2012 Prius v versus 2014 Prius v

I owned a 2005 Prius and was getting around 42-45 mpg and traded it in on a 2014 Prius v (lowercase v) three with 3 miles on it. The best mileage I can get out of it is 31.9 - 36. The dealer said it needs up to 15000 miles for break in due to synthetic oil. Sounds like BS to me, but they said they ran diagnostics and everything looks good. However I have serious doubts about this car. I had to have a door guard strip replaced, a warped rear bumper guard replaced and now the drivers door lock jams occasionally. It has the Bridgestone tires on it which is really a terrible choice. I had the Bridgestone tires on my 2005 and mpg definitely took a hit (around 5mpg) and they don't really last very long. They were toast around 68K. P.S. The weather here in Texas is not really that cold.

 

My v Five now has 4500k on it. My best mpg was 53, but average usually around 43 (calculated, not displayed.) Lifetime average is 47.1 mpg. I have experimented driving in normal, eco and power modes and have decided to stay in power as it suits my preference for paddle feel. Have not noticed a hit in mpg for this at all. Can't really drive in Eco mode except in quiet streets because other drivers start to get really annoyed with my lack of acceration from complete stops (traffic lights.) I keep my tires at 29F/38R. I just try to keep my engine in the sweet spot as much as I can - cruise in eco range.

 

Why such odd tire pressure? With 38 in the rear I would expect 40 in the front.... I believe all the Prius cars are setup to have 2 more PSI in the front than the back. May have to do with how the anti-lock brakes and traction control is setup. With 29F/38R the car may respond oddly if the anti-lock brakes or traction control engages.

 

Did your mileage ever improve?

 

I'm glad to hear your mileage has improved! I've been seriously considering trading my Prius for a Prius v (lowercase v for the Prius v wagon) within the next year, but if your poor gas mileage had continued I would question whether or not to do that.

In regards to tire pressure you're lucky. My dealer keeps dropping my air pressure down to 32 PSI each time I have service done. I can't figure out why the think a tire rated at 51 PSI will perform correctly when about half flat at 32 PSI.

On a side note, we recently rented a 2014 Prius. It only had 640 miles on it when we picked it up. The first 100 miles we were only getting about 42 MPG. I was so bummed since I'm used to getting 50+ MPG with my Prius. I was thinking about stopping at a gas station and checking the tire pressure, but didn't. However by the end of the trip the rental had 1500 miles on it and we were getting 52 MPG. Toyota may be improving their build tolerances such that the engine is tighter when new and takes longer to break in.

 

Well, I was going to save this question for a separate post, but since you brought it up, do you find that the v (lowercase v for the Prius v wagon) has significant more usable space than the standard Prius? The reason I ask is, when I bought my Prius a year ago my kids, my fiance and I all fit in it fine. However, I forgot how quickly kids grow. My youngest is now 4'9" and catching up with her older brother and sister who are still growing themselves. I also find that when I take my mom places and need to put her walker in the back there isn't much room left for anything else. This is especially true when I have my kids along too.
So your description of, "much bigger" caught my attention. Is it truly that much bigger? In what areas do you notice the extra space being beneficial?
So far I haven't taken the time or had the opportunity to have my kids go from sitting in the back of our Prius and sit in the back of a v. I really don't want to loose the benefits of the Prius so I'm really hoping the v will be enough bigger to take care of our transportation needs as my family grows into adulthood.

 

Bob G IA - Run, do not walk, to your nearest dealer, and trade in your 2010 Prius sedan for the Prius v Station Wagon during Toyota's August "Clearance Sale." The Prius v is a "Caddy In A Kimono." You need the 50% "much bigger," more cargo carrying space, and limousine-esque rear seat leg room and passenger seating space for your growing kids, and your Mom mit walker. The Prius v is an Über Family Hauler.

 

I have a 2012 Prius v (lowercase v for the Prius v wagon) wagon, average mpg has never exceeded 40 with numerous trips. 30k miles on the odometer. I drive it like a normal car, not trying to do any types of hyper mileage tricks. Beware that the speedometer is about 3mph faster than actual speed, so calculate for that. I realize that by driving slower especially at posted speeds you will get better gas mileage on the highways, I am in the fast lane most of the time. But those who choses to be in the slow lane and drive their Prius at the posted speed limit just to gain the extra mpg , more power to them. Then again who does that anymore unless you own a Prius. I know that there are a lot of drivers out there who absolutely hate Prius drivers for driving way too slow. I am thrilled just to get 37-40 mpg average in such a versatile wagon, we love the extra cargo room and the rear reclining, fore and aft adjustable seat as compared to the regular Prius.
Great vehicle for people who do not want a van but want a reliable station wagon.
If you are posting your mpg average, please post it with the trip A or trip B next to it, not your odometer readings. Preferably with at least 300-400 mile trips .

 

I owned a Gen 2 Prius and now a v, and the v has a much roomier rear seat. In Gen 2, two adults and a under 10 year old was very doable, in the v, 3 adults is fine. I use mine as a cargo hauler mostly, and again, it is much larger as a cargo van. (buy a generic cargo mat, and lay it backwards over the rear seats to prevent small stuff falling in the gap) While I got about 46 MPG in my Gen 2, the v has been a 40 MPG car. (see below)

 

I got my 2014 Prius v Three in early March. As the weather warmed (I'm in NH), the mileage got better and better. Last week I got 48.2mpg.
My commute is 21 miles each way with about 1/2 highway and 1/2 country road (40mph). I put on roughly 400 miles a week with work,
shopping and church but never had to add more than 9 gallons at fill up.

My speedometer is right on. I've checked it with several of those portable radar stations and they've all been the same as the speed I
was driving at the time.

As far as how big it is, a couple of weeks ago I got one of those 96 gallon rubbish bins in it (with the rear seats flat). I couldn't close the
rear hatch but a couple of bungee cords and it was secure for the couple of miles back to the house.

 

Bill03060 - 48.2 MPG is 115% of the Official EPA 42 MPG “Combined.” You are doing quite well, but I venture to say you can do much better. If you work at it, you should be able to achieve 130±% of EPA MPG (54-55) during the upcoming September-October months there in NH. Please share with us the details of your driving technique, and how you are running and have your Petrol Warfighter set up.

For instance --- Are you running in the ECO, Normal, or PWR Mode. Do you operate to stay in the GREEN ZONE on the HSI? Do you take every opportunity to Regeneratively Coast/Slow and Regeneratively Brake. What setting do you use for the HVAC? What are the “Cold” PSIs for your tires?

 

For me, the real change in mpg was pumping the tires up, and less worry about the way I drive. I still drive less aggressive and carefree than I did in my Camry, but I don't sweat doing 72-75 on the interstate anymore. It's detrimental to mileage trying to go slow and milk the mpg's when driving on our hilly interstate. On the Eastern side of New England, from Southern NH down to Connecticut, my higher mileage was easy. The gentler, rolling hills and flats increased my mileage about 3-5 mpg with ease.

Overall, I find that my mileage and happiness is higher when I use the Normal setting. ECO is just irritating. Most of the summer I've easily achieved 40 to 46 mpg. More tanks and I can make up for what was a very difficult winter.

 

I keep it in ECO mode all the time. I do watch the HSI and try to keep it mid-way. On my way to work, it's about 10 miles of highway which I usually drive at 65 or so. Then it's town roads with just a couple of lights and stop signs. So for those, I try to slow down
using brakes but not stop, especially if there is no one behind me. On the way home it's highway and 65-75mph. The car is so
much fun to drive, I just can't wait for an excuse to get behind the wheel and drive it. If it's more than 70 degrees or I'm on a
highway, the AC is on.

 

Bill03060 – Looks good --- you are officially inducted into the “Hybrid Hive.”

FWIW FYI: Let me share a thumbnail of my Pre-Operative Driving Set-Up, as well as some of the key techniques I employ in piloting my Prius v(vee) Five to “$tellar” levels of fuel economy.

I drive it “Hybrid $mart.” My lifetime Per Tank-Full MPG Fuel Economy is running at 130±% of Official EPA Fuel Economy with 26,xxx+ miles on the odometer and counting. I am almost through my third Summer Season of operation here in Florida, where Air Conditioning use is a necessity for staying cool and comfortable during the summer months (the Traction Battery “Likes” A/C too). I never had a need to use the HVAC in the Heater Mode during the Winter Season. At this point in the summer, with Full-Time A/C use, Ambient OATs of High 80s °F-t0-Low 90s °F, and “Feels-Like” Temps in the Low 100s °F, I am “Humpin' Hard” to keep my Lifetime Average MPG-FE in the low 50s.

Here is my Pre-Operative Set-Up, A/C Settings, and typical Driving Profile:

• My tires (Toyo Proxes A20s P215/50R17 90W) are Up-Pressured to 51 Front/50 Rear (51 PSI is Manufacturer’s Max Sidewall PSI).
• I operate in the ECO Mode 99.9% of the time. I only use the PWR Mode, which I call the “After-Burner” Mode, when I think I will need a snappier throttle pedal response to accelerate --- as in accelerating to merge onto a Freeway, etcetera. If I have reserve Traction Battery Charge available, I use the EV Mode to move around parking lots, and for similar low speed maneuverings.
• I operate within the “GREEN Lines Zone” portion of the HSI 99.9% of the time. If Traction Battery Charge is available, I also use the EV Mode to accelerate from Red Lights/Stop Signs up to the 25 MPH point, where the HSD then automatically fires up the ICE, and switches back into ECO operation. I continue in GREEN Line acceleration (I modulate my throttle pedal to make sure the HSI does not pop up into the Red Power Zone) until my highway travel speed is reached, and then I back off to electro-glide along the selected steady cruise speed.
• I regeneratively (REGEN) coast and brake whenever I can (not friction brake). I do this until I slow down to 7 MPH, at which point the HSD “Gremlins” cause the Friction Brakes to be automatically applied.
• I anticipate Traffic Lights, Traffic Sinusoids, Traffic Snarls, and drive accordingly. I drive at or just below the Max Posted Speed Limit. At Freeway/Interstate/Open Road speeds, I normally cruise at the 66 MPH “$weet $pot” or, if traffic density and flow dictates, right at the Max Posted Legal Speed (70 MPH in Florida).
• When I use the A/C, I run it at 70°F w/ 3-4 Bars On The Fan.

Some folks on PriusChat claim that their Prius v(vee)s only deliver MPGs to them in the mid-to-high 30s. I think one has to work very hard (i.e. drive very “Hybrid Dumb”) to get a v(vee) to deliver MPGs in the 30s. Even in the middle of a New England winter, if driven “Hybrid $mart,” one should always see average Per Tank-Full fuel economy numbers somewhere in 40-ish MPGs range.

The inherent full economy of the 1.8L I-4 98hp 2ZR-FXE engine is in the mid-30s. Therefore, a 30-ish MPG number would tells me that the 1.8 Liter ICE is running almost full-time, without much, if any, help from the e-Hybrid portion of the Hybrid Synergy Drive. Such “Below Official EPA MPG” fuel economy numbers are because these folks are driving and operating in such a way as to cause the Hybrid Synergy Drive “Gremlins” to turn the engine on for propulsion power or to charge the Traction Battery more frequently or for an energy related sumthin’ else compared to “Guru” operators like me who drive to keep the ICE shut off, and its operation minimized, as much as possible. The reward for driving Über “Hybrid $mart” is average Per Tank-Full MPG-FEs in the 50s.

Catgic says: ICE RUNNING… DECREASED MPGs. ICE OFF… INCREASED MPGs… THERE IS “NO FREE ENERGY LUNCH.”

Give your Pre-Operative Set-Ups and A/C & Fan Speed Settings a quick review, as you transition towards “Driving More & More Hybrid $mart,” and away from the Gas-To-Go/Brake-To-Stop driving habits you used driving the conventional vehicle your Prius v(vee) replaced.

Do this beginning on you next Tank-Full Fill Up, reset the Trip A or B, drive it and report back to us with the news, “The MID is now showing MPGs in the low 50s.”

 

I got my 2014 Prius v Jan 5, 2015 and have seen my mileage climb from the upper 30's into the mid 40's as I get used to driving it and as temps slowly warm up here in Minnesota from sub-zero to the 40's and as my v gets broken in. I'm at 2k miles now and my present tank is showing 47 mpg which will probably get me about 44-45 actual. I run my tires at 44-42. I'm very happy with my v and look forward to probably upper 40 mpg tanks in the (warmer) future.

 

I'm averaging 43 to 52 on my 2014 v (lowercase v for the Prius v wagon). Just took it to Florida and averaged about 44 mpg., hills of Kentucky/Georgia/Tennesee. On flat roads in Florida a steady 45 to 49 mpg. OEM tires, however I do run them high on air pressure. Re: room... tons of it on the v (lowercase v). 6'6" passenger in rear had knee room and no complaints. And... it's quiet, Toyota did an excellent job of sound insulation on the 2014.

 

I run 44f/42r on my Persona, then again I want optimal mpg and not so worried about the rough ride.

Just picked up a 2014 v for my wife and am wondering what everyone recommends for better mpg, but not a bone jarring ride for her?

I'm thinking 40f/38r or should i go a little higher? thx..