Looking into my first Prius, Higher Mileage a problem?

My Prius is getting low gas mileage in the winter, as expected. But my old Subaru, which I drive when the conditions are slick, also gets lower gas mileage in the winter, with about the same percentage drop in gas mileage. Summer or winter, the Prius gets two times the gas mileage of the Subaru, so it doesn't matter that it doesn't reach 50 mpg.

 

for anyone wondering?

 

Yep...which is why I said "It's all relative".

But for a newbie, that may not be familiar with Prius or a Hybrid?
Well a lot of people just see the EPA sticker and the Toyota advertising....which really doesn't communicate the differences in seasonal and temperature related MPG.

So my post is just meant as a warning, NOT to expect the upwards of 50 mpg IF the Prius is going to be a "Winter Only" daily driver, in a cold climate with snow tires.

 

What should be said, but never is said is that you'll actually save more money in winter. This is assuming you are driving the same amount in the winter as in the summer, and therefore burning more fuel. The Prius uses half the fuel of my Subaru, and half of a larger amount of fuel use in the winter is a larger amount of savings in the winter.

For example, lets say you drive the same amount winter and summer, and you spend $50 per month in gas for the Prius in the summer, and $100 per month in gas for something like my Subaru. That's saving $50 per month in gas by driving the Prius in the summer instead of the Subaru. In the winter, the gas mileage might go down 25% in both cars, like from 50 mpg to 37.5 mpg in the Prius and 25 mpg to 18.75 mpg in the Subaru. For the same amount of driving, you'll be spending 1/0.75 or 1-1/3 times more. This works out to $66.67 of gas for the Prius in the winter and $133.33 in gas for the Subaru. That's a savings of $66.67 per month in gas by driving the Prius instead of the Subaru in the winter. So you get a $50 savings in the summer, and $66.67 savings in the winter.

 

Not sure you can count on both vehicles efficiency dropping the EXACT same percentage.
The Prius being a hybrid is built to be on a higher pedestal, with a engine AND a hybrid system.

But yes, I agree, it's again...all relative and ALL vehicles efficiency drop in colder environments.

 

In my experience the ballpark drop with temperature is about the same, with my typical driving in a place with snow and ice, and my typical driving with a lot of short trips along with occasional longer trips. Those numbers I used for my example are very close to what I see without doing a scientific comparison. Certainly close enough for me to make the case that I did - that my Prius saves me more gas money in winter than summer compared to my Subaru. You say EXACT. You're not expecting something done to 1% in closeness with that kind of statement are you? What is you experience or expectation? I can't tell from your second to last sentence whether you think hybrids fare better or worse in gas mileage drop relative to non-hybrids in the winter.

 

IMHO I would never buy a car with over 100K on it. But that is just me an nobody else. I trade mine at 100K.

On a limited budget look at a new base Elantra or base Corolla.

 

That used to be a good rule to follow. Now I think the mileage should be 150K for most decent cars.

 

Prius is definitely a decent car.

 

True, but I would expect the Smart ForTwo isn't (smart).

 

For the money and what you want to drive I would get a nissan leaf. Why bother with the gasoline at all on such a short commute? Plus you still have a much cooler car for road trips and longer out of town trips.