Prius overall MPG shows no improvement in the 3rd generation according to Consumer Reports tests

[windstrings]

Originally Posted by Terpen

Wife just took off for Atlanta from east Texas on I-20,,, ac on and cruise set on 75 in econo mode,,, went to power up one hill. one adult passenger, one small dog and a couple of pieces of luggage. texted me and said she got 48 mpg,,, texted back and told her to calculate it and not use the dash monitor,,, texted back 48.3. I was pleased. Almost 750 miles on less than 16 gallons. She got 47 the first 500 miles in town.
I don't understand how those of you that are getting 60 mpg are doing it.
When she gets back I am going to experiment with 100% gasoline compared to the 10% ethanol mixture which most stations around here carry. I found a station that guarantees no ethanol.

Welcome to the forum!

I didn't get an improvement on no ethanol gas.... especially not enough to warrant the price difference... its cheaper per mile to run ethanol gas in the prius as it utilizes it very well.....

But you will learn over time how to use the software.... quick starts and wasted braking are enemies to good gas mileage.

A few suggestions:

Very gentle speed ups when you see a hill coming so you can glide up the hill helps...... basically "anything" that causes the rpms of the engine to raise, increases gas consumption.

If you run the air.. just how comfortable are you?... recirc uses air thats already been cooled once and cools it again rather than the hot outside air... so recirc is more efficient.

And don't try and freeze yourself out... if you find someone putting a blanket over themselves, its too cold.
Sometimes the vents just need better redirecting so the air hits you rather than blowing besides you.
On the other hand, if your trying to cool down the back passengers... aim all the air at them.

Running at full freeway speeds faster than 60 or so, really does take a hit on mileage too... especially if air is used together.

Extra weight and luggage adds too.

If you leave on your trip or to work a tad earlier, you can afford to relax more when you drive too.

You can ignore all this and drive like a crazy person, and still get better mileage than any other car on the road.... but remember these little things that seem to be a nusiance can make a difference when your base mileage is around 50 to start.

For instance... lets say you run the air at full blast and do quick starts and brake allot.. and waste enough energy to equal 10% of your total energy consumed to make your trip.

If you do that in a car that gets 20mpg as a base number... knock 10% off an you've only lost 2mpg.

Now, if you do the same thing in a car that has 50mpg as a base, you have now lost 5mpg!

both instances are 10% loss of total energy consumed.

The more efficient you are, the more subtile changes will be noticed.

If you want to run on vapors, you have to drive a little different than the cars we have driven all our lives that gulp gas.

Changing techniques by following some good software that gives good feedback can help "any" cars mileage.... not just the prius.. but the prius already gets such a good of a mileage, these little changes are noticed much more "for good or for bad".

And cruise control is a terrible gas saver.... its "ok" if your on a flat drive.

[Terpen]

I didn't expect 60 at 75. She said she started out at 65 but was getting run over by the big rigs. I'll try the 60 mph on a short run to Dallas using roads other than Interstate but that will have some stops. If it gets over 50, I will be pleased.
For comparison, my 1800cc Honda Goldwing gets 37 mpg city or highway at 45 or 85.

I will mention the recirc,,, don't know what she had it set on but do know she is learning to glide in normal driving. She seemed to think it tended to auto-glide with the cruise on.. maybe, maybe not. I have never driven it and probably never will. Just trying to give her some hints.... old school teacher who doesn't like being told anything. her, not me

[windstrings]

The way I feel about it... sometimes saving gas is conveinent, other times its not.

If I'm on a 5 hour trip each way.. I'm not going to prolong my whole trip each way another hour just to save a few bucks... mine time if more valuable to me.

We must remember to let the car "serve" us and not the other way around.

I just did a 10 hour trip and drove 70 - 80 the whole way, with 4 adults.. "one of which weighed 375 lbs!.... and the back total full to the top with heavy luggage and yes we ran the air and stay plenty comfortable and I still got 48 - 50mpg.

But when I'm alone going to work I've finally gotten to the age where I would rather relax a bit and listen to my talk radio or my CD's instead of "conquer" the traffic... those times I can get 60+ pretty easy.

[chefHawk]

About to fill up my first tank and I acquired the car with 3 miles on it.. I'm getting a "life time" MPG ave. of about 44 mpg (trip B, set before I left the dealer's garage), and 46.5 with trip a (set just about after I did the first 25 miles).

[DaveinOlyWA]

Originally Posted by windstrings

The way I feel about it... sometimes saving gas is conveinent, other times its not.

worth repeating. i think that is the big draw on the Prius. its a no compromise transportation solution that can potentially save on money, resources, and the environment.

no, its not "the" solution, but it is, by far, the best step towards a solution out there now. other "options" are simply not options for most people.

[royrose]

Originally Posted by Terpen

I don't understand how those of you that are getting 60 mpg are doing it.

Originally Posted by chefHawk

About to fill up my first tank and I acquired the car with 3 miles on it.. I'm getting a "life time" MPG ave. of about 44 mpg (trip B, set before I left the dealer's garage), and 46.5 with trip a (set just about after I did the first 25 miles).

You guys have hijacked this thread, which is about comparing the Gen III to the Gen II, a little bit. You should check out the 2010 Fuel Economy section of the forum. Here is a link to a good thread about ways to improve fuel economy:

You will not get 50 MPG if...

[RadioMan]

Geeze...got me. I'm averaging 61mpg in town. Sure, I live where I don't have to do jack-rabbit starts. I don't know what everyone else is getting, but my pals here with older models -are no where near 61mpg.