Not getting 50 MPG on new Prius?

One (of many) benefit(s) to being a member of this forum for 2+ years before getting my first Prius is that I learned to recalibrate my expectations on mpg. So, upon picking up my Prius a couple days ago, I already knew I would not be seeing anything close to 50mpg and, in fact, would be lucky to see 40mpg as a new Prius driver, in a brand new (unbroken in) Prius car, in temperatures averaging about 38 - 45 degrees.

I did actually get as high as 40.8 mpg on the most recent 85 mi of driving (trips of about 15 mi per segment), and I consider that a 'win' right now.

I have not (yet) checked tire pressure and inflated them -- they are whatever the dealer set. I will do that sometime today, but either way, I'm not stressing over mpg because I know, in the long run, on average, I will do fine.

It does help to go from a vehicle that only gets 20mpg on average to a Prius. Even if you're not getting as great mpg as others, it's still a huge improvement.

Attitude is everything! I feel so lucky to have my new Prius, at a decent price, and all paid for. The timing is perfect, with the rise in fuel costs.

 

Hank in there for warmer weather. When I got my prius end of May through September I continually increased my MPG per tank from 48 to 55 (actual mpg, not the computer readou). Since cold weather has set in, i'm down to low 40's). I have also changed my driving habits last 2 months with a lot more short (1 mile trips) to the train station which literally kills the mpg's. But i refuse to walk in the snow and cold and it's also too dark to do it safely!

 

When i bought my 2011 prius i had the same problem, but i was in low 40s. I tried the ECO mode with no results and the car was very slow and under powerd, the battery was always on low. Talked to the service manager he said that u will start to see 50 MPG when the car reaches about 5000 miles. That is when i have discivered the PWR mode, ever since than I have bean getting my 50s. The car drives like normal car and it has power and MPGs . U can get up to speed faster there for u can glide sooner, and my batteries are alwas fool and recharge a lot faster. Even on highway they are fool and when i get off it and brake on the off ramp the battery gains o e more barr makin it one short off 100 percent fool and from there i get home almost soloely on electrick. LOVE the prius

 

You can do the same in ECO mode, but you have to press harder.

Tom

 

I did not expect to have so many "fool"s in here

 

There's no assurance that you will reach 50 mpg at any mileage if your drives are not conducive to it (e.g. you drive very fast or have very short city drives).

Please read http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...uth-about-epa-city-highway-mpg-estimates.html to understand the EPA tests.

 

...n00b here...so what would someone driving L.A. freeways where the safe speed (to stay out of trouble!) would be 70-75mph?
I'm considering a Prius III. I have a daily commute to a remote desert location that's 50 miles each way, 90% freeway.
Gas is killing me in my '93 Volvo...

 

I won't quite be that blunt, but i'm hoping English is his second language. If not it's time for "hooked on phonics."

 

You should be able to triple your fuel economy over driving that brick you have now.depending on elevations and other variables you should avg 48 to 50 mpg's with a genIII at highway speed.my buddy has a Nissan gtr and a gen III prius and he drives both of them like he stole them and he still gets 47 mpg's with his prius

 

I've had no trouble the first month of ownership maintaining 54-56 mpg City and 49.5 - 50.5 Hwy. I'm surprised by this post and others. I have to think there is an allegiance of heavy acceleration and braking.

 

Frequent short trips are even worse for fuel economy.

 

FYI people - the OP was a 2 poster newb asking about their mileage, driving during a Kansas winter. Their average morning temps during Dec/Jan are about 22 degrees f. Can't hit 50mpg ?
Go figure!

 

I have to disagree, I'm in a valley.....no matter which way I go, I have to climb a hill while my Prius is not fully warmed up......this can cause me to loose close to 1.5 MPG each time, of course I do regain it when I'm driving back toward the house.
I think that the high milers have a flat area that they pretty much drive in always, this allows them to gain MPG much easier then someone that lives like myself in the NE USA.

I'm coming into springtime temps, and having a hard time getting out of the 49 MPG, into the 50's

 

If you read Tomek's post, you'll see he used the word "fool" for "full" a few times. I thought it was a clever comment by stefano. Actually I'm not sure phonics is Tomek's problem, since he seems to write mostly phonetically already.

Not so at all. It all depends on temperature, length of commute and a few other factors. Heavy acceleration (and trying to use only battery) can cause poor mileage as well, but it's not the primary factor. You can drive poorly on a good commute and get better mileage than the person driving well on a poor commute.

I'm getting 55 mpg on my current tank, but in the winter (well below freezing) with my short commute (3 miles) I get about 40-42 mpg - and that's with an EBH, Scangauge telling me what phase I'm in, tires at 40/38, and driving on the slow streets to better hypermile. Get a little more experience before you judge anybody.

 

I am in a level area and warm. Good points except for your last ja statement.

 

I just sold my 2009 Prius and purchased a 2010 with 19k miles. I was getting better mileage on it. When I filled up, I used Shell Gas (I always got better mpg with this gas in my 2009) and I can' t even get 41 mpg. I've tried the ECO and regular modes and the power mode for me is not even 38 mpg.

It's 105 degrees in Texas, is this my problem with the low mileage ?

 

My experience also. Bought my 2010 in late Dec. 2010, and averaged 48-49mpg local for the winter months. Once temps hit high 80's here in Orlando, my mileage dropped to 41-42mpg. Dealer says they cannot do a thing to troubleshoot .... "it's all computer controlled". Considering the replacement battery cost down the line, I am beginning to doubt the wisdom of buying the Prius!

Ed

 

Given you live in Florida you are likely using the AC now that summer temperatures have hit. That will hurt MPG because with the AC on the car rarely shuts off at stoplights like it normally would with AC off. Just think of it this way, ALL cars suffer from this so your MPG would be much lower in any other vehicle, including the small turbo-diesel cars like the Jetta.

 

I would tend to agree, however I have been paying close attention to that and the engine has been shutting off at stops as it did before. Even with extended stops the battery charge indicator does not show any excessive draw-down, with the A/C set at 71 degrees/auto and in ECO mode. With all the folks on here talking 50+ mpg in the hot southern states, I figured I have a problem! Thanks for your encouragement tho!

Ed