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

Hey roof rack people...how much did your MPG suffer?

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by ewxlt66, Jul 4, 2013.

  1. ewxlt66

    ewxlt66 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2008
    535
    186
    0
    Location:
    Dana Point, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    You know...after installing the racks.
     
  2. Mattman4723

    Mattman4723 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2013
    30
    6
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    I have 2013 Prius Two with Thule rack and two yakima bike racks. If I'm going under 60mph seems normal but over 60-70mph I see at least 5-8mpg difference. With bikes on top at 70mph I get 38-40mpg, so a big hit there.
     
    ewxlt66 likes this.
  3. kknguyen1168

    kknguyen1168 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    453
    35
    0
    Location:
    san diego
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Well I am glad you asked:)

    look at this then you will see :)

    This is the trip from Houston back to San diego, full load and with 4 people:)

    V/r

    Khoi nguyen
     

    Attached Files:

  4. Skunkworks

    Skunkworks Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2013
    101
    9
    0
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The guy at REI that quoted me a price on mine has a Yakima with a box and bike combo he said he lost 5 MPG on his 2011 Prius 3
     
  5. kknguyen1168

    kknguyen1168 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 15, 2011
    453
    35
    0
    Location:
    san diego
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Skunkworks ?

    what guy:), show me the data please:)

    V/r

    Khoi Nguyen
     
  6. Mattman4723

    Mattman4723 Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2013
    30
    6
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Two
    Yeah agreed guy at REI lied. I had my 29er mountain bike on the roof. Drove 70mph for 200 miles with just my girlfriend. I got 39mpg, so yep liar.

    I recommend Thule over Yakima any day, on base racks.

    Buy from ors racks direct. Better prices.
     
  7. ewxlt66

    ewxlt66 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2008
    535
    186
    0
    Location:
    Dana Point, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Thanks for the input, gentlemen.
     
  8. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2006
    11,309
    3,586
    1
    Location:
    Northern VA (NoVA)
    Vehicle:
    Other Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    I have not noticed a big MPG hit until I put the roof top box on the rack.
    with the roof top box on I can easily be -10 MPG
    My rack is removeable so usually not on there.
     
  9. Skunkworks

    Skunkworks Member

    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2013
    101
    9
    0
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Lets see if I can make this any more clear. The guy meaning the salesman that works at my local REI store, told me Aka word of mouth that he lost 5mpg, when he installed his. That's all the data I needed. I lost 3mpg on my rack on my tundra so it didn't seem too far fetched. If I could get 33 mpg like yours with all of the stuff I want to put up there I would be pretty happy. At least you didn't drop into the 20s.
     
  10. ewxlt66

    ewxlt66 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2008
    535
    186
    0
    Location:
    Dana Point, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    Wow, were you over the max weight for the car?
     
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,474
    38,106
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
  12. ewxlt66

    ewxlt66 Active Member

    Joined:
    May 1, 2008
    535
    186
    0
    Location:
    Dana Point, CA
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I would die if I lost that much mpg!
     
  13. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Summer is so short and the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors so limited, why worry about it?

    I just did a 135-mile trip. MPG with 2 bikes on back was 44. It was totally worth it.

    With 2 kayaks on top, MPG drops into the upper 30's. That's worth it too.
     
  14. Lindsi

    Lindsi Junior Member

    Joined:
    Dec 30, 2012
    44
    21
    0
    Location:
    Mishawaka, Indiana
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    Sorry to advertise, but buy from me!
    :) We stock a lot of Thule and its rare for me to see a lower price somewhere else.


    SCH-I535 ? 4 Beta
     
  15. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2012
    1,621
    375
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    I'm not surprised with the loses found with a roof rack based my past cars.

    Now with with my hitch rack on the Prius(not carrying a bike), I haven't noticed a drop. There maybe a drop, but it's so minimal, I don't notice it. MPG carrying the bike, it seems like it's around 1 or maybe 2 mpg at worse. Nothing obvious when reviewing my fuelly data.
     
  16. Sfcyclist

    Sfcyclist Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2012
    1,621
    375
    0
    Location:
    SF, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Persona
    wjtracy likes this.
  17. ybor

    ybor Junior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2021
    1
    0
    0
    Location:
    Parkton, MD
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius
    Model:
    XLE AWD-e
    I have a 2021 AWD Prius. At highway speeds (70+ mph), I lost 5-8 mpg with an empty Toyota factory rack. I would also note that interior wind noise dropped significantly when I removed the rack.
     
  18. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2020
    1,199
    325
    3
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    I had a Thule and a basket which 10mpg easy lost, the new low profile roof rack people are seeing roughly 5mpg lost.

    FB_IMG_1632074044161-01.jpeg FB_IMG_1632074044161-01.jpeg 20211128_164555-01.jpeg 20211106_142011-01.jpeg 5385f3f546ea923da86abb295698dc670531e47d-14-01.jpeg c8600c00a6b30c9751900d5f33eff941b3f2f3bd-24-01.jpeg
     
  19. gboss

    gboss Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2021
    82
    31
    2
    Location:
    Bay Area
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    Five
  20. black_jmyntrn

    black_jmyntrn Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2020
    1,199
    325
    3
    Location:
    Los Angeles, CA
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius Plug-in
    Model:
    Plug-in Advanced
    43mpg and thank you!