Hi Everyone, I have a 2010 Prius with 253,000 miles on it. Lately, I have been averaging 30 MPG. I am taking the car in for a diagnosis on Friday, but am anxious and therefore curious about anyone else's experience with a high-mileage, low-MPG car. Is it the batteries? Trying to figure out whether to keep this car and keep pouring money into it, or to just get a new vehicle. Also, here is my average drive: 1) Drive 5-10 miles a day, in town. 2) Rarely on highway anymore. 3) Lots of stop and go. 4) Don't drive like a maniac, but I don't drive to save pennies either. 5) I'm in Indiana and park outside. If it's freezing, I let the car warm up for 5-10 minutes. 6) Yes, I run the heater. Thoughts? Is it possible that, at 30 mpg, it's just my driving habits? (I hope the answer is yes, because I don't want to buy a new car). Obviously, I should know more Friday. Nick
Have to agree with you, driving habits will cause this, some maintenance would not hurt tho, try cleaning your egr valve and pipe too.
200k miles and check all your six points too and my wife is doing 38-40 MPG (5.8-6 l/100km). But my usual 20 miles trip out of the city to my brother in law is around 52 MPG.
Welcome, Nick. Is this your first winter with the 2010? You've already done a good job of listing the reasons for your low fuel economy. 1) All cars get lousy mileage in the winter and get lousy mileage before they're warmed up. Combine those and you get super bad mileage. Just about the time your car is ready to give you those phenomenal mpg figures it's famous for, you shut it off. 2) The Prius normally gets better mileage on city streets than on highways, but a steady 40 or so mph is just about perfect. 3) This can be helpful if done properly. If done the way most people drive (jack rabbit starts and last second braking), it's really bad. 4) See #3. 5) So for 5-10 minutes you get 0 mpg and you're only driving 5-10 miles a day? I'd think that 30 mpg is remarkable. Most any other car would be getting you about 10 mpg. Doing the regular maintenance that's been recommended will extend your car's life and might get you another 1-2 mpg. Also (very important) make sure your tires are properly inflated. Most Prius owners run them higher than the pressures listed on the doorpost. I keep mine at 42/40 and get very even tire wear.
And pay $5,000 over msrp for new or pay new car price for used? If the battery checks out, keep it (if he can do preventative maintenance himself). Nick 2010, how many miles do you put on per year? How long do you hope to keep it. How long have you had it. Is the hybrid battery original?
true for a relatively new trade in but on a 12 Y.O. vehicle with a quarter million miles, not so much.
It matters less (at least in my mind) what @Nick 2010 Prius current drive is like as compared to what the other 235k 253k miles and servicing were like and at what mileage the mpg started dropping and by how much it dropped when the dropping began.
Thanks! This was helpful and put me a bit more at ease. I think you are right about the fact that my car is idling for as much as it is on the road. I have owned it since 2012. But for most of it's life, I was commuting between 50-150 miles a day. Now my commute is about 6 miles. (Thank goodness!) I'll report back tomorrow after I hear from the dealership.
Thanks!!! You all are making me feel a lot better about my car! Thanks!!! This makes me feel better about my car! Original batteries. Maybe only 7K to 10K miles a year at this point. No longer commuting long distances. I've owned since 2012. It's long been paid off. Part of me is itching for a new car. But it's just the keeping up with the Jones's part of me. You're right, now is not a good time to buy. The other miles were long distance commutes. It really did start dropping when my commute went from 150 miles to 10.
UPDATE: As most of you guessed, nothing wrong with car. Dealership said to just drive and not worry until a warning light comes on. So, that's good news!!! I'm hoping this car can last me until this car-price bubble bursts.
