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

What is your Real World Fuel Economy

Discussion in 'Prius c Fuel Economy' started by tcidrp, Dec 22, 2012.

  1. tcidrp

    tcidrp Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2012
    14
    9
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    In the past 30 days I have driven almost 5,100 miles. I have driven from NC to Baton Rouge, LA and spent a week there. Then back to NC and then on to New York City. I spent two weeks in NYC before heading to Newmarket, Ontario Canada via Buffalo, NY. After a week in Canada I drove back to NC.

    During the past four weeks the temperatures have ranged from lows in the 20's to highs in the mid 70's. Mostly in the 40's and 50's. Gas mileage has also ranged all over the place. A low of 38.7 to a high of 52.0 with the overall average being 44.3 mpg. I would estimate that 85% of the miles have been highway miles.

    One thing I have learned over the past several years and 160,000 miles on a Honda Civic Hybrid and 40,000 on a Toyota Camry Hybrid and now the Prius C has confirmed it. It is hard to get to the mileage that is published when you are driving in the real world under less than ideal temperatures and overall weather conditions. Also you will learn that flat terrain is not the friend of a hybrid. I live in Eastern NC and it is most flat, so I get the low end of the mileage on the highway.

    Today driving at 25 mph in cruise control I hit 86.5 mpg... but that has not been my overall either before the Prius C or with the Prius C. By the way it is a Prius C 4 and was pretty well loaded with two briefcases, clothes for 3 weeks of work and 1 week of vacation during the time I put 5,100 miles on.

    My point of all this is that regardless of whether I get the published mpg ... I get better than most on the road.

    I love driving my C4 and plan on getting at least 150,000 miles on it over the 3 -4 years.

    In the last 5 weeks I have saved over $220 on gas when compared to my previous 4 cylinder Toyota Camry, so the way I figure it, I WIN!

    Enjoy your Prius C and don't worry too much about the mileage, since you are getting more than most.
     
    C me now, visualbasic and john1701a like this.
  2. john1701a

    john1701a Prius Guru

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2004
    12,747
    5,243
    57
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Advanced
    Excellent advice!
     
  3. tcidrp

    tcidrp Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2012
    14
    9
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    Thanks!
     
  4. photogrl13

    photogrl13 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2012
    115
    47
    59
    Location:
    Columbus, Ohio
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I've been doing quite fine. I do a mix of city/highway but have a trip from OH to FL in the mix so far (2k of my total 5k miles). As with my HCH I had previously I'm getting better than EPA estimates. That said, both cars blew the '98 Civic I had out of the water. Best MPG I remember seeing on it was 28. I don't fret much about mileage at this point. I just drive and have fun while doing it. The C is a great car for the happy middle of everything. It's fun, practical, and efficient.
     
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2010
    54,362
    38,063
    80
    Location:
    Greater Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    I've tracked close to 2 years of gas consumption now, and our usage is really mixed: lots of short, local trips. I'm not the principle driver, and my wife's not as fanatic, though she does pay some attention to improving the mileage.

    OTOH, we use a blockheater virtually without fail, for the first cold start of the day, and grill block through fall/winter/spring.

    The 5.1 in my fuelly signature was at 5.0, but unfortunately with cooler temps of late it clicked up again. That translates to roughly 46 mpg (US gallons).

    Whatever your mpg level, you'll never be satisfied, and I think that's for the good.
     
  6. 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
    I'll echo everyone by saying your mpg is going to be great. I'll add a reminder that most of us are dealing with winter which means lower mpg until warmer temps and summer blend fuel kicks in. For new owners all I can say is, be prepared to be amazed this spring/summer. At least until you start using your A/C heavily. :p
     
  7. WD0AFQ

    WD0AFQ Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2012
    619
    152
    20
    Location:
    Dexter, Mo.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Yep, better than most. I drove up I-55 to St Louis airport and back today, 360 miles, interstate. The readout when I pulled into the driveway was at 50.1. So, 49 is actual, or there abouts. Not bad and I drove the posted speed limit and above. High winds will make 50 impossible as I experienced last week going to Memphis and back, 44 mpg interstate driving, 300 miles. We do almost no city driving. Lots of short 1.5 mile trips. Over the last 5000 miles we are averaging about 47 mpg actual. I will admit to some hypermiling but I never hold up traffic. The car does a good job saving me lots of money at the pump. I like seeing fill ups for under 30 bux.
    Dan
     
  8. ewaboy

    ewaboy Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 18, 2012
    693
    205
    0
    Location:
    Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    My Fuelly MPG is slowly going up. I'm easily averaging 52+ lately - car says 54 to 55 but it's a little 0ptimistic. Fuelly actually says my last few tanks have averaged 53. Hey - it's a lot better than I'm getting on my Prizm - which I still drive on occasion - especially weekends.

    Winter's here - why last night it got down into the 60s....:) Doesn't seem to affect my MPG. Just kidding folks.

    YMMV:D
     
  9. Rob.au

    Rob.au Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2012
    960
    441
    0
    Location:
    Sydney, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    i-Tech
    I can attest to this. I was hoping to be enjoying our summer down here and smoking everyone's Fuelly figures, but the reality is that our humidity has hit and I've returned to my normal practice of having the air con on pretty much the entire time I'm in the car and on occasion needing to deal with cooling down a solar oven that's been in the sun (even though I do all the mitigation, winding down the windows to help it cool out and equalise at first, etc). I'm really really struggling to maintain the averages I've set since getting the car in August. :cry:

    Unfortunately the air con situation only makes the whole problem of a short commute even more acute... the longer the drive, the smaller the average impact the air con has. :(

    Clearly this fuel economy is still utterly awesome, but so far it is appearing that the springtime was the sweet spot in my conditions here.
     
  10. alfon

    alfon Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2009
    1,370
    270
    0
    Location:
    seaside, oregon
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Yes winter here in the Northwest is 40-50 degrees, rain, wind, and constant dampness. MPG"s range
    mid 40's, but in summer with warm weather, and dry roads we see 50-53 mpg, calculated of course.

    This is based on real world driving not driving 30-40 mph with a mile of traffic behind you....
     
    shawnfrontier likes this.
  11. tcidrp

    tcidrp Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2012
    14
    9
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    It is good to know that there are others considerate of those that follow ... even though we know that those that are following and ultimately passing us are envious of our mpg ...
     
    DJDP23 and shawnfrontier like this.
  12. visualbasic

    visualbasic www.ukast-fm.com

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2012
    19
    8
    0
    Location:
    Los Angeles, California
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I always need to tell myself that as someone tailgates me for going the speed limit and then zooms pass me; good ol Los Angeles drivers.

    I get fantastic MPG, I am exactly the person this car was targeted at, city driver. My commute to work is a combination of high way and city streets, but even the high way portions I find myself going under 40 miles per hour.

    My commute is 21 miles one way and I usually get 50+ MPG. 42 or so miles a day, five days a week, comes out to half the tank a week (give or a take a trip to the store).
    My previous car (1999 Nissan) was costing me an entire tank a week... loved that car, but it was burning a hole in my pocket.
     
  13. WD0AFQ

    WD0AFQ Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2012
    619
    152
    20
    Location:
    Dexter, Mo.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    I am the same way, run the speed limit or a little over. Can't control the guy behind me. Ticks me when someone pulls out in front of me then runs less than the speed limit, on a 2 lane street.
    Real world, I don't get the mileage most of yall talk about. Today, 360 miles, interstate, I got 42 mpg running 72 mph, in 34 degree temps. No concern for fuel economy, just drove it. 9 days ago, I got 50 mpg, warmer day but had strong winds. I was watching the mileage and running a couple of mph under the posted limit. Ups and downs in the Ozarks south of St. Louis. Early morning 26 mile commute, at 65 mph, 43 mpg on flat surface. Coming home, same road, close to 50 mpg. I just don't get the posted mileage here. Am I unhappy, nope. We enjoy the little car and it averages close to twice the mileage of our Vibe gt.
    Happy New Year,
    Dan
     
  14. Rob.au

    Rob.au Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 4, 2012
    960
    441
    0
    Location:
    Sydney, Australia
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    i-Tech
    This car just cannot get the amazing mileage at those speeds. Once you go over 50-55 mph than your mileage is going to drop right off.
     
  15. WD0AFQ

    WD0AFQ Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2012
    619
    152
    20
    Location:
    Dexter, Mo.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Yep, and that just won't be happening with this old hot rodder. I was getting better before it got cold. I am not beyond catching a truck going my speed on the interstate. That will bring up mileage significantly. But, got to hang back as far as possible and still get the draft. Not going to tailgate to get mileage. Depending on conditions, much of the time I can hang a good ways back and still catch the draft, safely.
    Dan
     
  16. Revan86

    Revan86 Animal nerd and alt car guy

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2012
    286
    84
    0
    Location:
    All over northern IL
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    I know you asked about our (priuschat) real world fuel economy, but did really mean it? I drive in the only world I know or ever been to and get high 50s to low 60s in the dead of winter in Chicago. In summer when I got car I got high 60s low 70s. That was also be for the break in was over.

    So please define "real world"

    Im not trying to be argumentative or snarky, its a genuine question.
     
  17. tcidrp

    tcidrp Junior Member

    Joined:
    Nov 18, 2012
    14
    9
    0
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Four
    "Real World" ... going to the grocery store in a hurry, but you need something to put on the table, rushing out to get to a meeting after your boss made you late by asking a dumb question, trying to get the kids to a birthday party are your cousin's house and finding out the road you normally take is all torn up so you have to go a different route and you don't want to be late, etc... the real world!

    Real World is not hypermiling ... and coasting to stops, holding people up because you want to get better gas mileage, taking 10 minutes to get somewhere when 5 minutes will do ... etc....

    I like the gas mileage I get, I don't speed, but some of the mileage reported has to be coasting downhill with a tail wind ... just saying .... :)
     
    jdurston and DJDP23 like this.
  18. WD0AFQ

    WD0AFQ Active Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2012
    619
    152
    20
    Location:
    Dexter, Mo.
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    tcidrp, you are correct. I did not buy the C for city driving. We use our's mostly on the interstate. The mileage varies. Today we did 320 miles, 45 of that was back roads. The rest was interstate. The computer said 50.5. Real mileage was 49 mpg. I drove 67-74 mph on the interstate. Depended on which direction, the car was pointed, as to what our instant mielage was. Running along north at 60 mpg, curve to the east a little and mileage drops to 53 mpg, or so. Then due east and down to 43 mpg.There was no wind today. It is crazy the way the mileage varies on this car. However, I am tickled with our mileage. Today was not bad for winter driving.
    Dan
     
  19. RocMills

    RocMills Active Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2012
    789
    276
    0
    Location:
    Las Vegas, Nevada
    Vehicle:
    2012 Prius c
    Model:
    Two
    Sorry, I don't ever drive in a way that you would consider "real world". Behind schedule or not, there's no reason to drive unreasonably... unless I was rushing a bleeding victim to the ER.
     
    Rob.au likes this.
  20. 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
    If that constitutes 99% of your driving then maybe you should consider reorganizing you life. :)

    Most people are in a hurry once in awhile but careful driving during the not so hurried times can make up for loss of mpg during the hurried ones.
     
    RocMills likes this.