Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage?

longterm · 12-18-2007, 12:42 PM

I've never gotten better than 44 MPG so far in my 07 Prius; I've only got 3500 miles on it, and haven't taken but one highway trip, but this is less than what I expected.

I have a friend with an 05 Prius, who regularly gets 46 MPG; I don't drive fast, and try to coast whenever I can here in hilly Tennessee, but still I don't ever get up in the 46 MPG range...

You folks who get 46 and better: are you using premium gas, or does that even make any difference at all? I use regular...

**efusco** · 12-18-2007, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longterm

I've never gotten better than 44 MPG so far in my 07 Prius; I've only got 3500 miles on it, and haven't taken but one highway trip, but this is less than what I expected.

I have a friend with an 05 Prius, who regularly gets 46 MPG; I don't drive fast, and try to coast whenever I can here in hilly Tennessee, but still I don't ever get up in the 46 MPG range...

You folks who get 46 and better: are you using premium gas, or does that even make any difference at all? I use regular...

Did you read the article in the first post? It should help.
There is no reason to use premium...it costs more, you'll get lower fuel economy.

**Tideland Prius** · 12-18-2007, 08:04 PM

wait til summer? 3,500 miles... that means the car is only a few months old, correct?

Ozzyprv · 12-28-2007, 06:20 PM

FYI, link still not working.

Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by heyjude421

I just tried today, and it's still not working.

enerjazz · 12-28-2007, 06:48 PM

It's highly dependent on your local temperature, traffic conditions, commute pattern/distance, and driving style. My 12 month average has now reached 55.4 mpg - essentially the combined EPA average. I have an 18 mile (each way) commute in relatively warm Dallas, in heavy highway traffic (limiting my speed and optimizing pulse/glide), and I am not an agressive driver.

See my data on my web site http://www.enerjazz.com/prius or on the direct chart below:

**Tideland Prius** · 12-28-2007, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozzyprv

FYI, link still not working.

Thanks.

Yeah it's not but the PDF link should work. It's the same thing.

**Tideland Prius** · 01-03-2008, 02:14 PM

Deleted and re-uploaded the PDF. See if that works.

bruceha_2000 · 01-03-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by longterm

I've never gotten better than 44 MPG so far in my 07 Prius; I've only got 3500 miles on it, and haven't taken but one highway trip, but this is less than what I expected.

I have a friend with an 05 Prius, who regularly gets 46 MPG; I don't drive fast, and try to coast whenever I can here in hilly Tennessee, but still I don't ever get up in the 46 MPG range...

Check Enerjazz's chart. For one thing, note the LOWEST avg temp is over 40 F. While that might seem cold in Texas, it is 'pretty good mileage' weather in Vermont. It was +4F this morning, colder tomorrow.

I live in hilly Vermont and have a lifetime average over 47 MPG. Winter MPG is high 30s to low 40s, summer low to mid 50s.

You would need to post your driving habits/commute, etc. A short 10 or 15 minute trip is going to be low. A 1 mile trip to the store painful. Still better than most vehicles on the road get AT BEST, better than the NEW 35 MPG CAFE standards for 2020 but still painful given what you CAN get in a Prius.

I managed a 'personal best' last week - 110 miles @ 55 MPH all interstate no stopping. Car was already warmed up as I was coming back from MA and got gas at the least expensive station on my round trip route. Temps in the low 30s - plenty of hills: 59.7 MPG. How I wanted to hit 60

RicSweeney · 01-16-2008, 06:35 PM

Great tips for a newbie like me. Thanks!

2008 Black Prius
Package #6

BarbB · 02-02-2008, 06:24 PM

Hello Tideland -- Thanks for posting this article (and for the whole thread, actually). I'm a newbie to Prius (December 07) and Chat (January 08). I'm looking for an article similar to the one you posted (Why don't I get EPA mileage) -- but that would describe good driving practices for the Prius. My car has just a few hundred miles on it at this point, and my commute is only about 10 minutes, currently in fairly cold Chicago weather. So I get that my mpg is not gonna be great. I have already intuited that the car does better when warmed up, when the trip is longer, and when there are fewer stop lights and stop signs). However, I'd love to read an article by one of the experts on Prius Chat about good driving habits under different conditions. I've tried the Search function, but haven't conme up with anything (except this post on EPA mileage). I know it's bad on chat boards to ask dumb newbie questions before searching, but I have diligently tried. Thanks, and apologies if it should have been obvious. -- Barb in Chicago

12-18-2007, 12:42 PM	#11
longterm Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 22 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #5 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I've never gotten better than 44 MPG so far in my 07 Prius; I've only got 3500 miles on it, and haven't taken but one highway trip, but this is less than what I expected. I have a friend with an 05 Prius, who regularly gets 46 MPG; I don't drive fast, and try to coast whenever I can here in hilly Tennessee, but still I don't ever get up in the 46 MPG range... You folks who get 46 and better: are you using premium gas, or does that even make any difference at all? I use regular... __________________ --- 2007 Red Prius VAIS SoundLinq iPod adapter

12-18-2007, 08:04 PM	#13
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,397 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Re: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage? wait til summer? 3,500 miles... that means the car is only a few months old, correct?

12-28-2007, 06:48 PM	#15
enerjazz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Fairview, TX Posts: 161 My Car: 2004 Prius Package: #3 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage? It's highly dependent on your local temperature, traffic conditions, commute pattern/distance, and driving style. My 12 month average has now reached 55.4 mpg - essentially the combined EPA average. I have an 18 mile (each way) commute in relatively warm Dallas, in heavy highway traffic (limiting my speed and optimizing pulse/glide), and I am not an agressive driver. See my data on my web site http://www.enerjazz.com/prius or on the direct chart below:

01-03-2008, 02:14 PM	#17
Tideland Prius Super Moderator Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 13,397 My Car: 2005 Prius Package: B Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 11	Re: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage? Deleted and re-uploaded the PDF. See if that works.

01-16-2008, 06:35 PM	#19
RicSweeney Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cincinnati Posts: 3 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage? Great tips for a newbie like me. Thanks! 2008 Black Prius Package #6

02-02-2008, 06:24 PM	#20
BarbB Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 16 My Car: 2008 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Re: Why Don't I Get The EPA Mileage? Hello Tideland -- Thanks for posting this article (and for the whole thread, actually). I'm a newbie to Prius (December 07) and Chat (January 08). I'm looking for an article similar to the one you posted (Why don't I get EPA mileage) -- but that would describe good driving practices for the Prius. My car has just a few hundred miles on it at this point, and my commute is only about 10 minutes, currently in fairly cold Chicago weather. So I get that my mpg is not gonna be great. I have already intuited that the car does better when warmed up, when the trip is longer, and when there are fewer stop lights and stop signs). However, I'd love to read an article by one of the experts on Prius Chat about good driving habits under different conditions. I've tried the Search function, but haven't conme up with anything (except this post on EPA mileage). I know it's bad on chat boards to ask dumb newbie questions before searching, but I have diligently tried. Thanks, and apologies if it should have been obvious. -- Barb in Chicago

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://priuschat.com/forums/knowledge-base-articles-discussion/37214-why-don-t-i-get-epa-mileage.html
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