Is 39.1 MPG Normal?

I usually get about 47-48mpg on the highway. I have snow tires on mine and when I'm on the highway I'm going somewhere with my wife and kids, so the car is heavy.

I use the cruise control a lot on the highway. I'm getting that mileage doing about 65mph, but have found I don't get much less at 70, or more at 60. Also, I just hop in the slow lane and don't bother trying to pass and I don't mind getting passed all the time...a change from the old days when getting passed was a personal insult!

 

With a 50 mile commute each way, I'd expect you to be getting better gas milage than that, even when it's cold. How much of that is really highway? Do you take any short trips at lunch time, or when you are home?

Probably the most important question is have you checked your tire pressure? My dealer doesn't seem to realize that the Prius tire pressures is supposed to be 36/34 and instead sets everything to 30 psi after oil changes. Underinflated tires will have a significant impact on your MPG. Many people here use the maximum 42/40 psi. I personally use 40/38.

 

What speed are you doing on the highway? From what I've been gleaning from this site, the guys who get the best mileage are the ones who drive at, or only slightly above the speed limit, stay in the right lane most of the time, and curb their aggressive driving style. I know that last one is going to be the most difficult for me. B)
Today's supposed to be the day!

 

My wife is getting about 39-40 mpg (only driven the car about 250 miles). I expected a little bit better but we live on a 5 mile winding mountain road at about 1200 ft elevation and my wife's work is about a mile from the bottom. Going up hill is a killer on gas mileage for us.

 

OP, what are your climate control settings, and what are state of the roads (ice, rain etc) ?

Beyond that, certainly check your tyre pressures.

I live at 5000 ft altitude which gives me 3 or so mpg for 'free' at highway speeds, and can usually expect close to 60 mpg at 60 mph without climate control active in temperate weather. I'm guessing that in 30 - 40F weather, mpg would be around 55.

 

Not abnormal, new car needs breaking in, new driver needs experience, winter wait till summer it gets better, Freeway speed keep you speed down use the cruse control. Things will get better. Check your tire pressure, you might consider going up some. There is a lot of stuff to read on this board that will help you. Start with the Knowledge Base.

 

With a new car in the winter your not doing so bad. On the freeway with light traffic, cruise control set to 70 mph, I expect about 48 mpg when it's 60 to 70 degrees out. When it drops to 30 or 40 degrees the mileage will drop to the low 40s.

My tire pressure is 42 psi. I drove 200 miles on I-84 to Portland Saturday (for the Prius Meet Group) the temprature was 45 degrees and raining. I got 42 mpg on the way down with a light headwind; on the way back I had a tailwind and got over 48. I set the cruise control for 67 or 68 mph both ways.

 

IMHO, terrain and A/C are big issues for MPGs. Even when I had the OEM tires, I never got 50+MPG just driving around the fairly hilly roads here. I needed a road-trip at around 55MPH to build up a big number (one-time-only 58MPG over 64 miles) then had to watch it work down to maybe 48MPG around here. The new tires made 43MPG the average for quite a while, until they wore some.

Lately, even with the new tires, I've been able to average 45MPG without the road trip. Coming home from filling up the other day, I parked the car showing 61.5MPG over 6 miles, which was darn unusual. Sure didn't see that during the summer when 64 degrees (nice for January!!) was a cold day. I do have the A/C off almost all the time, and only turn on any heat when I'm desperate. Too bad A/C for cooling is required almost any day between April 15 and November 15, or I'd see if not running it then helps too...

 

MikePaul,

There is a fellow in Georgia who outfits himself with a vest with internal circulating ice water to avoid using his AC. I'd imagine it runs of a battery, but I cannot remember

Humidity is for the birds.

 

Let's zero in a little. In addition to keydiver's question about your highway speed, what MPG do your five-minute bars show at whatever speed that is? (e.g., bars show 45 or 50 MPG at steady 65 MPH, whatever those numbers are).

In addition, what MPG do your first TWO 5-min. bars show when you start out? And what IS your tire pressure?

 

A big amen there. If you get 50 in dead winter then you have it!! Hang in there. Also look at
http://priuschat.com/index.php?showtopic=1...stages+of+prius That will give you perspective on what others have been through. Lot of truth there.

 

Cultureshift,

You'll find a lot of good advice on this site that can help you improve your mpg's.

Try to be open and patient, there's alot to learn about this car.

I was also freaking out over my MPGs if you want to check out my thread on "poor mpg"--it's in the care, maintenance forum.

 

what did your old car get? No, what did it REALLY get? And what has been your emission level in the Prius? The low emissions are an even bigger part of why the Prius is important.

 

I get 42mpg on a 50 mile flat road trip with the A/c on, and about 39-41 in town. I p&g and drive gently. I have 42psi in tires. I expected more. Its a 2008 pack #6. With a bad back I chose the standard rather than the stiff 16' wheel version. (I had a choice.)

I am unhappy with no power un-ajustable front seats. God willing, I will wait a couple of years and find a more comfortable and fun to drive diet vehicle. :rockon: :rockon: :rockon:

 

Naples Florida - Temps in the 70's. '09 with 4000 miles. Current tank with 400 miles shows 53.7 MPG. 80% NON highway driving. 42 - 40 PSI
Costco Fuel with Ethanol.
Regards, Don