In reading the manual, I note that it says to use the ECO mode when you're doing a lot of stop and start driving. Does that mean I should NOT use it on the interstate? My daily commute consists of 11 minutes start and stop to interstate, 11 minutes on interstate, and another 11 minutes of start and stop. My Prius is not quite a month old, so i am still learning.
Remember that ECO mode also affects to AC in auto mode. Only time when I switch ECO mode off (and put power mode on) is when I have to join in tight cap in traffic. It does not give more “force” but it’s easier to handle when I don’t have to press pedal so much. Also, if you have snow on winter, then you might have to take ECO mode off (normal mode) to get more grip.
Sure you can. I use mine on the freeway frequently. When I'm entering a freeway, actually, is about the only time I don't use ECO mode -- I just switch to PWR while accelerating to freeway speed [it is possible in ECO mode, but as mentioned above, I like not having to depress the pedal all the way] and then back to ECO once I've merged in, and I leave it in ECO all the way ^_^ It'd be cool if there were like a temporary ECO pedal mapping override button on the steering wheel -- one that could be depressed to switch to PWR mode mapping for a quick acceleration until it was detected that the driver had stopped accelerating and was maintaining a constant speed or after a preset amount of time during which no significant acceleration occurred, especially if it didn't override the air conditioning ECO mode.
I currently drive a non Prius Toyota Hybrid (Prius is due in August) - and I never take it out of ECO mode. If I need the extra punch to merge into traffic or pass a slower vehicle, pressing the pedal harder provides the reaction that I need. The total available power band does not change - only what is available to your foot at the particular pedal position. ECO mode just "dulls" the first 50% (someone can correct me if my percentage is off) of the pedal travel. Where "Linear response" (pedal position and throttle response = equal) in "normal mode" to a non-linear - or "Exponential" - response in ECO (and power) mode.
I used Eco mode on a 600+ mile trip on 85% highway. Once you get used to it it just becomes normal. Like everyone else said its all pedal mapping. If you put your foot to the floor its the same power as in any mode.
I like ECO mode all the time except for merging into traffic on freeways. I know that PWR mode is really more "in my head", but the way it feels makes me a more confident driver in that situation.
I just bought mine last month and keep it in ECO all the time! I drive 140 miles a day on the interstate. I'm also wondering what kind of MPG's PWR only gets.
Eco mode here probably 90% of the time...but if I need some power to get up the hill then I am not afraid to switch her over and kick it into high gear. I will have to try that pressing all the way to the floor. It is not something that I do instinctively after the last car.
I can't think of one time I've used PWR mode other than trying it out when I first got the car. 12000 miles 99.9 ECO mode city and hiway. No problems with the car's performance. I do stay in the right lane unless I have a genuine poke in front of me. Avg. MPGs for life of vehicle about 53 calculated, that's with upper 40s(MPG) in the winter and mid to upper 60s(MPG) in the summer. No hypermiling. Tony Renier
If you take similar routes every day, set your display screen to one minute fuel consumption. That way you can experiment with power and eco, A/C non-A/C, etc.
Toyota just emphasize the use of ECO for city start stop because it's there where the biggest benefit lies since it makes it much easier to avoid excessive acceleration at low speed.
My understanding is that, aside from some changes to how the AC works, it's just throttle mapping. I just leave the car in ECO, and if I need the go-pedal, I depress my right foot. I can't imagine a situation where I would need to ever push the little "power" button. My foot works fine. The ECO throttle mapping "spreads out" the accelerator enabling finer control. Why would I ever turn it off?
