Lessened performance in 2017 Prius 2

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Welcome!

I have had my 2017 Prius Two since October 2016 and now have 13K miles.

I have not been monitoring Texas weather. Have you been having colder weather in the last couple of weeks? In colder weather the engine needs to run more to keep at an efficient temperature. Running the cabin heater makes the engine run more too, to keep warm. The Prius is more susceptible to mileage changes due to temperature than many other cars.

We have what is known here as a Generation 4 Prius

The main forum is here.

Gen 4 (2016 to Current) Toyota Prius Forums | PriusChat

 

Have you changed modes - they don't really affect power much, but the apparent "feel" is different - PWR has the throttle more of a fast response trigger, ECO, much more reserved. I prefer ECO, as it's easier to moderate. But in stop-start traffic where I'm letting DRCC do most of the throttle work, I'll use PWR mode as it responds better.

Maybe you've been trying harder to eke out the last kilometre per litre - means you'll go a bit slower. Has your fuel economy changed?

 

I disagree. Changing modes affects DRCC responsiveness a lot. I run in Normal mode because I think the accelerator is too sensitive in PWR mode.

 

I agree with the observation.

The key here is throttle response curves. It is least responsive (at other than wide open throttle) for ECO mode and most responsive in PWR mode. It doesn't matter whether the throttle is controlled by your foot or the DRCC.

 

I would like to see them decoupled though, at least as an option. I might drive in Eco mode more if the radar cruise control were as responsive as it is with the radar off.

 

I find that whatever mode I am in, my calibrated foot drives as if in ECO. I like that the choices of throttle responses independent of my input.

 

The only time I use any other mode than normal is when in snow, I use eco to lessen the throttle response and prevent skidding. I find power mode too jerky, maybe because I'm so used to normal mode.
To answer the OP, if you haven't changed modes, make sure the manual, foot operated parking brake is fully off. Also check if any of the wheels are hot after a journey, indicating a sticking brake.

 

once in awhile, you get a defective car. take it in to the dealer while it is still under warranty, and have them run a health scan.

 

Are you taking many very short trips, or a few long drives? Do you use the heater a lot? Do you drive for MPG or not?

The weather here hasn't been too bad, but I'm from Chicago. I use ECO mode and try to avoid using the heater as much as possible.

I also like to drive the speed limit, and it takes me 20 minutes to get to my workplace, although Google Maps usually says it should take 11-13 minutes. (I think Google Maps doesn't realize that traffic has gotten worse now Toyota has finally moved to Legacy West.)



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Eco Mode works well for me, just wondering about your comment on the DRCC with Radar off.

 

If you hold the cruise control on button (for 3 seconds?), it switches to non-radar cruise control. You can customize that to be the default mode IIRC.

It is interesting to try, especially on a road with varied terrain.

 

I think he meant NORMAL Cruise Control, not RADAR.

I tried it once - after 3 minutes, I thought, how old-fashioned and went back to RADAR.

 

maybe bad gas.

 

Or high ethanol content.

 

Now your just being over-polite.

 

I'm still trying to understand the "bad gas" ...