Help identify model

If you're getting 33mpg, it's usually more than just tires affecting the mpg. But if you want to go to 15" wheels, you can do it at anytime, regardless of it's a touring model or not.

 

Does it have fog-lights? There's a place somewhere in the depths of Toyota's web-site which will allow you to put in the VIN # to see if any recalls have been issued. My 2009 Gen II is the touring model (16" OEM rims (7-spoke) - shod with Antares Ingens A1 (for summer) and 15"steelies shod with Bridgestone Blizzak WS-80s for the winter) - so far I've found the difference in MPG is more to do with season (different mix) and driving style than which wheels/tyres are on. Both the Blizzaks and the Ingens are way quieter than the Michelin Energy Savers which were on the car when I bought it (used) in 2014. - hope this helps - Wil

 

Even very crappy 16” tires and very low rolling resistance 15” tires won’t give you more than 1l/100km consumption difference.
So there really has to be something wrong. If you’re only basing this from one fuel tank maybe there was on fill-up error? What kind of fuel economy did you get with your old car? What car? What kind of driving? And last maybe there’s something wrong with your Prius? Any fault lights on? Brakes dragging? Battery swinging between 2 and 7 bars? Something else?

 

You probably have a touring model. 16" wheels will use more fuel than 15" wheels (although they have better handling and stopping). Have you checked if you have uneven tire wear? If your car pulls to one side, your alignment could be off and that could negatively affect fuel economy if it was bad enough. Also, have you had all the recall repairs for your vehicle done? There were 3 that were performed on my 2009 model. If you missed any, you could have a faulty part that's acting up.

 

I think you are finding out why the person who sold it to you, did so.

7 l/100km is way off, in a well running Prius you should be in the 4.8 - 5.2 l/100 ball park, and better if you practice economical driving techniques.

Just going by this comment:

my money is that your battery is not what it once was. I'd start saving CAD4,000 to replace it, although you may not need to do this for some time yet.

The five things that got the biggest improvement for me was:

• having LRR tires,
• having the correct pressure (slightly higher than the placard—255 kPa Front/241 kPa Rear (37/35 PSI),
• using the correct fuel (as recommended in the owner's manual),
• using the correct oil (for my geography) full synthetic 5W-30 (in your geography probably full synthetic 0W-20) and finally
• a large adjustment to the nut behind the wheel. If I had to put money on it, this last one probably had the most effect.

With your vehicle, it sounds like there are some other issues in play.

 

It sits just in front of the steering wheel and interfaces with all the main controls.

 

Have you checked for fuel system problems? If you get worse fuel economy near the end of longer trips, maybe there's sediment in the gas tank that is getting stirred up and getting clogged somewhere.

 

Sadly, I agree, like I said in my first post, 7 l/100km is way off.

On the tires, you said "LRR = check!", then went on to say "I would think it's the tires but they only have ~4,000km on them", which is contradictory. However, even the worst performing tires will not jump up that high (5 to 7 l/100).

I think you need to be looking at the efficiency of the either the HV Battery, or the ICE (internal combustion engine). Have you checked the compression on each cylinder, for example?

 

You need a compression tester which plugs in in place of a spark plug. It has a recording device to make a graph of the pressure achieved in the compression stroke. I believe you use Techstream to turn the ICE over.

These are user functions. You need to get the owner's manual out and acquaint yourself with the interface. (The owner's manual is available for download, if you don't have one).

 

I have a question? What will the VIN tell me about the 2012 Prius I am about to buy? Thanks

 

In itself, a VIN tells the year, make & model of a vehicle and where it was manufactured. If you sign up for Toyota's owners site, the VIN will also allow you to see what maintenance & repairs for the vehicle were completed at Toyota dealers.