lower than advertised mpg |Model\package vs mpg

[pakitt]

See my overall mpg in the signature below of my Prius 2010 with 17" tires. Done on over 2500km/1550mi, of which about 1500/900mi on European highways (that is, driving anything between 120 to 150km/h (75 to 95 mph - completely normal for EU, and within road regulations, depending on the country - i.e. Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria).

Considering also that it is getting cold, that the consumption on my commute is 0.2L/100km (or 2mpg) better than my previous diesel 1.4L powered Polo (weighing 200kg less and with 60HP less), I don't think there is anything to complain about the Prius, on the contrary.

My commute, though in city, it is half of the time driven (as per road type) at speeds above 65-70km/h (40-45mph) and the other half stop&go and traffic lights. So my city drive, is more "city" than a real "standard" 50km/h (30 mph) true city drive. And that accounts for the rest of the kilometers driven overall. No wonder I cannot get less than 4.7L/100km average on my commute drive calculation.

In EU the Prius with 17" tires, is rated 3,8L/100km "out of town" and 4,0L/100km for both "city" and combined (62 and 59 mpg respectively).
I was pretty sure before buying mine, that - like with all other cars, I would never achieve it, but being, currently, within the first 2800km/1700mi only about 20% above it, I assure you, it is remarkable. And I live in the land of "diesel" and "small" cars...

BTW: my best fuel consumption in "city" drive, *without* ECO, has been 3,4L/100km (69mpg) - twice in a month. Don't ask me how I did it, I don't know - I was simply shocked at the end of the trip when I looked at the fuel consumption indicator. This probably means that if you simply *drive* the Prius, she will treat you with excellent fuel consumption.

[pakitt]

Today I got a sound 3,7L/100km (63 mpg) coming back from work, and a 4,8L/100km (49mpg) getting there this morning with a cold car and temperatures around 10-15C (50-60F).
I think I have found the trick to bring further down the consumption:
1) use ECO when in areas with lots of stop&go, traffic lights - as per instruction manual
2) use normal everywhere else
3) accelerate progressively, but decisively, not driving like a granpa - start with a little gas and then continue increasing acceleration (depressing more and more the pedal) to at least half or at least until you reach the desired speed, but never "flooring it" or going more than 3/4 (which I think I never had to reach anyways - the Prius was accelerating fast enough already for the traffic conditions) - soon after the desired speed is reached, completely release gas and reapply after a couple of seconds just enough to keep momentum, and likely shut off the ICE; I call this Pulse & Coast (compared to Pulse & Glide - I cannot glide in Munich traffic, it is too uniform and constant, everybody drives at the same speed and pretty quickly and regularly, leaving empty spaces while gliding down to the lower speed before a pulse would irritate a lot and likely not be applicable at all).
4) never use the EV mode, unless in closed parking garage where you don't want to stink and really want to be sure the engine will not start unless it *really* has to (that is the whole reasoning behind EV mode, IMO)
5) last and not least, and though it may sound strange, not looking at all at the fuel consumption and simply driving and enjoying the smooth drive and the music! in these conditions I have always got the best consumption values!

I will try again tomorrow and likely I will get good values again. I think I cracked the Prius!