high rpm's

Can you tell the sound difference between an engine pumping the Otto cycle verses Atkinson-Miller? That alone changes what you hear. It also points out that the power delivered is different.

The other big player is the fact that the engine is much closer to the firewall than with traditional vehicles and that front-end itself is shorter, so naturally it will sound different.

As for the feel, because it is so smooooooooth, you won't ever feel the torque like you will in a traditional vehicle. Instead, concentrate on the speedometer. You'll notice you're actually going faster than it feels.

 

It's just racing to put out maximum power. Like john says, watch the speedo.

 

You and your friend might still need to get your minds to meld with the Prius You are subconsciously waiting for the shift points which never come. It feels like you aren't coming up to speed because you aren't jerking 3 or 4 times while you get there. The ICE doesn't rev up and down to match gear shifts, it just stays up.

Try a test: Use an accelerator pressure that matchs the (normal please, this is not a drag race) constant acceleration of the car next to you coming off a signal. Hold it there and notice that you actually get up to speed faster

 

the prius is always in "high" gear.

The gas engine isnt good at giving out torque at low speeds, thats where the electric motor kicks in

And the electric motor cant do much at speeds above 40+ and thats where the gas engine gets good torque.

 

justwatchme,

What's important to realise is that a petrol engine gives out its maximum power at its highest rpm. Therefore the optimal thing to do for fastest acceleration in a CVT-type car like the Prius is to hold the engine at maximum rpm, by adjusting the gear ratio as the speed increases. Only when you reach your desired speed will it lower the rpm.

That high rpm is aiding your acceleration, not hindering it.

I don't quite follow all of your post though - you seem to be both complaining about the high rpm, and contradictarily saying it's in "too high" a gear, like 3rd instead of 2nd. That would imply a low rpm(?)