I'm about to get a Prius, and...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cea423 @ May 28 2007, 08:41 PM) [snapback]451215[/snapback]</div>

Hi Colleen,
I was worried about the same thing before I bought my Prius 2 weeks ago about it being a chore to get good MPG. I find it the direct opposite. I drive 37miles each way mostly highway and all I do is set my cruise control 5MPH over the speed limit and go and I get 51MPG'ish. Now when I do short trips in slower areas (35-40MPH), I seem to get like 45ish MPG. But I am still getting use to the car. But I will note, if I am in bumper to bumper traffic, I am on the battery a lot and seem to get decent MPG during that time.

I am afraid I might have confused you more than helped. Hopefully one of the Prius vets will chime in.

Tom

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cea423 @ May 28 2007, 08:41 PM) [snapback]451215[/snapback]</div>

Actually, you can do worse than 45 if a lot of bad conditions stack up against you. Don't go into this expecting 60 MPG, not everyone gets that. Conditions matter.

You can "just drive it", but if you want to optimize your mileage, you can't drive it aggressively. This really goes for any car, not just the Prius. Some people think the Prius is slow, but in my experience it has plenty of power -- I just choose to go the speed limit.

I have gotten 72 MPG in a 2-hour city test. That said, my lifetime average is more like 48, with it never really deviating more than a handful of MPGs in either direction. I've never gotten 60 on a tank, but of course a tank lasts a month for me, so that's a lot of averaging. Some people's commutes are very well suited for the car. Mine are not. Now, if I had to drive across town every day through 30-35 MPH synchronized lights (like in my test), I'd be in 7th heaven!

We know you live in Chicago, so winter will drop your mileage as the car tries to keep both itself and you warm. How long are your commutes? What speeds? How often do you start and stop? Any big terrain differences? Are you an aggressive driver that likes to speed and tailgate? Do you park outdoors?

Here's a good article to help you sort out the various factors, to see how well you may fair:

"Why don't I get the EPA Mileage?" by efusco

 

Mid 50s are pretty easy to get in the warmer months, but 60 mpg requires good driving or a bit of luck. The Prius does a good job of teaching you how to drive it, so don't worry. Just drive it and enjoy.

Tom

 

i have had mine for 4 days now and i like it. down to the last 2 dots on fuel gauge and the consumpion gauge said 44 mpg. in my case i wanted the highest mpg hatchback i could find and the prius fit that bill for me

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cea423 @ May 28 2007, 09:58 PM) [snapback]451239[/snapback]</div>

Well, to see 60 you would probably have to drop the stopping and starting, and possibly the 20 MPH. So, your conditions are not optimal. However, even at my average, I save something like $1,000 every 10,000 miles over the small SUV I was planning to buy, and that vehicle would have also cost me quite a bit more to start.

 

One more thing -- on the plus side, your engine won't be wasting fuel while you're stopped in traffic!

That, and you may get a cool look from the car beside you when your engine turns off at a light.

I can no longer imagine having a car that wastes fuel because it's too dumb not to.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wayne @ May 28 2007, 07:20 PM) [snapback]451254[/snapback]</div>

Have to agree with that one. Just seems crazy to sit there not moving with the engine burning fuel. The OP's commute will be tough to get over 50 mpg regularly without a considerable amount of care. I would suggest that anything over that amount will be a success for you. My experience has been that the Prius gives you more control over your mpg than any car but to really get up there takes a little skill and patience. If you just want to get in and drive and not try to focus on winning the mpg game you can certainly do that but you might be a bit disappointed. There are other positives. The car is as roomy as a Camry and I find the hatchback to be even more useful than the trunk. It also has some other useful features not found in similar cars. I thought the back up camera was kind of a gimmick but after parallel parking with it a few times, I don't feel that way anymore.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cea423 @ May 28 2007, 08:41 PM) [snapback]451215[/snapback]</div>

This is a lie. At the worst we've gotten 29MPG in the Prius per the MFD, but this is in winter and making extremely short trips (2 miles after cold startup at most). That will KILL your mileage. That salesman needs to watch what he says, he's going to have a lot of unsatisfied customers.

Now, in the summer I get about 39-42MPG with a mix of city and highway driving but I'm not easy on it acceleration or speed wise, I drive it like a normal car. Carla gets 45-48 when she drives it (which is 90% of the time) for reasonably long trips. In my experience I'd say 45MPG is pretty typical mileage on the Prius.

Forget about 60MPG. There is no way to get 60MPG with this car without learning how to pulse and glide etc. I'd be happy with 45, which is still extremely excellent by the way.

 

I just try to think of it as just about no matter what, it's getting better MPG than anything else out there. I do hope to achieve the best a Prius can offer, but 45 still is not bad!

I'm addicted to watching my varying MPG on the screen (okay, I've only had it two days) but when it says 99.9 MPG my wallet does a little happy dance.

 

Dear Folks

My first post....I have just found this site...I am so excited

I am seriously contemplating the Prius T4 Spirit - having sat in the car it is so comfortable. I am test driving this week.

Concerning MPG - If the US gallon is smaller than the UK gallon, then surely it will be impossible for you USA folks to achieve 67MPG, whereas in the UK with a larger gallon this will be easier.

The published information in the UK is 67 MPG.

A UK gallon = 1.2 US Gallons

Kindest regards

ANDREW

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GoEco @ May 28 2007, 11:18 PM) [snapback]451344[/snapback]</div>

what he said! we're not going to drive 55 on the freeway.... but it's nice to know even driving 70-75 we're still getting great gas mileage! and if we learn to retrain our thinking and leave earlier to get places so we can drive more slowly..... we'll get awesome mileage!

i love watching the guages!

 

I wouldn't say to forget about getting 60 mpg.

Mine only has a few hundred miles on the odometer and it's always averaging close to 60--sometimes a little over. Higher tire pressure helps...I'm running 44 front 42 rear. The warm temperatures also help.

I found granny driving doesn't deliver the best milage. You spend almost all the time accellerating in this mode and hardly ever get to glide.

For me, moderate (but not slow) accelleration up to nearly the speed limit followed by a little electric glide to get the last few mph and anticipating stops (long coasts) is working the best. Once you are close to cruising speed, you can back off the gas to turn off the engine (the mpg shoots to 100) and do a little electric only or pure coast or a little regen (100 mpg for any of those). Then if you speed drifts down, just give the pedal a squeeze to get back to the speed limit or a little over and then back off again. It'll get to be automatic before long (about a month for me--I think I'm getting there). When you back off, don't let go of the pedal or it will go into regen and slow you down. Still keep a tiny bit of pressure on it so it'll glide or give you a little electric power....unless you have to stop ahead--then you can let go of the pedal all the way and have it regen and slow down.

We had a nice trip to Rocky Mountain National Park this weekend. My average was about 59 mpg when we left. At the park after all that climbing it was 49. After the long coast back down it was 60 again (the battery was full-green almost the whole way back).

Have fun,

Eric

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cea423 @ May 28 2007, 07:41 PM) [snapback]451215[/snapback]</div>

Colleen, many start off saying that they will just "drive the car normally and don't care about the mpg". The Prius gives almost "real time" feedback through the MFD (big display) that is seductive. Once one sees how one's driving style affects the mpg one starts to change. Speeds slow a bit, more anticipation of stops (more coasting or gliding), a more uniform speed, driving becomes less stressful and the mpg increases.

I learned to drive on the interstate. I can put my fender inches from the concrete at highway speeds without a second thought but I can't stand city driving. When I have to go into the city I want my Prius and nav unit with me. If I'm sitting or creeping in traffic I love the idea that I'm not burning gas. 60mpg in the city may be optimistic. Do you know of other cars that hit the city mpg in the city? What are you getting now and what is the car rated at? Use the same percentage on the Prius and I don't think you will be disappointed. Rest assured, at it's worst, the Prius will beat any other conventional car's mpg on your route. Reducing pollution is a bonus. Pump up the tires and when the weather cools off winterize the car and you can still get good mpg all year.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cea423 @ May 28 2007, 08:58 PM) [snapback]451239[/snapback]</div>

I live in Chicago, just south of Loyola's lakeshore campus. I drive about 40 miles round trip to/from Deerfield each day (Sheridan to Lake Cook Road - slow and steady).

I USED to drive an '05 Dodge Magnum with the 3.5l V6. I averaged about 21 mpg on my commute.

I NOW drive an '04 Prius. At peak rush hour traffic, I've averaged about 54 mpg in the last month. My best one-way commute has been 65 mpg - but that was leaving before 7 am to make a seminar.

I do try to keep up with traffic, but have no problem easing the gas pedal till I coast. Usually I accelerate to 40 and then coast down to the low 30's.

I have taken the Edens home once, just to see how I would do in bumper to bumper... I got about 58 mpg driving conservatively (and no one gave me the finger!!). I still like the scenic route better.

I wouldn't go into the purchase EXPECTING to hit 60 mpg right away. However, that said, 50+ is certainly attainable in Chicago traffic - how much better is 50 mpg than what you are getting now?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(cea423 @ May 29 2007, 11:27 PM) [snapback]451846[/snapback]</div>

Congrats!

 

By the way, if you're thinking that slowing for red lights impacts anything: don't. I don't have a Prius yet, but for a couple of years I've been doing that.

Its hilarious, because often a car will come roaring by me, stop at the light...then just as the light turns green here's me, zipping by without ever having to slow down. Usually I'm half a mile ahead before they can catch up.