Newbie question about mpg

You failed to state how fast you were traveling and if there was any wind or water on the road. I would suggest ignoring the mpg readout and just drive the car for a few tankfulls then you can start analyzing your mpg. Right now you just don't have enough information to try and diagnose anything.

 

While the car also breaks in, (tires especially) you need a break in period to unlearn what every 'bad' habit 'normal' cars have taught you.

Preplanning your braking is a good start, gentle braking allows you to regenerate 30% of the 'wasted' energy, not needing to brake at all saves 100%.

I try to convince new owners that the first three tanks should be spent learning the car, not trying to hypermile.

 

Welcome to PC - Congrats on the New Car.
As for MPG
1 Drive the speed limit.
2 Drive like u have no brakes.
3 Learn to anticipate stops and slowing ahead.
4 Tries at 42/40 PSI.
Best of Luck to You!

 

I too would like to know the exact conditions of those first few miles; did you spend much time idling? wind? rain? A/C on? My 2002 Prius does its best with temps in the 60's. High mpg's don't come automatically, not the way the average driver seems to drive these days -i.e. like they're in a RACE to see who gets there first-
I am considering a 2011 Prius myself with the current incentives in place, want to know why yours is only getting 43mpg? I test drove a 2010 briefly last month and the readout showed 55mpg on a very very windy day, but at 55mph on a back road.

 

Stop trying. As a new Prius driver, you will do much better to just drive and let the Prius do its thing. Most new drivers make things worse by trying too hard.

Speed is the enemy of mileage. Slow down, especially on the highway.

Tom

 

55 or 65 on the freeway ? New here too 46.5 on 1st tank so far:mod:

 

ditto.

 

You are an experienced Prius driver, apparently the OP is not (but will be soon).

 

Just asking; did you reset the MPG calculator before you took that first drive???

 

Check your tires, check your tires!!

1) Buy an $8 tire pressure gage. I have a cheapo Slime dial gage and it works great!

2) Keep a small compressor or like 7 gallon air tank around the house. Use it to fill the tires once a week or so instead of hassling at a gas station.

3) check tire pressure cold, morning is good.

4) 35 psi front/33rear is stock. Kick em up a couple psi over all around. 42/40 is cool, but gives a harsher ride. work up to that I guess.

4a) Fill up and/or just reset your tripmeter gage (which resets running MPG gage) after checking your tires, fluids and all.

5) No need to 'break-in' Prius drive trains. My 2009 was clocking 55 MPG brand new (it was August and hot though).

6) Accelerate easy and brake easily, just drive smooth, that's all you have to do. Don't have to hypermile for 50+. I never did.

7) Maybe higher elevations, loading or other conditions bring the FE down a bit.

 

This is what works for me and it by no means is the most efficient way to drive the Prius:
Set display to Hybrid System Indicator.
Keep the meter within the ECO range.
Try not to exceed 75% of that meter.
When going down hill, drop below 50% of that meter. I try to drop to CHG if possible.

I do most of my driving on highway: I-5

Good luck!

 

When I picked up this 2011 Prius Three rental this morning, the tripmeter A read ....

45 miles and average of 41 MPG

After I gassed it up, reset tripmeters, I drove 22 miles and ended up at 58.3 MPG (see picture). It will stay about that from here on out. All in Power Mode and I drive with the flow of traffic. I've rented 3rd gens a dozen times, all about 55 mpg or more. The only one just over 50 mpg was a Prius Five with the 17" wheels.

The tires were all low when picked up. These tires tend to lose air a good bit, a lot more air lost than with my Accord tires. So check Prius tires once a week. It's a little hard to unscrew the valve stem caps with the plastic hubcaps in the way.

 

I drive the speed limit and stay out of the way. Mileage isn't worth causing a rolling traffic jam.

65 mph will net you better mileage than 70, but 55 will do better than 65. Someplace in the mid forties seems to be optimal. It all comes down to traffic and how much time you have to kill.

Tom

 

see below.

 

dupe post.

 

Can't emphasize enough to check tire pressures with a good gage. $8 dial gage will do just fine. Tires could easily be down under 30 psi and you'd never know it by looking.

I checked this 2011's tires this morning ... all about 34 psi and the car was doing 55 MPG. 12 3rd gen Prius' rented, 12 of them get about 55 MPG average. With flow of traffic on city and highway. All the time in Power Mode.

I like power mode the best. Personal preference. Car 'seems' underpowered in eco or normal mode. Drives more like a comparable conventional car in Power Mode to me.