Disappointing fuel consumption

[aikidojoe]

I've just purchased a 2005 Prius (and received it - you gotta love Canada!). I notice, however, that I've had it for 3-4 weeks now and I've had to fill it up once already and I'm halfway through my next tank (or so the meter reads). I'm averaging about 340 km per tank. This is no better than my wife's SUV!! My dealer has told me that it could take up to 5,000 km to get the advertised 700 or so km. Has anyone else had this experience??? I've read that the Prius could have some problems with the fuel gauge (and thought that could be the case inthat my first fill up - when the guage told me the car was empty (only 2 bars left) only cost me $27 CDN. While I was happy about that - something does not seem to make sense....and no, I don't drive like a drag racer.

[jayman]

Where are you in Canada? For one thing, yes the brand new Prius does need a bit of break-in before things improve.

Do you mostly drive very short trips in cold temps? Search for fuel economy and read some of my entertaining posts. At -40, my MFD will average me at 8-10 litres per 100km. At +8 C, around 4.8 litres per 100km.

So hang in there. Even at it's worst, my Prius still got 7 times the fuel economy my 2000 GMC Sierra did under similar conditions.

[Old n Bold]

Surprised. Just off the lot, my first tank averaged 50 mpg (too lazy to convert to liters, sorry) and the second tank is now looking like about 48 mpg. My Explorer (which I loved and hated to get rid of) would go around 16 on its best day.

I expect things to get a bit better as it gets broken in.

[efusco]

Drive until one bar, or even when that one bar flashes, no need to do so before then as there is still plenty of reserve at that point.

Things will improve...particularly with warmer weather.

Read my article in the Knowledge Base under FAQs for lots of good info on MPG.

[tomforst]

I've had my Driftwood Pearl Prius for about 1.5 weeks now...the first tank (delivered with full tank from the dealer) averaged about 42 mpg (360 miles with 8.6 gal). I'm just about done with my second tank and the computer average is 48 mpg. But I have a light foot (although I do go 64 mph on the interstate...not in too much of a hurry to get to work...). The weather here for the period has been between 10 to 30 F, and my driving is 30 mile trips on a mixture of interstate, city, and highway driving. I'm really happy. It took 16 gal to fill up my Bonneville for about the same distance (and I thought that was good), and this only takes little more than 8. I've cut my gas bill in half.......

[MiamiMurphy]

Hi all -
I have had my Prius one week. My consumption of gas per the screen was 42.8 - it looked like I had 1/2 tank of gas left but I filled it up anyway. Paid $8.06 cents - gas was 2.10 regular so obviously I did not need to add gas for the weekly commute.

I think the mileage will improve but I do mainly bumper to bumper traffic to and from work - the Prius has not been on a freeway yet. Also this week was traffic from hell - on Friday it took me 40 minutes to get from one side of the Brickell drawbridge to my office - a mere matter of blocks. BTW - any suggestions as to what one should do when sitting in traffic for 30-40 minutes - I mean about the Prius battery, etc.

Right now the temperatures in Miami are fairly cool - 55-60 at night and 75 in the day so heat is not a factor yet.

Have re-set so I can see if my mileage improves.

But I am very happy overall and you all were right - I love my Prius.

ML

[aikidojoe]

I live in Montreal and the weather here has been anywhere from -20 celcius to 0 c in the last 3 weeks. I'm kind of hoping things get better as it breaks in because I'll not be pleased if it ends up with the same consumtion as my wife's Acura MDX (SUV). 340 km is pretty mediocre for what I thought was supposed to be closer to 700+ km. I'll try driving it until I get 1 bar and then some to see what happens. Maybe the fuel gauge is way off?

[hdrygas]

I've just purchased a 2005 Prius (and received it - you gotta love Canada!). I notice, however, that I've had it for 3-4 weeks now and I've had to fill it up once already and I'm halfway through my next tank (or so the meter reads). I'm averaging about 340 km per tank. This is no better than my wife's SUV!! My dealer has told me that it could take up to 5,000 km to get the advertised 700 or so km. Has anyone else had this experience??? I've read that the Prius could have some problems with the fuel gauge (and thought that could be the case inthat my first fill up - when the guage told me the car was empty (only 2 bars left) only cost me $27 CDN. While I was happy about that - something does not seem to make sense....and no, I don't drive like a drag racer.

OK Canada I will make a wild guess that it is cold... unless you are in the Pacific Northwest then maybe you are in trouble. You have winter gas and that has less energy per litter add that to the engine keeping its self warm and you warm if you turned the thermostat up and you have all the reason you need. Also as pointed out you have a new car in need of a bit of braking in. Next winter will be better, much better.

[TonyPSchaefer]

Evan Fusco has written a very informative document discussing fuel economy and the factors that affect Prius fuel performance.

You can read it here:
http://priuschat.com/forums/kb.php?mode=article&k=23

Some quick answers:
1) There IS a break-in period for the car after which you will see better mileage.
2) There IS a break-in period for the driver after which time you will be better able to coax higher mileage from the car.
3) Colder weather affects the performance of all cars, not just the Prius.
4) Colder weather affects battery performance forcing the Prius to rely more on the Internal Combustion Engine which in turn reduces mileage.
4) Check your tire pressure.
5) All things in time.

Your concerns are valid. But if it helps, you should take solice in the knowledge that we've all been there and some of us are still working throught it. Those who are posting really good numbers have broken in their cars and trained themselves. On the other hand, the critics who report really bad mileage are often driving brand new cars poorly.

[altaskier]

I'm averaging about 340 km per tank. This is no better than my wife's SUV!!

Of course, the Acura MDX has a 20 US gallon/ 76 liter fuel tank, while the prius has a 10 US gallon/38 liter fuel tank and in fact when I refill at 1 bar on the gauge I never get in more than 8 gallons/30 liters. So, if you're running both vehicles down to empty, does this not mean that the Prius is using about half the number of liters per km as the Acura MDX?