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Real world fuel mileage of the Prius V?

Discussion in 'Prius v Fuel Economy' started by Rhizzlebop, Nov 13, 2011.

  1. Rhizzlebop

    Rhizzlebop Member

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    I'm very interested in one of these vehicles and am interested to start seeling what this thing really gets MPG-wise.

    I've read reports of the regular prius getting low 50s, and the new Lexus CT200 which has tthe same powertrain is listed at 44/40/42 but most owners are reporting that they are getting 44 to 50 in that car for average tank mpg.

    Please report:

    Miles driven on tank
    Gallons to refill it.
    Type of driving, city/hwy bias %
    Whether you typicall drive it alone or with passengers/cargo

    I hear the computers over estimate so cant go by that.
    Also I have read that each 100 lb can change mpg 1-2% so curious of how its loaded.
     
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  2. Rhizzlebop

    Rhizzlebop Member

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    I test drove a V-5 today and it was only about a 6 mile test drive and I was on the gas hard to test its power.

    However when we got on the interrstate, my gf was driving at about 68 to 70 and I was noticing the display was flopping between 38 and 40 mpg, 38.2, 39.4,38.5, 41.3,38.7,etc...... Gave me the feeling (IF the screen is accurate) that it would average about 39 on the highway like that.

    This was with me, her and the sales guy riding on. Well, thats almost 600 lb of people. If you say 400 of that was "extra" above a single driver then thats 400 lb which is 4 to 8% hurting mpg if every 100 lb is 1-2%.

    Well, split the difference so say 6%. 6% of 39 is 2.64, so maybe it would do 41.5 highway and then hopefully above 46 city. Again, I bring this up because many people are reporting the Lexs with the same powertrain is getting well over its 44/40 rating.
     
  3. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    There is already a thread on the subject.

    There are way too many factors that will determine mpg inr a Prius. If you're not satisfied with the EPA rating then don't get a v if you drive like a maniac or make a lot of very short trips.

    The ve is much larger than the ct200h and is not directly comparable. Hell even the Gen II Prius is larger.
     
  4. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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  5. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well for what it's worth, I reset Trip B and went on a highway route around Toyota HQ and got just over 50mpg on cruise control (DRCC. I had the Five w/ AT package). I was pleasantly surprised.
     
  6. dk_brookdale

    dk_brookdale Junior Member

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    My prius v computer thinks I'm getting about 41.5 mpg
    My calculations work out to about 39 mpg

    Please report:

    Miles driven on tank - about 450
    Gallons to refill it. - +- 9
    Type of driving, city/hwy/rural hills bias % - 20/20/60
    Whether you typicall drive it alone or with passengers/cargo - alone
     
  7. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    see fuelly.com also. couple people reporting on Prius v there.
     
  8. Chiller

    Chiller New Member

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    Just took delivery of mine. Drove a little over 300 hwy miles at 70mph and was at 42.5 mpg
     
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  9. dustmonkey

    dustmonkey New Member

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    I've owned my V5 since Thanksgiving and now have just over 1,000 miles driven. I am a conservative driver and understand how to maximize mileage. In spite of that, I cannot get over 30 mpg average since taking delivery. The computer tells me I'm getting anywhere from 42 to 57 average but real world testing shows just around 30.
     
  10. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    42 to 57 on gage and 30 at the pump ?????? The gage isn't that far off, is it?

    Check tires. You have roof racks, short trips, freezing temps / lots of heater? Wassup?
     
  11. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    Yeah something is not right. There is no way the gauge is that far off unless there is an issue with the odometer. Maybe Dusty monkey can explain his calculation procedure?
     
  12. dustmonkey

    dustmonkey New Member

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    Sucks, right? The dealership already knows and predictably weren't interested in the possibility that something could be wrong; they simply stated the engine needs to break in and winter mileage will not be as good as in warmer months.
    As to methodology of obtaining mileage - the usual way: note mileage at fill-up/ fill up again and note miles driven/ divide gallons used into miles driven.
    With over 1,200 miles on the V5, still unable to to better than 30.
     
  13. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

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    Break-in period is mostly a fallacy with Prius (and pretty much any car I've owned). It's not like a brand new Prius might only get, say, 35 MPG. Then as it nears 10k miles on odometer, it'll start copping 44 MPG regularly.

    I have not seen any evidence of drastic improvements in MPG during a so-called break-in period.

    Personally, I would be seriously PO'd if I had a Prius that under reasonable conditions (I'm not talking about nothing but 2 mile trips in freezing weather, don't buy a Prius)....

    did not get within a few MPGs (maybe 7 max or 35) of the EPA average. But, 12 MPGs down? I would have strived to catch that on a test drive and not even buy the car. When I test drove my car, if it didn't get reasonably close to 50 MPGs during the 25 minute test drive (lets say it only got 42, 3rd gen), I would not have bought it.

    In at least 13 different 3rd gen Prius' driven well over a hundred miles each, I've never encountered one that could not get well over 50 MPGs on the gage (my last tankfull was laden with 2 mile trips)

    What is your average MPH typically when filling up? If it's 20, you might be doing tons of short, short (< 2 mile trips). That brings FE to its knees.
     
  14. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I just noticed you live in a very cold winter climate AND you have the Five which comes with 17" wheels. Those wheels and the cold will hurt mpg pretty significantly. How long is your daily commute and how many other short trips do you make on a tank?
     
  15. parnami

    parnami Member

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    The mpg calculation provided by the computer seems correct and in line with what you should expect. That being the case, I'm wondering if, somehow, you're losing gas, either through a leak or by some prankster who is trying to bring you down a peg from your "high-horse" Prius attititude of superiority we all share??
     
  16. dustmonkey

    dustmonkey New Member

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    I think you're addressing me - Michigan is typically cold but has been unseasonably warm to date e.g. temps over the week end in mid 40's.
    But even if I lived in St Paul, one would expect better mileage than what I'm getting.
    What's the most frustrating (besides getting non-hybrid mileage) is Toyota service can't/won't say: "That's not acceptable, we'll look into it." Instead, I get denial and a condescending attitude.
     
  17. dustmonkey

    dustmonkey New Member

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    From what I've read, the Prius (at least the V) does it's heavy lifting in city traffic, not highway i.e. it defaults to EV mode more often in light city driving, therefore achieving optimal mileage at slower speeds. But to answer your question, the average speed is around 13 to 15 mph, which surprises me as I'm only at that speed during acceleration momentarily. I would guess average speed to be something more closer to 35 - 40.
    Someone said earlier in this forum per mileage that I should have checked the mileage during the test drive, but that appears to be inflated from my experience. The onboard computer indicates very lofty mileage indeed.
     
  18. xs650

    xs650 Senior Member

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    If you are stopped at a stop light 30 seconds and go 30 mph for 30 seconds, your average speed will be 15mph, actually lower because it takes you time to get to 30 mph. Actual measured average speed in traffic usually amazes people by how slow it is.
     
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  19. Sledgehammer

    Sledgehammer I'm ridin round, I'm gettin it

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    I bought my car car Monday of last week with 20 miles on her and filled up at 465 miles. I believe that was a full tank based on the gauge. Overall I am happy with the mileage. This is a mix of lots of stop & go traffic and constantly in and out of various locations all day long. I'm not driving it in extremes like the folks with the pulse and glide crap. Or hyper/hiper milers or whatever its called.

    For me if it does 450 miles in my type of daily use thats great. I expect on long highway trips at steady speeds to get higher tank miles. I routinely drove my 05 from NJ to DC and back on one tank. I expect no less with this one. Overall I'm impressed with the difference from the Gen 2 car I had years ago vs. this new 2012 Prius II. Worlds apart in comfort and drivability.
     
  20. GARGOYLE58

    GARGOYLE58 Junior Member

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    I have taken my new prius v on 2 trips in nj 150 miles each one i saw that if i stayed at 55 i was getting about 50 miles per gal. If i want up to 65 miles was only getting about 46 miles per gal. So if you drive 55 you will do better.