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

Hypermiling: Prius G3 versus Prius C

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by Troy Heagy, May 15, 2013.

  1. Troy Heagy

    Troy Heagy Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2013
    1,218
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    One
    The C has a much smaller engine. If a hypermiling driver drove 45-55mph, would the C be able to beat the standard prius in fuel economy?
     
    #1 Troy Heagy, May 15, 2013
  2. css28

    css28 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    1,566
    442
    3
    Location:
    Suburban Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    There's more at work than the engine size. The c also has a smaller battery and a less slippery shape.

    That being said, it's possible. The engine in the c is the same size as was used in the Gen 2 standard Prius.
     
    #2 css28, May 15, 2013
  3. Codyroo

    Codyroo Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 24, 2007
    1,826
    515
    6
    Location:
    Pleasanton, Ca
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    One of the reasons Toyota upped the engine size to 1.8L was to reduce the engine RPM's at highway speed to improve highway MPG's.
     
    #3 Codyroo, May 15, 2013
  4. Troy Heagy

    Troy Heagy Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2013
    1,218
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    One
    Got it.
    Just seems odd that making the engine bigger would increase fuel economy. Normally you think "make the engine smaller, less cylinders, less moving mass" in order get better efficiency. All the highest MPG cars in Europe are tiny three-cylinder versions. (The highest being the Lupo TDI at 80mpg and only 1.2 liter.)
     
    #4 Troy Heagy, May 17, 2013
  5. css28

    css28 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    1,566
    442
    3
    Location:
    Suburban Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    What the HSD excels at is utilizing the engine as much as possible in optimal conditions (minimum engine speed with low manifod vacuum/high loading). At higher speeds the power needed can't be met by a smaller engine without speeding the engine up to the point of much less efficiency.
    With its lighter vehicle weight the c's engine/traction motor/battery sizing work very well at "city" speeds. At highway speeds it works well but not as efficiently because of the power needed to push it through the air.
     
    #5 css28, May 17, 2013
  6. Troy Heagy

    Troy Heagy Member

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2013
    1,218
    4
    0
    Vehicle:
    2013 Prius
    Model:
    One
    Good point. I guess it also helps that the G3 has no belt-driven accessories dragging on it, like the C and previus G2 had.

    In one youtube review a guy asked, "Why didn't they put the 1.8L engine in the Prius c? That was the original plan but apparently Toyota changed their minds." Anyone know why that happened?
     
    #6 Troy Heagy, May 19, 2013
  7. X HCH2

    X HCH2 Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2012
    119
    38
    0
    Location:
    Upstate SC
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    The C has no belts.
    X
     
    #7 X HCH2, May 19, 2013
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2006
    19,011
    4,080
    50
    Location:
    Grass Valley, CA.
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    In general the c has better fuel efficiency off the freeway so if you avoid high speeds then you should beat the Prius easily.
     
    #8 F8L, May 19, 2013
    walter Lee likes this.
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)