2010 Prius Driving Impressions Thread

[eldiee]

We have been driving our new 2010 V with navigation for almost a week. It sticks to the road like it is on rails. The way it drives makes our old prius seem like ancient history. It has a firm yet comfortible ride. So far we are very impressed with the new Gen III Prius. The first tank of fuel was 51mpg. A mixture of interstate and city driving. Plus it has been so hot this past week and the air conditioner was on all the time. We are hoping it will get as good(mpg) as the 2005 we had, when it gets broke in and the weather cools. We realize it will give up a couple of mpg with the 17" wheels, but the way it drives makes up for that in our minds. The only thing we haven't mastered on it is the navigation. We are used to a TomTom. My wife call the voice on the navigation "Batty Betty". She is not as sharp as "Susan" our TomTom lady. Hope to figure out how she thinks soon! Overall we really love our new Prius.

[basspro]

I have had my 2010 Blue Ribbon V with Nav for little over three weeks.
Just fill up for the third time total miles 1033;
First tank: 459.5 miles, Pump 42.6MPG & MFD 46.2MPG (10.784 gallons)
Second tank: 468.1 miles, Pump 47.65MPG & MFD 51.6MPG (9.823 gallons)

I am not going to repeat all the usual stuff that has already been stated on the thread, but overall really happy with the car, this is pretty good since my last two cars was a BMW 530 and a Infiniti M35x. There are just two things that I want to bring up to the group that may be of interest (one may be of concern and the other just for curioisty).

First, I have notice on three occusions that the car have had a sudden surge of power while I was breaking on a fast turn or breaking while hitting a bump on the road. This can cause at the least some uneaseness or worst cause a accident.

Second, after starting up in the mornings, the car will start up the gas motor and will keep the motor running and will prevent the gas mileage from going any higher than 25MPG, this will usually last for about five minutes or so.

Last and most important question for the forum as a whole and which have me the MOST CONCERN??? In all my previous cars, I was the one that will zip in and out of traffic and make sure that I was the first one to the next stop light and will also curse the drive in front of me if he or she just ease away from a traffic light (especially if they are in left lane), now I am finding that I am the one easing away on traffic lights and averaging at or below posted speed limits (I have average a speeding ticket a year for the last six to seven years (have my own traffic lawyer)). So just wondering what typr of disease is this and will I ever be cure?

[ggood]

Originally Posted by basspro

First, I have notice on three occusions that the car have had a sudden surge of power while I was breaking on a fast turn or breaking while hitting a bump on the road. This can cause at the least some uneaseness or worst cause a accident.

Second, after starting up in the mornings, the car will start up the gas motor and will keep the motor running and will prevent the gas mileage from going any higher than 25MPG, this will usually last for about five minutes or so.

Last and most important question for the forum as a whole and which have me the MOST CONCERN??? In all my previous cars, I was the one that will zip in and out of traffic and make sure that I was the first one to the next stop light and will also curse the drive in front of me if he or she just ease away from a traffic light (especially if they are in left lane), now I am finding that I am the one easing away on traffic lights and averaging at or below posted speed limits (I have average a speeding ticket a year for the last six to seven years (have my own traffic lawyer)). So just wondering what typr of disease is this and will I ever be cure?

1. Wow, not normal. First thing everyone will ask is whether your floor mats are securely fastened. 2nd question will probably be did you have cruise control set or could you be accidentally hitting it with your knee? 3rd question will be, how big are your feet?!

2. Yep, normal behavior, because it has to warm up the catalytic converter. New behavior on 2010 is that it temporarily stops the warm up process when the car is stopped at an intersection.

3. Yep, a known affliction affecting many, if not most, Prius converts! It's just so relaxing to drive, and maxing out on MPGs (instead of speed) becomes the main game.

[fred garvin]

Originally Posted by basspro

I have had my 2010 Blue Ribbon V with Nav for little over three weeks.
Just fill up for the third time total miles 1033;
First tank: 459.5 miles, Pump 42.6MPG & MFD 46.2MPG (10.784 gallons)
Second tank: 468.1 miles, Pump 47.65MPG & MFD 51.6MPG (9.823 gallons)

I am not going to repeat all the usual stuff that has already been stated on the thread, but overall really happy with the car, this is pretty good since my last two cars was a BMW 530 and a Infiniti M35x. There are just two things that I want to bring up to the group that may be of interest (one may be of concern and the other just for curioisty).

First, I have notice on three occusions that the car have had a sudden surge of power while I was breaking on a fast turn or breaking while hitting a bump on the road. This can cause at the least some uneaseness or worst cause a accident.

Second, after starting up in the mornings, the car will start up the gas motor and will keep the motor running and will prevent the gas mileage from going any higher than 25MPG, this will usually last for about five minutes or so.

Last and most important question for the forum as a whole and which have me the MOST CONCERN??? In all my previous cars, I was the one that will zip in and out of traffic and make sure that I was the first one to the next stop light and will also curse the drive in front of me if he or she just ease away from a traffic light (especially if they are in left lane), now I am finding that I am the one easing away on traffic lights and averaging at or below posted speed limits (I have average a speeding ticket a year for the last six to seven years (have my own traffic lawyer)). So just wondering what typr of disease is this and will I ever be cure?

i believe the surge is actually the regen cutting out because of a traction loss - so if you are breaking and the speed is over 7mphs and you hit bumps the traction control kicks on and the regen kicks off, so no extra power per se but a reduction of deceleration from the regen that feels like a surge. I have a downhill freeway ramp that has a metered light at the bottom, and the road at the bottom is pretty rouhg with shallow potholes - surprised me at first in my 2002 gen 1 until i figured it out and anticipated it.

On the poor mileage for five minutes - that is the warmup, i believe connected to the need for the catalytic converter to get hot, and that the 2010 has a exhaust recirc mechanism that makes it take less time but doesn't eliminate it altogether. So its normal iow.

as for the disease, welcome to the ward.

[damack1]

About the disease, yes, I've caught it too. I've had my Prius just 2 days, and I'm already changing my driving habits. I've started leaving more space between me and the car in front in order to allow for a gliding stop, and I'm accelerating slowly instead of jackrabbiting like I used to do.

Another thread was suggesting that the Prius gets no respect from other drivers. Now I think it's not the Prius per se, it's Prius drivers who get no respect. I can see I'm annoying other drivers, so now I'm trying to find a happy medium between maximizing my mpg and not impeding the flow of traffic.

[JimOC]

Picked up my package III, Blizzard white on Tuesday night. After two days and 340 miles of driving (commuting 70+ miles each way) here are my impressions:

1. I love the car. It occured to me yesterday that I test drove the car after I bought it. Is that normal?
2. The seat is great. I had some concerns as I have back issues but it is very firm, even w/o the lumbar support (which we have in our Rav).
3. Leg room is perfect for me (6' tall), another concern as the '06 Rav is not as good.
4. The steering is very tight, esp on the highway
5. I too am noticing that my driving habits will change - no more jack rabbit starts. Not nearly as responsive as the Rav...
6. But that's OK as I am averaging 56.9 mpg so far
7. Another surprise - how much I am loving the satelite radio. I guess I won't be listening to NPR as much.

Thanks to all for the great information that helped the process!

[jademkiv]

I've had my package IV 2010 Prius for several days, and am very impressed. This is my first hybrid. Tight driving feel, nice seats, great mileage - what's not to like! The only challenge is to adjust to the slow start from a stop. And, I'm enjoying the satellite radio - the comedy stations make the long ride tolerable.

[NovaStu]

I've had my silver Prius V with the AT package for a few weeks now and am thrilled with the car. It replaces a 2004 Prius which had +/- 80K miles on it.

While most of the differences between the two cars are, to me, evolutionary changes, one is revolutionary. When I took the test drive, I briefly got a chance to experiment with the dynamic radar cruise control (DRCC) and lane keeper (LKA). It wasn't until after I got the car that I REALLY got a chance to experience these aids and they just blew me away.

DRCC totally redefines "cruise control." In a typical cruise controlled vehicle, one sets their desired speed and the car simply locks in on that speed. If you need to slow down and tap your brakes, you've deactivated the control and need to reactivate it when you can resume your speed.

With DRCC, you set your maximum speed and just drive. The car automatically slows (braking hard, if necessary) to maintain your distance from the car in front. If the space in front of you becomes clear (you've switched to an open lane or the leading car speeds back up or moves out of your lane), your car simply speeds back to your maximum speed (or whatever will maintain the distance from the leading car).

The system does not actually disengage until your speed drops down into the mid 20s. If it does, a simple up-tick on the stalk after your speed goes back up resumes automatic control. So driving in traffic that's bunching, slowing, resuming speed, etc., becomes totally automatic. At first it felt slightly surrealistic but I've gotten used to it after a few expressway trips.

The Lane Keeper Assist (LKA) when used in conjunction with the DRCC works to subtly help you keep in your lane. I have been most aware of it when on a gentle curve. In a car without LKA, you have to maintain some side pressure on your steering wheel to stay in the curve. With LKA active, you don't. It's very subtle and nothing that you'd call an "autopilot". It's somewhat like having a basic automatic trim system on an airplane. I can see LKA and DRCC vastly reducing fatigue on a long trip on busy expressways.

As I told my salesman: "You can''t truly appreciate DRCC on a short demonstration test drive, you need to live with it for a while."

On a side AT package note: I've found the Intelligent Parking Assist (IPA) to be a mind-blowing trick to show people but not something I'd use normally. It can only park your car if it can get into a spot in one back-up. As one who can rock into the tightest parking space, the feature is not particularly helpful to me. When they add a REALLY smart computer that can REALLY park the car, then I'll be truly impressed!

[Tideland Prius]

Agreed on the DRCC. I had no highway experience so I only tried it on city streets (60km/h speed limit). I tested the braking bit when I approached a red light. The car was tagging behind a pickup truck. It slowly closed in as the truck coasted to the light and I was getting worried (Had the foot on the brake just in case). When the truck finally braked, the Prius let go its accelerator (60, 59, 58, 57) and then braked on its own until the CC cut-off speed. Sweet!!

No passenger would've guessed that the car braked for the driver. It was very smooth.

[3PriusMike]

I just got my first fillup today after having my 2010 for about 2 1/2 weeks. I also have a 2001 and 2004. (I got the 2001 the first week or two they were out and my wife got the ~2nd 2004 from our dealer) So I've got a bit of experience. No need to go over all the little (or big) improvements since others have.

My main impression is with the mileage. I got 56.5 mpg on my first fillup...~58 mpg on the display. I assume the dealer pretty much filled it when I picked it up; if not my mpg was better. But I was getting 60-61 mpg on my regular ~6 mile commute and then went ~150 miles on mostly freeway before the fillup. Compared to the 2001 (48 mpg lifetime) I would normally be getting about 50-52 mpg on my commute during the summer...and when I got to use the 2004 I would get about 53-54 mpg.

I'm not a hypermiler by any means. In almost 9 years the best full tank fillup I ever got is about 55 mpg...but that is rare due to the fact that I have lots of short trips. So I think that the 2010 is good news for those with short commutes. I use ECO mode almost all the time and use EV mode when possible, but it is rarely possible.

3PriusMike