EPA Lowers Prius mpg

[abq sfr]

From msn...

Hardest hit in the government change is the Toyota Prius, the best-selling hybrid in the world. The 2007 Prius has a 60-miles-per-gallon rating for city driving. The new EPA calculation drops that by 12 mpg, or 20 percent, to 48 mpg. Highway mileage falls by 6 mpg, or 11.8 percent, to 45 mpg.
http://autos.msn.com/advice/article....tentid=4024663

Glad to see I'm beating the new EPA averages, I get 53mpg!

[MarkMN]

I can't help but think that now they are lowballing fuel economy. I get about 45 mpg in freezing temps with short trips, and I easily get 50 mpg going 75 mph in cold temps. I guess now nobody will be dissapointed with fuel economy; this could only raise the satisfaction rate of the car

[Godiva]

Yeah, I get 48 regularly and that's with more than 50% freeway driving.

And it's not just the Prius that got lowered, ALL cars got lowered. My concern is, how did they go about lowering everyone? Retest everyone? Lower everyone by 20%? Just how arbitrary was it?

But I think if it this way. Now ALL of us can beat the EPA.

"Hardest hit in the government change is the Toyota Prius, the best-selling hybrid in the world. The 2007 Prius has a 60-miles-per-gallon rating for city driving. The new EPA calculation drops that by 12 mpg, or 20 percent, to 48 mpg. Highway mileage falls by 6 mpg, or 11.8 percent, to 45 mpg.

Note, though, that because the fuel economy ratings for virtually all vehicles are being dropped and no other vehicle had anywhere near the fuel economy rating of the Prius. Toyota's midsize hybrid sedan maintains its spot as the most fuel-efficient vehicle in America.

Remaining the second-best vehicle for fuel efficiency is another hybrid, the Honda Civic Hybrid, whose fuel economy rating also is going down.

In the government estimates, city mileage for the 2007 Civic Hybrid drops 18.4 percent, from 49 mpg to 40 mpg, while highway mileage declines 6 mpg to 45 mpg."

[JimN]

People complained because the EPA estimates were too high. Now watch as they complain the new EPA estimates are too low. If this is the biggest problem we have, we're in damned good shape.

[coonbutt]

And to think I just got 61.1 mpg for 30 mostly highway miles an hour ago. Hey, I guess that is 125% of the EPA number!

[tripp]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(abq sfr @ Apr 3 2007, 04:39 PM) [snapback]417292[/snapback]</div>

Glad to see I'm beating the new EPA averages, I get 53mpg!
[/b]

Yup. The "I beat the EPA!" thread is pretty worthless. My last two tanks were over 54 MPG. That's well above the 46 MPG combined. It's great to be able to exceed the EPA numbers by 17% and there are quite a few folks who can do a lot better than that. How many other cars can say that?

[micheal]

No doubt. Now pretty much everyone will at least be achieving the estimates and the majority will be beating the estimates.

[alexstarfire]

Well, considering I was beating the EPA estimate on the NEW Prius with my Classic Prius my improvement over the EPA rating will keep on climbing. I'm already at like 15% over and with the lowered ones I'll be pretty close to 40% more than the EPA estimate.

[tiger]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimN @ Apr 3 2007, 09:10 PM) [snapback]417319[/snapback]</div>

People complained because the EPA estimates were too high. Now watch as they complain the new EPA estimates are too low. If this is the biggest problem we have, we're in damned good shape.
[/b]

Hello all

JimN I agree with you on this. All anyone has ever heard and especially about the Prius is where in the World did the EPA get 61 MPG. This was just one of the Hybrids as has been noted in these post. All Hybrids have went through the "Negative" Press of not getting the FE that was on their Window Stickers. I have owned two Civic Hybrids and I can tell you that they do not get what is on the EPA window sticker for FE. I now have a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid (HCHII). Driving this car in a completely normal manner it is delivering somewhere around 38-40 MPG. That is it folks like it or not. On the interstate I drive with the flow of traffic at speeds like 70-80 MPH. I choose not to hold up traffic when I take off from stops. I don't just floor it but I also have consideration for those behind me and just accelerate in a normal manner not to hold up traffic.

This all being said about driving my Hybrid it now looks like when New-Owners are looking to see what these Hybrids are going to Deliver for FE it will be much more Real-World IMO. I'm glad the EPA is making the FE Facts so more and more people can see on the front end what to expect from the Hybrid of their choice.

Terry (tiger)

[KV55]

The UK economy is listed as 65.7mpg (UK gallon) for combined urban and extra-urban driving. This is around 54mpg US. I have a lifetime average of 58mpg which is around 48mpg US - which equals the new US EPA figure. The UK also has a classification ranging from A to G, so cars are grouped together on cabon dioxide emissions.

As for the numbers, I am sure that I can't get 0 to 60 in 10.2 seconds or do 107 mph under normal traffic conditions so why not water those down too?

I see the fuel economy figures as a target to aim for. The concern has to be will the new lower figures take away the incentive to try that little bit harder. I would rather know what the car can do rather than what Mr and Mrs average can expect.