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Three days in my Gen 4 and I am amused!

Discussion in 'Gen 4 Prius Fuel Economy' started by plug-it-in, May 31, 2016.

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  1. plug-it-in

    plug-it-in Active Member

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    After owning a 2008 Prius and lot of soul searching I got myself a nice red 2016. What a difference! More power better ride and the redesigned electronics really work.

    Yesterday we went for a ride, drowe 141 km and the gas gage showed 3.4 l/100 km. The best ever trip on my Gen 2 was 4.4 l/100 km. The car is too new and while I don't consider myself a hypermiler I learned over the past 8 years to drive a Prius with a light foot. I think that helped. As well as the weather was funtastic, nice sunny around 24C. I know the weather effects the results from experience.

    One observation I made that this design seems to use the battery more than the Gen 2. I scored 51% EV drive! Toyota did a nice job on this car. Too bad there is no storage space under the deck. They filled all empty spaces, like inside the spare tire with foam! I had hard time to find a spot for my booster cables.
     
    #1 plug-it-in, May 31, 2016
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  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It is quite a step up from the Gen 2. We also traded our 2005 in for a 2016 Touring.

    It's already beating my 2010's mileage. Best tank mileage on the 2005 was 3.9L/100km over 800km. The 2010 is 4.0L/100km over 915km. The 2016 just did 4.1L/100km over 800ish km and it was just to the low fuel light. There's an additional 8 litres (remember it is 43 litres now, not 45 litres like the last 3 generations).

    Yeah, we noticed the Li-Ion battery is more ept to vary in SOC. The car will use it more often but it seems to top it off more easily too.
     
    #2 Tideland Prius, May 31, 2016
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  3. plug-it-in

    plug-it-in Active Member

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    Here is a mileage (kilometrage??) update - in pictures.

    Prius Trip A.jpg

    After our first out of town trip. Driving mostly 85 km/h on two lane highways, some hills, but mostly qute flat drive. Outside temp around 24C.

    Prius Mileage.jpg Odometer reading after the above trip.

    Back Frm London.jpg
    Second trip, ~100 km each way, 80 km on expressway at 105-110 km/h, 20 km in city driving @ 50-60 km/h. Outside temperature again around 24C. AC running on the expressway section, driver window down in city.

    914 km.jpg
    This is the ODO reading at the end of the day.

    I recall someone from Australia claiming 3.9 l/110 km in a Gen2. I don't know about you guys, but he must have been traveling downwind with wind on his back. My best was 4.4 l/ 100km just about a week before I traded my Gen 2 for this Gen 4. Since we know that weather/temperature effects gas (petrol for folks in the UK and Australia) consumption this 'record' was achieved on a perfect summer day, temperature in the mid 20s C. Mixed express way, highway and some in city drive, using AC on the express way otherwise with open driver side window.

    As you see my new Gen 4 beats my best drive in a Gen 2 hands down.

    Just to remind all, my Gen 4 is equipped with NiMH battery and the available option package. I am not cheap, but I am frugal. I did not want the ECO package for an additional ~$2,000 with LiOn battery, moon/roof and built in GPS. We had a moon-roof on our Corolla, seldom used it and only to tip the rear section up. As for GPS I use the free HERE map (originally from Nokia). I also have Sygic world license. Sygic has much nicer map images and some neat things, like HUD display, but I prefer HERE. I find it more reliable.

    Cheers
     
    #3 plug-it-in, Jun 4, 2016
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  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    There's no Eco model in Canada. But yes, the base model with the Upgrade Package is definitely good value. $590 for TSS-P and heated seats? It's a no brainer (unless you really hate the stuff on TSS-P).
     
    #4 Tideland Prius, Jun 5, 2016
  5. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

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    The difference is striking between the Gen 2 and Gen 4. They keep getting better.
     
    #5 ETP, Jun 5, 2016
  6. plug-it-in

    plug-it-in Active Member

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    You are right. I wanted the heated seats after some comments that the car is slow to warm up due to the super efficiency of the engine - not much heat wasted. Also, I was thinking about the future resale value. The TSS-P package may pay for itself. As for the 'safety features', they are neat to play with but they are far from what Tesla can do. You really can't take your hands off the wheel an play Donkey Kong or whatever. This does not bother me. I like to drive.
     
    #6 plug-it-in, Jun 5, 2016
  7. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Well if you come from a 1990s V8-engined car, every 4 cylinder car warms up slowly lol.

    But yes, heated seats are more efficient (it's electric) and it warms you up faster than heating the entire cabin.

    Well PCS, saved me once (just the alert. No braking cause by then it's too late on our generation).
     
    #7 Tideland Prius, Jun 6, 2016
  8. Eva Anna

    Eva Anna New Member

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    I can't believe that the 4 touring does not come with moonroof or blind spot monitoring. Am I missing something?
     
    #8 Eva Anna, Jun 6, 2016
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    It comes with BSM on the Four/Four Touring. But yes, moonroof only comes on the Three/Four non-Touring models and on the AT package.
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Jun 6, 2016
  10. Eva Anna

    Eva Anna New Member

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    Thanks for the quick reply!

    So if I get the prius 4 with the Advanced Technology Package with options… I’m getting everything that the prius 4T with premium package would have except:

    -Fog lights
    -17” wheels (what differences do they make?)
    -Sensor wipers


    If I get the prius 4t with the premium package then I would not get:
    -HUD
    -Moonroof
    -15” wheels

    Seems to me that the prius 4 with the packages is a better deal, wish it came with the fog lights and wiper sensors!
     
    #10 Eva Anna, Jun 6, 2016
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  11. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Correct except I'm sure rain-sensing wipers is on both the Four and Four Touring.

    So it's the 17" wheels, the LED foglights, the LED clearance lights and the "Touring spec" suspension vs. HUD, moonroof, 15" alloy wheels w/ aerodynamic wheel cover.

    The 17" wheels? Mostly for look as it gives the Prius a more athletic look vs. the 15" wheels. It also has a wider contact patch so slightly better grip if you're driving fast around a corner. But in terms of every day driving? It's mostly for looks.
     
    #11 Tideland Prius, Jun 6, 2016
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  12. Eva Anna

    Eva Anna New Member

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    Great, thanks!! Would you prefer one model over the other?
     
    #12 Eva Anna, Jun 6, 2016
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  13. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Tough choice for me. I do like the look of the 17" wheels with the LED clearance lights (at night, it looks different because it uses the 3 vertical LED dots as the forward-facing parking light. On the non-Touring, it's the amber turn signal that doubles as the forward-facing parking light).

    However, the HUD is useful because it can relay speed, hybrid system indicator (freeing up the space on the 4.2" screen for another display that you would like to use) as well as navigation instructions if you're under route guidance. I also like moonroofs. The lower cost of replacing the 15" tires is also a bonus. You can save difference in cost or spend the same but get a better quality tire. You'll also get a slightly better mpg just because the 15" are lighter and have less rotational mass.

    I guess it depends on whether you prioritize features (moonroof and HUD) as well as a slightly lower operating cost (lower cost tires and slightly better mpg) or whether you prefer a car that looks cool and sporty (basically the 17" wheels and the LED foglights and clearance lights)
     
    #13 Tideland Prius, Jun 6, 2016
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  14. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Never mind reread the posts.

    4T is fine and I do not miss those moon roofs at all.
     
    #14 ETP, Jun 7, 2016
  15. Eva Anna

    Eva Anna New Member

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    Why would you say that? Has the moonroof caused you trouble in the past? Does the moonroof give the car more noise?
     
    #15 Eva Anna, Jun 7, 2016
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  16. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

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    Hot in the summer and a long term leaking risk. Some Gen 3 threads may help you as older ones had some leaks. Mine was always parked in a garage and did not leak at the 4 year mark so YMMV.

    But if you trade every 4 years or park in a garage then it may be no issue.

    I think mine is quieter but hard to tell since I got rid of both cars.
    If you already bought it please ignore me.LOL
    Or just ignore me anyway as all is good in Mudville.:LOL:

    My wife is pissed I got rid of the moon roofs.
     
    #16 ETP, Jun 7, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 7, 2016
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  17. DonDNH

    DonDNH Senior Member

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    Uh oh, you're in trouble.
     
    #17 DonDNH, Jun 7, 2016
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  18. ETP

    ETP 2021 Prime(Limit),24 Venza Limit,B52-D,G,F,H

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    So not sure where to post this. But rear seat AC is a bridge too far. The only way I can get the under seat AC under seat vents to work is put the selector switch to floor vents and upper vents. I can not figure out what the dash button switch does that selects front or rear seat AC. Do not see any other vents for the rear seats.
     
    #18 ETP, Jun 8, 2016
    Last edited: Jun 8, 2016
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    There's no rear A/C vent. There are only rear seat heater ducts (which is the floor setting)
     
    #19 Tideland Prius, Jun 8, 2016
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  20. Gen 2 Tom

    Gen 2 Tom Active Member

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    Yes it is a big improvement in mileage, ride, noise, safety and electronics from my Gen2. Everything is better, to what I concerned a nice car.
     
    #20 Gen 2 Tom, Jun 8, 2016
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