gas mileage

The Imperial Mile is the same as the US Mile, but the Imperial Gallon is 1.2 (or 5/4s) the US Gallon.

So 50 US MPG will be 60 Imperial MPG.

Other than that, statistically you will have colder starts in Canada.

 

What's on the sticker of the Prius here in the US is (average/combined) 50 MPG (in US gallons). I think I would only use whatever number that's on the sticker in Canada, for comparison purposes only - ie from one car to the next. Also be aware that number very much depends on driving habits, length of comute, terrain, etc. A real misconception seems to be - the Prius should get the rated (US) 50 MPGs during short hops to do errands such as geting grocheries, etc. That's not gonna happen, in most cases. If you only have short commutes, say commutes lasting only 10 minutes (or so), you're not likely to experience 50+ MPGs (US galons).

I have a lengthy commute every day, and I routinely get into the low 60's MPG (US gallon) in the warmer months - ie late Spring, Summer and early fall. But I do expect that to drop in the Winter (maybe by 5 MPGs), as the engine needs to run more often to heat the cabin and bring the catalytic converter up to it's operational temperature. By the way, any car that has a gas engine - any car - will have lower MPGs in the cold weather. Not just the Prius.

 

I suspect if you keep the car in a garage, and/ or use an engine block heater...that might help (a bit) with the MPGs in the Winter. Just a guess, however.

Good luck.

By the way, some of the key ways you can maximize MPGs:

(1) Anticipate traffic flow ahead of you. Practice the art of conserving your cars momentum. That's really what's behind all the gas savings.

(2) Come up to the speed you want to be at...as you wold in your other car (ie, you don't have to be a snail)...and then pulse and glide. Gliding allows your battery to re-charge, and of course, you're not using any gas.

(3) Tread lightly on the gas peddle. Once I come up to speed (if I'm on level ground), I then let off completely on the gas peddle, and then ever so slightly re-engage...that engages the electric motor (only). Learning how to modulate your gas pedddle is important.

I've found that to get into the 60's, I do have to work a bit harder to do it, than I would if I was just happy with 50 MPGs. But it's almost become a game that I play driving to work. There are some sections of my commute that I know I'm going to loose 3-5 MPGs, but then I work to make them up on other sections of my commute. In the end, i'm getting right about 62 MPGs after about 500 miles of commute. I only fill up once every two weeks now......and I probably still have enough left in my tank before I have to fillup, to go another 100+ miles. I do try to maintain the speed limit (ie, I never go any slower than the posted speed limit...so I don't get people behind me too pissed off).

 

You're welcome.

The game I play helps me get better mileage, and does help to make the commute time go by quicker. As I said, it does take some thinking and effort...but what else to do during my hour commute besides listen to music?

I also try to set MPG goals. For example, I'm sitting at 62.1 MPGs right now. My goal for the drive home is to get that clsoer to 63...and still keep up with traffic (ie easy to do if I wanted to go like a snail...but NOT an advisable strategy...good way to get rear-ended). I'd be happy with around 62.7, and then with tomorrow's commute, close out the week over 63. Anyway, it's a game, but it keeps me entertained.

Cheers.

 

The canadian mileage will be the same as the USA mileage in terms of how much gas you will use. Its the same exact car. Just different testing procedures to calculate mileage.

 

The Canadian mileage is the old EPA mileage number/test method, or very close. You WILL NOT get that! It's bogus!
I have a GII. I get around 63 Imperial MPG summer and 51 Imperial MPG winter. It's alleged that the GIII is about 10% better, so 69 Summer and 56 Winter.

To get that you have to:
1. Pump the tires up to 40 PSI front and 38 PSI rear.
2. Run the proper oil. 0W20 for the GIII (I use 5W30 Mobil 1).
3. Stay away from E10 fuel (10% ethanol).
4. Try to keep your trips at 30 min. or longer (lots of short trips strung together, for example). The warmup cycle is the chief killer for mileage.
5. Garage park will make a difference in mileage (Pearl sleeps in an unheated but insulated garage).
6. Use the "block heater" when the temp. gets below some value you find uncomfortable.
7. Block the front grills in the winter. This allows the car to warm up faster. When warm the engine will shut down at stops. When not quite warm it will continue to run if you have the heater on. This is also a big killer for mileage.

You WILL get better mileage than -any- other vehicle sold in North America no matter what you do. Pearl uses 1/3 as much fuel as the anti-Prius did (that's a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder LE AWD). And it used premium! Last fill-up before trading it was $75 for two to three weeks of driving. Pearl costs about $20 for a similar time/distance. The anti-Prius got around 25-30 MPG and as low as 16 MPG in winter!

Enjoy!!

 

I'm considering installing the Engine Block Heater so I reset the trip B right after ICE warmed-up. Guess what? I'm getting 3.7 - 3.8 L/100km for a 16 km trip, exactly the same as Canada EPA rating! I wonder if they actually test the cars AFTER the warm-up.

I think an EBH is worth the investment, not just because it saves gas but also reduces Engine wear.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...-difference-between-warmed-up-cold-start.html