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test drive mileage

Discussion in 'Prius c Fuel Economy' started by greeneggs, Apr 3, 2012.

  1. greeneggs

    greeneggs New Member

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    I've test driven a few prius C's and paid attention to the mpg number. granted these trips are pretty short a few miles and 15 or so minutes but I see mid 30's to low 40's. Is this just me not used to the car and for such small sample size?
     
    #1 greeneggs, Apr 3, 2012
  2. fuzzy1

    fuzzy1 Senior Member

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    Short trips produce low mpg because the fuel burned for warmup is amortized across few miles.
     
    #2 fuzzy1, Apr 3, 2012
  3. Kirkuleez

    Kirkuleez New Member

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    There definitely is a pretty good warm up period before you see the really good mpg's. If i am just running a mile or two i see the low numbers as well.
     
    #3 Kirkuleez, Apr 4, 2012
  4. cwerdna

    cwerdna Senior Member

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    Yep.

    Although Consumer Reports hasn't tested the Prius c yet, one can get an idea of how poor mileage can be in short drives by looking at The most fuel-efficient cars and Best & worst cars review, fuel-efficient vehicles. Last page of http://www.consumersunion.org/Oct_CR_Fuel_Economy.pdf has a rough description of their tests and the old EPA tests.

    See http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...uth-about-epa-city-highway-mpg-estimates.html if you wish to learn more about the EPA tests.
     
    #4 cwerdna, Apr 4, 2012
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