FuelEconomy.gov official ratings posted - 58 City/53 Hwy Prius Eco - 54 City / 50 Hwy for Prius

Great choice!

 

Just a note so you don't panic; the Prius tends to excel in warm to hot weather, January will not be this wonderful, and that does not indicate anything is wrong.

 

My Prius gets significantly higher mileage during the very short time period(where I live, maybe 2-3 weeks in march and November) when it is around 70 degrees outside. Once it reaches 90, or less than 45, the mileage decreases from mid 60s to around 55ish, and goes lower when it reaches 100 or freezing and below.

 

Depends if you're using AC or not? Yeah I know, not an option down south, lol.

FWIW, it's 86F here right now, supposed to be 88 in the next hour or two. I know, sweater weather, lol.

 

2 words;
-Block heater-
Even here in So Cal, with its measly 58°f winters you will get a nice mpg boost, as you can avoid much of your mpg loss due to the much less significant warm up time. Really helps when average commutes are <15-20 miles . Install is a DIY in ~1hr. Toyota Canada carries an OEM version - but around here they don't know what the heck you're talking about.

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Our's is plugged in and warming the block as we speak. It's currently 24C, predicted highs in the low 30's.

 

Without any data the Gen 4 gets much better mpg than my Gen 2 did in hot weather and the A/C is always on.
With the gen 2 after 70 degrees the mpg started dropping.

 

Using ethanol-free gasoline (E0), my non-hybrid cars gave 40+MPG from the very beginning, & ran free with no hesitations. Only noted engine slumping when using (not burning efficiently) E10.

 

iduno . . . our gen II got decent mpg's when it was warmer


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I'd like to see those averages going 75+mph up and down winding mountain roads blasting AC in 100+ Fahrenheit and humid weather. My gen 3 could only achieve around 46mpg in those situations, gen 4 can achieve 57. When I am on flat ground going a more reasonable 40-55mph I can achieve 80mpg easily.

When cold those numbers all go down about 10%.

Typically I get around 25% less than EPA with every car I've ever had, but the gen 4 is the only car I've had where I can meet or exceed EPA even in the craziest of driving situations, and greatly exceed it on flat land at reasonable speeds and temperatures.

 

I agree, I was surprised to see the EPA ratings so low for the Gen 4. I do much better than what they say.

 

do it! as shown above! .... a whole 700 + mile tank - & w/ a screen shot, or it never happened. ... not just 1 or 2, or a few short runs of a few miles. A whole tank. Throwin' down the gauntlet ....

and yes .... nastiest weather would drive the experienced Gen II Prius driver's tank full range down to only 56mpg, 575 miles - range wise. The inexperienced? In the nastiest of nasty conditions? Oh yea ... easy to only get mpg's in the high 30's / low 40"s.
Same is true with an EV. It can have a rating over 100 MPG'e - but under horrible weather conditions? 70 MPG'e over the entire charge (tankfull).
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9.5 gallons divided into 714 miles is 75.16 MPG.

I had some 600 mile tanks this last summer with 9 gallon refills. I did the math when I filled it up but didn't keep the numbers.
All my driving was local and no interstate.
I thought about pushing for a 700 mile tank but didn't want to risk it, I am a chicken I guess.

 

stuffing gas in the Gen 's2 bladder/tank was quite the Herculean feat - often taking lots of patience. Glad they finally got rid of it.
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It was especially a big pain way up north.

 

Our Gen-1 did OK too:

FYI, we shared the technique with a Jalopnik reporter who played the same trick on his co-workers. That pretty well ended their complaints about not getting the EPA mileage. <GRINS>

Bob Wilson