1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

2016 PRIUS Drive modes questions

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Main Forum' started by joe77, Feb 15, 2020.

  1. joe77

    joe77 New Member

    Joined:
    May 9, 2019
    5
    0
    0
    Location:
    united states
    Vehicle:
    2011 Aqua
    Model:
    Four Touring
    I got a bit of confussion on the drive modes for the 4th gen...

    1. Is there any difference in fuel economy between all modes? PWR, ECO, Normal...seems to get me same MPG results?

    2. I noticed the torque difference between PWR, ECO, Normal modes but they say you still get the same 0-60MPH time regardless...is there anything special about the modes other than torque?

    3. The EV mode disables when you hit the ga to hard or past 25MPH...but you can use EV function regardless as long as you stay under 25MPH or dont hit gas hard...what else does the EV Mode button provide?

    Thanks!
     
  2. kevinwhite

    kevinwhite Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2006
    331
    199
    0
    Location:
    Los Gatos Ca
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Four
    There is no difference in torque or power between the modes - the main difference is in the mapping of the accelerator pedal to power requested from the hybrid system to make it feel more sporty in the power setting.

    In the ECO mode the heating system is less likely to request the engine run to create heat so avoiding it consuming fuel without doing useful work in propelling the car.
     
  3. FuelMiser

    FuelMiser Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2008
    1,263
    858
    0
    Location:
    Monument, CO
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    That's about it! In other words, it's useless.
     
  4. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    Not necessarily. With resume on Cruise Control (DRCC), the response in ECO and PWR are poles apart.

    Personally, I like the throttle response in ECO if I'm driving using the accelerator, but in DRCC, flick it to PWR.
     
  5. kithmo

    kithmo Couch Potato

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2010
    2,404
    2,773
    47
    Location:
    South Yorkshire, UK
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Alan, have you no self control ? :LOL:
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.
  6. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    You've answered your question?

    Myself, whith a 3rd gen, I leave it in Normal. I played around with it for maybe the first 6 months, buying into the "koolaid" that ECO was giving better mpg, and PWR was the thing for freeway entrances.

    It's mostly just a distraction. Third gen, you need to take your eyes off the road for way too long, to even find the dang buttons. And I gradually clued in, that ECO was waaay too lethargic, requiring so much pedal travel it made it harder to modulate. Third gen, there's just the ECO and PWR buttons. Leave them off, you're in "Normal".

    I understand with 4th gen, the response of all the modes is markedly shifted; all of them more responsive. Still, I'd probably just leave it in Normal.
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.
  7. The Professor

    The Professor Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 5, 2018
    598
    809
    0
    Location:
    UK
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius
    Model:
    Excel
    Just going to come back to this and contradict what we all used to believe...

    The other day I was stuck in stationary traffic. I was using the Dynamic Cruise Control to more easily move and stop as the traffic did (was in D not P, not pressing brake). Engine was warm. Cabin was at the right temperature. I noticed something interesting while cycling through the different drive modes to relieve the boredom while stationary...

    In Eco or Normal, the ICE was off.

    In PWR the ICE was on. Pressing the mode button again and the ICE turned off.

    I repeated this test several times to be sure, and every time it entered PWR mode, the ICE fired up. It stopped as soon as I left PWR mode.

    As I wasn't pressing the accelerator at all, it can't have been anything to do with the mapping. I suspect it likes to try and keep the ICE running so that the power from it is instantly available when in PWR mode. That would improve acceleration time slightly, and make things smoother.
     
  8. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2004
    44,768
    16,017
    41
    Location:
    Canada
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    There's also the possibility of different programming for Europe vs. US so I'm curious to see if the Gen 4 on our side does the same. I'll have to try it on our 2016 some time.
     
    alanclarkeau likes this.
  9. alanclarkeau

    alanclarkeau Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2016
    7,041
    7,580
    0
    Location:
    near Brisbane, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2016 Prius
    Model:
    N/A
    What was the State of Charge?

    I remember something similar - and I put it down to the ICE trying to charge the (lowish) battery so there would be more EV power for a jack-rabbit start. No idea - was just a random thought at the time. And haven't thought about it since.

    Next time I'm bored.