Did I get a lemon? Only getting 45 mpg at the best

On my commute (the most consistent way to see the fuel consumption in my case), since getting the car on Sep. 23rd, I got a minimum of 3.3L/100km-71mpg once and several times below 4L/100km-59mpg, but also a max of 7.5L/100km-31mpg once and several times 6L/100km-39mpg. But the overall average is a very comforting 4.8L/100km-49mpg, which is about the same as my previous diesel 1.4L engine car.

To get 4.5L/100km-52mpg is not that difficult, really, but there are many factors affecting fuel consumption. To say that if you get the car and if you don't get anything below 5L/100km-47mpg in the first 400km/250mi is a reason to give it back in, is not a fair assumption IMHO. You get 6L/100km-39mpg or 7L/100km-34mpg continuously? then yes - I would have serious issues with that - there would be something wrong, but again, it depends on where and how you drive, *a lot*.

 

41 is my best tank after 7,600 miles. It's the hills of WV. My commute is about 20 miles of interstate and 5 suburban roads. I drive at ~70, but the hills are killing me. When I travel up to PA, near Pittsburgh where it's not as hilly, I sometimes reset a trip odometer just to check my PA mileage, and it usually closer to 50, if not higher.

 

Luckily you live in AR... if you lived in the upper Midwest you would be more likely getting 31, not 41.

 

Not everyone drives 80mph+ like you do. lol

 

Some people just don't understand... let me explain again, maybe you get it this time...

I got a 30% hit on my MPG regardless of the speed I drive... colder temperatures is the only thing that changed in my trips since summer... same tire pressure, same gasoline, same average speed, same cargo weight, same everything but temperatures! Got it?

 

I GOT IT.... You're just driving too fast. Got it?

I actually wish you'd just sell the car so we didn't have to listen to you complain all the time.

 

No you didn't. SAME SPEED, SAME EVERYTHING, DIFFERENT TEMPERATURE... 30% MPH HIT... read it 10 times... maybe you will get it now... I shall keep trying... always trying to help...

 

Rephrasing it for you... So we didn't have to listen to the truth... I see...

I think you enjoy it, otherwise, why bother? A wound hurts a lot more when something touches it while open...

 

Yes, 80mph. Same speed I got it. You're simply driving too fast and the winter hit is more noticeable. Try driving slower and you'll get better mileage in the winter and summer. Unless you think you are going to somehow defy the laws of physics.

 

Listen kid. Your mileage doesn't affect me one bit. You chose to live in a cold climate and drive fast so deal with it.

As for the quote, don't put words in my mouth. I know what the truth is. The Prius doesn't get EPA rated MPG when driving in extreme temps and at high rates of speed. Now you running all over the forum freaking out and typing in bolded characters is what I was referring to.

 

I don't usually drive at 80 MPH to begin with. I cruise at 75 and go 80 occasionally when needed. I thought I pointed that out before but maybe not...

 

My question remains... why the heck you bother? Just ignore my comments if you don't like them. Have I posted anything to you recently? Did I ask for your help? Are you the OP here? I think it is the job of the moderators to tell me if I'm posting anything inappropriate and as far as I can tell you ain't one...

 

Taking it to PMs

 

:focus:

...

 

I think your mileage is great considering your location and time of year. Below are a few paragraphs of my observations driving my 2010 IV Prius with Solar.

Mileage is a funny topic for the Prius it depends on so many factors as mentioned before. I live in Orlando, where it is relatively flat and commute about 10mi to/from work keep the tires pumped up to 42psi front 39psi rear. Currently have about 7,300mi on it. I have noticed that my mileage really boils down to how much I can make use of the battery. I don't mean trying to drain the last bit of juice out of the battery either but try to drive below about 41mph whenever possible so the car can use a lot more of the battery.

For instance if driving on roads with 45mph speed limit or less and few lights the car will get good mileage low to mid 50s per tankful calculated by hand (miles driven /gasoline used). The display computer normally reads high by 3-10% depending. I also noticed that in the summer when it is hot and I run the A/C always my mpg goes down by about 3-5mpg on average, I guess the energy that it would normally use to propel the car is used for the A/C instead.

Highway observations are as follows but the A/C on off rule still applies
55-60mph will get around 55mpg w/o A/C
65-70mph will get around 47-49mpg w/o A/C
75 -80mph will get 40mpg.
Also I have noticed that driving in the rain will lower the mileage by about 3mpg on average.

I really don't think you have a lemon in mileage there, it just may be the conditions you are driving in and the fact the car is not broken in yet.

Good luck I hope this helps. I know there are some people who squeeze more out of their Prius in terms of mileage but I don't know how they are counting mileage by trip or tank average or are they driving at a snail's pace just to get impressive numbers. I drive normally and do the speed limit, no creeper starts either, and get off the pedal if I notice the lights ahead are red. You will get better mileage too.

 

Anyone out there driven 2 or more similarly equipped 2010 Prii for sufficiently long times to get a sense of how consistent mileage on these things is from car to car?

Did anyone do this sort of investigation in Gen II, and what did they find out.

Like OP, I'm from Arkansas, and my last tank was 43.6 mpg calculated, 46.4 on the computer--this trip mostly in hilly country in cool/cold weather (freezing to 50F)--about 1000 on the odometer.