User mileage reports from EPA

[bwilson4web]

Hi,

This reflects the user mileage summary from Fuel Economy

MPG	year	# users
51.6	2010	46
51.6	2009	17
46.5	2008	113
46.8	2007	155

.
So other than 2009 (the 2010 model went on sale in May 2009,) the earlier years are showing user reports of ~46.5 MPG. The 2010 data from 46 users is showing 51.6, about a 5 MPG increase in user reported MPG.

The EPA lab tests show 50 MPG for the 2010 and 46 MPG for the 2009-2004, or 4 MPG improvement.

Individually, we have both a 2003 and a 2010 Prius. After 70,000 miles, the 2003 is at 52 MPG and by no means am I a hypermiler, super MPG wizard. I'm only driving at the upper limit of the original EPA numbers.

After 5,000 miles, the 2010 is at 53 MPG. So we're only seeing a 1 MPG improvement over the 2003 but that is not the whole story. I learned how to drive my 2003 efficiently. The 2010 is something different and we are all discovering what works or doesn't. But the best thing is the 2010 can be driven like the rest of the cars, I don't have to limit it to 2003 driving styles, and it still beats the 2003:

• Use air conditioning more frequently
• Cruise the highway at least 5-10 mph faster
• Don't have to be so careful about warm-up

The 2010 is a more comfortable car with more room and better handling. We can use creature comforts and still get excellent mileage. In short, we can use the car as transportation without having to be OCD about how it is driven.

Bob Wilson