; hopefully by then a better MPG version will be available.

    What is disappointing is the 2010 Prius 11 didn't come with the backup camera. My 2006(second lowest package) had the camera. All said, I believe the improved MPG on the 2010 Prius, will justify the trade. It is easy to get addicted to such options as the back up camera.
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    I had my 2010 Prius for two weeks and I am averaging about 43 MPG with feather footed driving.

    I dont know what planet other forum members live on but their numbers to me look outworldly . Apparenty their planet has little friction or gravitation.

    57 MPG? Over 60 MPG? WOW!!!

    I hope to accomplish their numbers sometime soon. I salute those people who actually do get those figures. But in all honesty I dont know how to do that without getting killed in a road rage incident by some disgruntled car driver behind me who happens to be in a rush. Traffic conditions here in downtown Toronto are quite hectic.
  • john1701ajohn1701a Member Posts: 1,897
    New owners tend to fight the system, doing exactly the opposite of what they should.

    JUST DRIVE IT is counter-intuitive. How could that actually work? Well, it does. Once you overcome break-in and learn to go with the flow, MPG should climb into the 50's overall. My mixed driving is upper 50's now.

    The new ECO-METER helps with the understanding. You can see energy the consumption rate, even when the engine is stopped and the power flow is only electricity.
  • prius2007prius2007 Member Posts: 41
    Hi dewey,

    What is your driving profile? Distance of your trips; city vs HWY %; roads you take downtown; tire pressure, etc.

    Just to let you know what is possible; my life time MPG is 60.5 (US gallons).
  • deweydewey Member Posts: 5,251
    John and Prius2007,

    I am about to go on vacation for a week (it is my vacation policy to avoid browsing the web) and I look forward to giving you both information about my driving and asking suggestions on getting that fantastic mileage that I seek.

    Take care.
  • cheryl06priuscheryl06prius Member Posts: 50
    In fairness traffic is far more congested in the Toronto Metro area than in the Buffalo area, but if I could list two techniques which I believe are essential for long term FE they are: 1) try to anticipate when the traffic light ahead of you is going to change and try coasting, anything so you don't have to accelerate from a full stop. I see many vehicles speed past me at 50mph knowing that the light 1/8 mile ahead is red, while I just coast at 30mph or so, 2) when you do accelerate do so lightly

    That said there is always the risk of road rage, whether its because you have a Prius or you are just driving too slow to suit the other driver ,I don't know which is more prevalent. I've come to grips with the matter and I'm not about to drive 10-15mph over the speed limit, just to "go with the flow', and placate someone whose chief source of gratification is going faster the driver ahead of him.

    Sorry Dewey, i'm not up on my metrics.
  • cheryl06priuscheryl06prius Member Posts: 50
    It is pretty well established that A/C use lowers FE, and for that reason I rarely use it, preferring to drive with the drivers window down. I've heard reports that doing so also lowers FE, but never have seen any exact specific figures. Anyone care to opine on this?
  • dmathews3dmathews3 Member Posts: 1,739
    Everything I have read is lower mpg at highway speeds and no difference in town. As cars become more and more streamlined this may not be the case as much. My guess would be to put down the drivers window with someone or something in the back like a heliem ballon on a short string in the backseat and if it gets bounced around than I would think the wind coming in would be enough to also effect the mpg. Personally I wear a hearing aid in my left ear so the wind noise is unbearable for me at any speeds over about 20 plus I like the piece and quiet with the windows up and the air on. Sometimes we tend to go overboard in our quest for that extra tenth of a mile per gallon and then have to go home and spend twice as much to heat the hot water for a shower and end up spending more to save a penny.
  • mocha22mocha22 Member Posts: 1
    2010 is our first prius so we are still learning how to use the panels to help us drive more efficiently.

    We have 204 miles and are averaging 44mpg. We live in San Diego so weather is always good (no cold weather issues). The prius is my commuter car. I drive 15 miles each way and I've been noticing that I get 60 or 70mpg on the way to work (mostly downhill) and 40-45 mpg on the way back (mostly uphill). Is the difference normal? Are there any techniques to improve my uphill mpg?
  • butchfootebutchfoote Member Posts: 4
    You can justify the trades easily if you invert Mpg to gpm's. Most people compare mpg's which is not effective in making calculations for savings.

    Instead use gallons per 1000 miles. For example, 40 mpg is 25 gallons per 1000 miles. 50 mpg is 20 gallons per 1000 miles. Savings 5 gallons per 1000 miles. If you drive 12,000 miles per year, you save 60 gallons of gas. 60 gallons times $2.50 here in Boston works out to a whopping $150 dollars savings per year, or $450 over 3 years.

    Trading in an older Prius for a 2010, costs a lot more than you will save in 3, 5, or even 7 years. Buy a new Prius for some one in your family. Keep the old one until it drops.

    The greenest cars are the Prius's already on the highway, because the materials and energy to build them have already been consumed.
  • vanderhorstgvanderhorstg Member Posts: 17
    I agree. I used to think that running the AC was harder on a car's engine, and have been proven incorrect. And with the aerodynamic design of the Prius, I would think that the affect of having windows down on FE would be even greater. I too, prefer the quiet inside - that's one of the things that sold me on the Prius; other hybrid vehicles sound like an airplane engine behind the back seat!
    I use the automatic temperature control in my Prius, and am careful to modify the cooling to a slightly higher temp in hot weather (like last week in Oregon!) so as not to overwork the AC.
  • tyler70tyler70 Member Posts: 82
    I too think that using AC too much is not good for the engine. where did you get the information (evidence) that this is incorrect?? of course I would like to be proven wrong in this case so I can use more of AC.
    I also have another question... if in fact having AC is harder on the engine, then does it make a difference if I have the AC on lower vs higher???
    one last question, can anyone tell me where I can find the list of all voice commands for the new Prius ?? thanks :confuse: :confuse:
  • vanderhorstgvanderhorstg Member Posts: 17
    My mechanic is the one that confirmed this for me. I've also done some research online that gives valuable info regarding when to use or not use AC. Go to http://www.ask.com and ask the question about using AC in a car, or try Click & Clack's website: cartalk.com

    What I'm not sure of is whether the battery or gasoline drives the power on the AC system in a Toyota Prius. Anyone know?
  • sthogesthoge Member Posts: 28
    The battery drives the AC on the Prius. That is why you can have the engine off, but still get cold air. At least that's the way it works on mine.
  • cheryl06priuscheryl06prius Member Posts: 50
    As my 2010 Prius2 nears 3000 miles, my calculated FE is 58MPG combined. The fuel consumption gauge continues to read higher than the calculated mpg,i.e. gauge shows 62MPG for 300 miles,59MPG calculated. I still find the improved highway FE to be the major improvement with the 2010 prius, where I used to limit my interstate cruising speeds to 60MPH, I now travel at 65MPH for most of the trip.

    The EV mode switch is a step in the right direction but needs much improvement-of course that won't happen until better batteries are developed. I like to use the EV mode in parking lots but find that most of the time it won't function in that mode for 2 or 3 minutes after the engine is started, so I wind up using it when entering, but not exiting the lot. My car won't operate in the EV mode at more than 25MPH so it is of very limited use for street driving. Driving at 25MPH or less when other traffic is present is a no-brainer.
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