1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Used Prius C ...correct gas mileage?

Discussion in 'Prius c Main Forum' started by Tom777, Oct 15, 2015.

  1. Tom777

    Tom777 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 9, 2015
    9
    0
    0
    Location:
    st. louis
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I took a used 2014 Prius C (27000 miles) on a test drive of about 4 miles highway and 1 1/2 city driving...when
    we got in car , salesman said battery was to low for EV mode. I think he put in (non-eco mode) power mode...
    after drive we averaged 47 mpg .... Does this seem right? My concern was the battery might be weak, it seems it should of been higher. The A/C was on the entire time.
     
  2. Munpot42

    Munpot42 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 12, 2012
    1,391
    543
    0
    Location:
    Santa Monica, Ca. 90405
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    You were dealing with a salesman, what do they know. If he put it in power mode he did so to make the car feel peppy rather than a little sluggish, sluggish don't sell. EV mode is only for parking lots, you never use it anyhow, and at 27000 the car should still be under factory warranty.
     
    PLSPUSH likes this.
  3. ETC(SS)

    ETC(SS) The OTHER One Percenter.....

    Joined:
    Oct 28, 2010
    7,673
    6,493
    0
    Location:
    Redneck Riviera (Gulf South)
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    People tend to worry about the traction (larger) battery a lot but there's really no need. You're covered by a 100k warranty IIRC - and the battery for the C-type is probably even cheaper than it is for the adult-sized Prius - which tends to run about $2K installed.
    Also...don't overthink the battery's role in fuel efficiency. It's really just a convenient way to reduce idling and a piggy bank for scavenged coasting and braking energy.
    I always hand calculate my tank MPGs. Some of the geekier hypermilers use completely different metrics.
    (gallons per miles)
    Besides.....the C-type has been around for a while now, and premature battery failure hasn't been a problem for this type.

    As far as mileage is concerned, don't worry about the display.
    It's going to bounce around like a politician's polling numbers depending on a lot of factors.
    I can drive my V8 pickup on a 5 mile route that would give me bragging rights to the world's most efficient truck.
    It's a YMMV thing, and yours WILL vary.

    Remember.
    The "C" in Priussy stands for "city" and while the pint-sized Prius certainly has enough grunt to pull interstate duty, interstate mileages might be different than they will be for it's larger sibling.

    Good Luck!
     
    #3 ETC(SS), Oct 15, 2015
    Last edited: Oct 16, 2015
  4. luckyboy

    luckyboy Member

    Joined:
    Feb 16, 2007
    204
    29
    0
    Vehicle:
    2007 Prius
    47mpg seems good for a short trip, I'm actually surprised it was that high for a test drive.The battery is not going to have degraded in 27K miles.
     
  5. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

    Joined:
    May 11, 2005
    107,747
    48,962
    0
    Location:
    boston
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Base
    prius are selling like cold cakes. take another drive, without the salesman. you can try ev mode after the ice warms.
     
  6. orenji

    orenji Senior Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2013
    5,884
    3,486
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The milage improves as the car warms up, 47 MPG is pretty good for a short trip. As you get to know how to drive the car, as they are different from a normal car, you will be able to average 50 to 55 MPG. I have seen my MPG from the high 40's to high 70's. Also in the winter months your MPG will be on the lower side, as these cars prefer to be driven in warmer climates to get high MPG.
     
  7. Mr Incredible

    Mr Incredible Chance favors the prepared mind.

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2008
    955
    506
    0
    Location:
    Neb
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    The stated mpgs from the Toyota are about right. You can make it better or worse, depending on your driving habits and skills.

    They do take a while to get the hang of, but you get used to it. I wouldn't worry about the battery...EV mode isn't for anything but creeping through parking lots and neighborhoods. It helps, but is very limited.
     
  8. DickPhillips

    DickPhillips Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    89
    58
    0
    Location:
    Mount Vernon, WA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Premium
    That mileage sounds about right for a short trip. On short trips the car will not get its best mileage as when you start it it has to warm up the cat converter so most of the first few miles will be on the gas engine. It will also get lower mileage in winter if you are using the heater/defroster as that system needs hot coolant to provide the heat. As the coolant cools the ICE will start to bring the temp back up, whether it is needed or not to propel the car. I live in coastal Washington State and get about 4 miles per gallon less in winter than summer. But it is still pretty good!
     
  9. Aqua2014owner

    Aqua2014owner New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2018
    29
    6
    0
    Location:
    Karachi Pakistan
    Vehicle:
    2014 Aqua
    Model:
    N/A
    bisco likes this.