Hyndai's and Kia's being dinged for fudging MPG's why not Toyota?

I just hope that I don't have to start paying GM back for getting way better than the EPA estimates.

 

The EPA test is an estimate. Some owners will do worse, some better. (in theory, at least half would do worse) What Hyundai did was arrive at the estimate without following the EPA instructions. The EPA cannot replicate their work. In school, that is cheating., same here.

Toyota estimate presumably follows the EPA instructions, average owners achieve the EPA numbers.

Toyota Prius MPG Reports | Fuelly

Many owners get the same numbers as the EPA.

 

What gives is that different things are "off"--I THINK.

Kia and Hyundai put inflated numbers--based the numbers that EPA-standard tests should have given them--on their window stickers. So, basically, they told an untruth to get you to buy their cars.

What you are saying (again, I think--correct me if I'm wrong) is that the Prius MPG calculator in the car is off by about 4 mpgs from the milage you actually get. That's on the high end of what people report on this website, but just about everyone who has said anything agrees that the mpg's read high--for me it's about 2.4 mpg. I am annoyed at Toyota for basically putting in an mpg calculator that lies to us, when you know to a moral certainty that they can do better.

But we would have a case against Toyota for misleading us at purchase only if we could show that the inflated numbers that popped up during test drives influenced our purchases. That's something different, and I don't THINK it is controlled by EPA rules.


Unfortunately, I'm noticing a similar pattern in my wife's new Audi diesel--reporting in the 39 mpg range when real mpg is about 37--do all manufacturers lie to us?

 

Fixed problem orig notied in this post. Thanks to John Hatchett.

 

Yeah, Hyundai might come to me for retribution on mpg to pay those with lead feet. I'm getting a couple mpg's above EPA. What is wrong with YMMV and why is it so hard to understand?

 

refresh your page and then re-edit.

 

Well, one case of Toyota mislabeling the Prius might be the Model Five (2010 thru 2012). The EPA sticker lists the MPG as the same as the other Models, yet due to the 17" low profile tires that the car come equipped with the car gets considerably (3-5 mpg) poorer gas milage than those other Prius models.

 

You can see what vehicle configurations were tested and submitted @

Test Car List Data Files | Cars and Light Trucks | US EPA

 

What is "off"? What are you comparing to?

Please read Car and Driver: The Truth About EPA City / Highway MPG Estimates | PriusChat if you want to learn more about the EPA tests.

 

Thanks for the link.

As far as I can tell they tested a (test vehicle ID) 10-ZW1H in all tests for the 2011 (which I have). HOWEVER, Toyota sells a Model 5 that has different tires than the rest of the Prius models. Those tires cause the Prius to get lower gas mileage (about 10% less) than the standard Prius - YET the sticker on the car (that has the EPA numbers lists the same mileage (51/48 - 50 combined) as the rest of the Prius models. THEREFORE, ON THE MODEL FIVE, TOYOTA HAS BEEN MISLEADING THE CUSTOMERS.

 

I think I read somewhere recently on PC that the wheels are getting swapped around at the port of entry. That seemed odd, but maybe the vehicle configuration as shipped from Japan is not the same that makes it to the dealer lot. Not sure how the EPA treats that case but I could see how a consumer would be affected.

Are the 17" wheels a "dealer" option?

 

No, 17" wheels come with model Five.

From The Truth About EPA City / Highway MPG Estimates - - Car and Driver (which I posted long ago at Car and Driver: The Truth About EPA City / Highway MPG Estimates | PriusChat):

I suspect the 17" wheel version of the Prius was tested and achieved the EPA ratings you see applied to all versions.

 

You already are.

DBCassidy

 

No - they are standard with the Model 5. (Don't know where they are installed, but it makes no sense to swap the tires at the port - I wonder if you are thinking about the "Plus" package.) Those tires are listed on the window sticker, right along with the EPA statement!

 

That certainly could be the case. You think the 51/48/50 combined was achieved with the 17" wheels?

 

I would think so, given posts like 2010 Prius Option Packages at NAIAS | Page 3 | PriusChat and Most Obscure Gen III Facts (way out there) | Page 5 | PriusChat.

My hypothesis that I've posted here a few times before is the weight of the solar roof + 17" wheels would've produced such a mileage hit that they wouldn't have been able to give a 50 mpg combined rating across the whole line. There might be some models with 50 and some less or all would be less. I'd imagine 50 mpg is a compelling marketing message and they didn't want to take the hit.

 

1) Model 5 does not have Solar Roof.
2) As this is a unique model (not an option) and it gets lower mileage THEY SHOULD HAVE uniquely tested that model (they didn't) and listed the lower mileage accordingly.

 

It's totally possible given EPA testing. Especially with the magic tires they put on the Five.

 

1) Correct. You can't get Model Five (V in 2010 parlance) w/a solar roof.
2) How do you know they didn't?