Four-tenths of a mile

Yes the ICE will start up as part of it's normal operating routine and even in EV mode if the ambient temperature is below 63f (IIRC).

 

I wouldn't worry about it. The engine was designed to do a quick warmup cycle. Modern exhaust systems are covered by the emissions warranty and are designed to last many years unlike the old days of cheap, thin, rust prone materials.

 

Sorry ! No "hall" pass. the ICE will start, but be far from warm in .4 of a mile. This kind of short trip is likely the absolue worst kind
use of a car. The Prius ICE is designed to warm up quickly, but
not in this kind of short distance.

More than your exhaust, your engne oil will suffer from condensation, fuel dilution and acid formation unless you take the car on a long run to heat up the engine to full operating temperature and oil and burn them off on a regular basis/ This is severe use and would require more frequent oil changes than the 10K Toyota recommends.

When it's cold and inclement weather, you have to do what you have to do. Just be aware of the severe service you're putting the vehicle
through and guide your maintenance and oil change procedures accordingly/

 

It's a car ....

The widespread use of Stainless Steel in exhausts systems has eliminated the rust problems once associated with condensation ....same goes for computer controlled injection systems and any oil dilution.


A few engines over the years have been more prone to upper engine condensation but proper basic maintenance takes care of this ......especially if the car gets a full warm up a couple times a month.

How many miles do you drive in a year?

If it is over 7k ...I would not give your short trips a second thought.

 

There's some hacks you can do to drive this distance in all electric but would it be worth it to you? An Enginer PHEV kit for less than $3500 and a coolant temperature hack.
You get in the vehicle, turn on the coolant temp hack switch, power up the Prius. The ICE will not come on since it thinks the engine is fully warmed up. You can drive in EV mode up to 25mph or in normal mode up to 45mph as long as you don't go pass the half way point on the HSI bar. Be warned that if the ICE does come on, you have to turn off the coolant temp hack immediately. You can drive in EV mode until the PHEV battery runs out, usually in 10-20 miles.
I drove the distance as you all the time b/c there's a Fresh&Easy right down the street from me. I don't have the temp hack. The whole trip returned 115mpg including the warm up cycle.

 

If that short trip was all you ever drove, it might be bad. Or if you never walked when you could. But given that it's an occasional thing, I wouldn't worry about it. Making that trip won't be "good", but having to do so shouldn't keep you up at night either.

 

I have an office at my house - my personal cars do short trips all the time .......everything is less than a mile away. I normally turn them into company cars after 4 or 5 years and then they get a lot of miles .......never any issues.

My 02 Jaguar has spent its whole life doing this - now just over 50k .... never an issue ....... but it does get a regular trip a few times a month that is over an hour in length ..... at 6-8k you will have no issues.

 

I wouldn't worry about the hall pass or any "damage" done to your vehicle from even routine < 1 mile trips.

First...the hall pass. Anybody that sneers at you about making the trip during inclimate WX should spend a winter up in Westchester and be reminded that you're environmentally and/or health conscious enough to make the trip using bi-ped transportation when the situation allows. I think that I would cut myself a break if I were in your shoes.

OK...now the car. How old are you? How long are you going to be keeping your G3? If you're worried about "severe" service....don't. I've seen military vehicles with much more dubious lineage than your Toyota last for years making nothing more than infrequent very short trips (on base.) It's just not that big an issue post 1990 unless you want your car to last for 25 years or so....and even then it's not that big a deal if you double down on your oil changes, pay attention to time versus mileage in your maintenance schedule, and run the car for the semi-occasional longer drive. As stated above…the G3 is a fairly well engineered car. You’re probably going to see a lot more damage from road salt and things like acid rain, road FOD, and killer grocery carts than you’ll ever cause to the car from your “abusive” driving habits.

You've probably already put more effort into worrying about the problem than it will ever deserve. The car will be fine, especially if you're worried about its care enough to ask questions like this.

Best of luck to you!

 

My mail box is a half-mile uphill from my house. I use my Prius to pick up the mail.
It ain't no big deal.

It's a car - drive it as you need!

 

Yes, the ICE will come on as needed when the Ready light is on, as long as you're not in Neutral. It happens at 2 pips. It doesn't charge much, though - it's still at two when it's finished, IIRC.