Now that I own, and drive a PIP I find my real world experience to be quite different from what the EPA put on their sticker. I see this information being spread all over the WWW, especially on the green car sites, It also gets commented on, and discussed by people that have never seen, let alone driven the vehicle. The EPA says 6 miles pure EV range; I get 14 or better, with zero gas. The EPA says 11 EV miles when it’s blended with the ICE assist, not so, I still get 14 MPG or better. The ICE runs so little, when needed, you hardly know it’s on. As for the 50-MPG in hybrid mode, wow they actually got one right, but driven carefully, I have seen 65 MPG. Toyota has built one great piece of technology; it drives like a dream. Most of the reviews I’ve read over the past year were based on the pre production PIP, and they just didn’t give the correct impression of what has been accomplished with this car. I have always driven one of the big three (maybe they should have been named Larry, Moe, and Curly, by the way they preformed), but I’m so glad I can now drive a new PIP. The EPA never got the Numbers right for the big three either, except in their case they erred in over estimating mileage. I’m Glad to see 14 the mpg gone forever, or as the EPA said 21.
Car reviewers usually make mistakes, in this case, he does not know that tank capacity of the 2 vehicles are different. Fuel Tank capacity PIP = 10.6 Prius = 11.9 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In: Parsing The EPA Efficiency Sticker .
Your going to love it The ride is very smooth and quiet, the seats comfortable and you'll get as much zoom as you like. It gets off the line in EV very nicely, and rockets in HV Power mode, of course MPG drops in the last, but it's all there in one great car. The PIP is like three different cars all rolled into one. EV, HV and just fun to drive. As for the claims that the Prius is lack luster, with numb steering! All I can say is the steering is tighter and better then my Big Chrysler ever was, and just chose your mode and this car can move.
lenP, how gentle are you driving the car ? Or better yet, what kind of CS mpg would you get on the same route once the ICE is warm ?
I have been driving my Pip for One and half week now. I have driven the car many times without any EV charge and have observed the reported miles per gallon at the end of each trip is always in mid 50's. I always drive in Eco mode but do not use any hypermiling techniques. I believe an advantage over the standard Gen III is that there is lot more battery capacity which allows capturing lot more charge by regeneration and hence improving fuel efficiency.
Weve had great warm 70 deg weather here in NJ,so no AC or just a tad, and speeds of 30 to 45 mph with traffic lights, pretty flat. I got 55mpg in HV and 65 mpg same return trip in HV only.
True but get a charge in there soon. Your not doing that battery any favor keeping its capacity so low.
Change your "My Car" tag Len! Gratz on the new car (personally counting down till the 23rd and quietly hating all of you who already have your cars)
thanks len! i agree on the driveabilty. of course, i've been driving the gen II for 8 years now with no complaints. to each his own i guess, this isn't exactly a sports car club!
True Bisco, but this is my first Prius, and all the pro reviews + the EPA really had me scared that I made one big expensive mistake.Well its been anything but a mistake. In Power mode this car moves better them my Chrysler with its V6. I think a better way to think of the PIP...it's a Super Prius. I know I'll need gas in the winter for heat, and longer trips, but it's still a full time EV for all my everyday drives, and if it needs the ICE for a short burst of power so what this machine is pure efficiency. I've been use to American 14-mpg technology
It does get charged twice a day , at home and at work again since I am out of charge by the time I reach work.
Samlal, i'm in SoCal, as well. do you have any idea, please, how long it will take for 'regular' people in OC to get a PiP? how much might i "actually" pay for "base" model? and is there a lease option? i very much appreciate your insight! (i'm a girl in love w a car i've never seen
Not sure how much is conservative versus the fact that EVs have a greater per-person variations and are more impacted by temp terrain and technique. I exceed EPA EV range and EV% by a wide margin, but others may be well below. EPA is an average estimate and with an EV YMWV (you milage WILL vary) To the Op.. congrats on your success with the PiP!
Toyota thought they would get 13, got 6 Chevrolet thought they would get 50, got 35 Nissan thought they would get 100, got 73 Coda thought they would get 120, got 80 This may not be a trend, but it looks like one to me.