2010 Prius... 50 mpg? Thats it?

You may recall that the US EPA changed its method for calculating city and highway mpg estimates, making the estimates more conservative (i.e., lower). On that basis, Toyota restated the mpg estimates achievable by the various Prius models, so that the estimates are comparable and consistent with the current methodology.

An advanced 1.8L engine may indeed consume less fuel compared to a less sophisticated 1.5L engine. We'll find out in several months what mpg can be actually achieved by the first owners of the 2010.

 

Please identify your source of data. The following US EPA website shows the 2001 Prius is rated at 42 mpg city, 41 mpg highway, 41 mpg combined.
Compare Old and New MPG Estimates

 

The current EPA rating for the 2001 Prius in the US is 41. Here is the link.

The way you drive will be different than everyone else. The new 2010 EPA rating is 50 MPG and is over a 20% increase from 2001. I think that is pretty good.

I too get much better than the EPA rating, but that depends on each driver. I think that an EPA rating of 50 means that an 80 MPG number will be easily obtainable.

 

Pls identify your source for the above.

 

When you are calculating your MPG, are you doing it off of the MFD? I'm assuming so, but if not, please do remember that there is a conversion between Imperial gallons and US gallons (but, again, I'm assuming you are working off of the MFD which should make this point moot).

Also, do realize that it isn't TOYOTA generating the mpg numbers. The EPA tests the vehicles in their labs, generates numbers and the car companies can only report those numbers. Thus, everything is relative (although hybrids, and future EV cars do and will cause all sorts of pandemonium with the numbers). The EPA recently redid their test to better manage people's expectations of their vehicles (what's worse, seeing you average MPG rated at 40 and getting 45 or being rated at 45 and only getting 40?)

Oh, and as for the Yaris, a fine car, but since I have 2 growing kids, I think I'd rather have the Prius to be able to put them into the back seat (a car the family can grow with).

 

The majority of people here on Prius Chat seem to do better than EPA ratings.
I would expect drivers of the Gen 3 Prius to also do better than EPA ratings.
If all things are equal, I would expect to see quite a few signature banners with 60+ from Gen 3 Prius drivers.

and the number "50" is combined rating. The Gen 3 Prius has been redesigned to give better MPG at higher speeds, so the highway MPG shouldn't be less than city -- at least not as much as the Classic and the Iconic Prius.

 

It's on the fueleconomy.gov site. If you search a 2001 Prius and scroll down the page, and click on the link to pollution emission (next to the green house gases) it will be there. If you poke around, the CA prius in 2001 got a 8.5 out of 10 (or something like that) while most of the other states get a 3 out of 10. I'm not sure how they calculate it. For CO2, the Prius does very well.

A 2009 Prius, scores very well on the tests throughout the US.


http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/sbs.htm

 

OK, thanks for providing info about how to find that webpage. This is very strange as I believe the Prius was built to a 50-state standard, with no difference between the cars shipped to CA and the other states.

mlibanio, since this seems to concern you, may I suggest that you go out to your car, open the hood, and look at the emissions sticker on the underside of the hood. Is your car rated SULEV or ULEV? If the former, then it qualifies for the 8.5 rating.

EPA Air Pollution Score​

This vehicle is available in multiple versions that look the same, but may have different air pollution scores. (See "How to Identify a Clean Car") All versions may not be available in your area.

Air Pollution Score
Availability
Emission Standard
Underhood
Label ID


ULEV
1TYXV01.5LJ1


SULEV
1TYXV01.5LJ1​

 

mlibanio,
The 2010 is much more sophisticated than just '1.8L vs. 1.5L'.

There is a new exhaust gas recirc system to keep the ICE warmer, thus having it run less in the city to remain warm.

Also, the engine will run on as 'as needed' basis rather than 'warm up and stay reasonably warmed up' in the 2nd gen.

There will be 3 driving modes, one of them economy to maximize efficiency.

I think it will have higher city economy than all highway, perhaps 51 city / 49 highway.

And I'm waiting for Toyota to post the curb weight(s).

 

Hi All,

It appears that due to the EPA change to a higher speed Highway test, Toyota opted for the bigger engine. This allows less pumping losses at higher speeds due to lower RPM.

The expense of this change is that city driving will get a little worse. More rotational inertia - bad for up and down speeds, and more engine weight. Some of this may be offset with the upgreared MG2 and better regeneration. But there is not much more to recover, as the present Prius is already at 85 % in this regard.

Most likely this is what happened to our 20 % mileage improvement we were expecting over the Gen 2. So, blame the EPA and the HOV lane (also know as SUV NASCAR TRACK). Damn Blagovitch has gotten them to start setting up those DAMN HOV lanes here in Illinois now too! His parting shot , as I see it.