Prius overall MPG shows no improvement in the 3rd generation according to Consumer Reports tests

Owner data (several here have upgraded) contradicts that "First Drive" summer driving observation.

Improvement for winter driving should be even more impressive.

With 9 years of ownership (as of 09-09-09, cool eh?) with 3 different Prius, I'm well armed with lots of real-world data to show the MPG is improved.
.

 

"Thirstier in the city?" I thought city driving was where the car shined, how can it get less MPG in the city than highway, isn't that the whole point?

 

I'm on my second Prius ... I have never been able to understand why city driving is rated higher than highway. In the city, in my experience, there's a lot of stop and go driving and short trips -- this is not conducive to high fuel mileage.

 

I should add, however, that the Prius obviously does "shine" when it comes to city fuel economy when compared to gasoline-only cars. But it isn't true that it's mainly economical in the city and not that great on the highway, which is a myth that many non-Prius drivers have bought into.

 

True. However I think where I live there are a lot of little hills and I find myself frequently having to start from a full stop on an uphill slope and the mpg drops each time. Sometimes I think that all my commutes are uphill no matter which direction I'm going !

 

You mean you haven't been caught in bumper to bumper traffic on I-270 rolling along at 20 mph or less and watched your mpg climb like I do every commute on I-66?

 

A lot of their comments about the interior seem to be the same as I heard from people at the Prius Connection events. I agree the body rigidity, suspension and handling have improved. I agree the highway MPG is better by about 10%. And the city MPG in my commute is down by about 10%. Eeek, I generally agree with CR.

Wayne

 

Well, that's why the highway mileage is better!

 

We've had a 2003, a 2006 and now a 2010, and not one of them has given better mileage in the city than on the highway. The difference in mileage for all of them has been from six to eight miles better on the highway than in the city. I've never figured out the claims for the better city mileage.

 

Yes, for me as well - I get about 40 MPG in city driving (speed about 40 to 45 mgh) and about 55 MPG highway (I try to drive about 60 mph in the slow lane).

For what ever reason, I never get better fuel efficiency in the city than on the highway.

 

I am a first time prius owner so I can not compare to previous models. That being said, we have had our third gen. prius pkg. III for 7 weeks, and we have put apx. 4200 miles on it. I am averaging 52 mpg, my worst mileage was 48, and my best mileage has been 60 mpg. Our gas bill at Shell has gone from 300 dollars per month for our Hyundai Santa Fe (20 mpg) to 125 per month with the Prius. I am obviously satisfied with the Prius.

 

Some of us are old.

Please use bigger type.

 

I believe anything and everything that is written. Now why would the sticker read 48-51mpg and and my current mpg be 50.8mpg with an ave speed of 31mph and the consumer Report read 44mpg??????? Just Kidding It's great that the report is wrong.

 

The EPA reports of better city MPG than highway simply represent as easy test cycle. My city driving is also pretty easy, so I routinely get 70 mpg in the city in temperate weather except for short drives on a cold engine. I don't think I have ever seen over 60 mpg from highway driving, and that result is abetted by high elevation.

Might just be me, but I have thought it pretty clear for quite a while now that the G3 redesign focused on high speed highway, high power demand, and cold weather driving. In short, Toyota was influenced by the newer EPA protocols. More is the pity.

 

...although (steering) feedback falls short. The ride is firm yet steady and compliant...
My wife RADICALLY dissagrees with this statement (except for the "compliant ride" part), she says there are ONLY 4 cars she's driven that give steering feel on a certain section of freeway near our home, there are minute undulations in the pavement spaced about a foot apart (poor road construction), on most cars this has NO effect, however, at about 65mph,,, on four of the cars she has driven extensively, she could feel distinctly those ripples through the steering wheel, those cars are the: BMW 3 Series, BMW 850Ci, Acura NSX and...the 2010 Toyota Prius V!!!

David & LaDonna (aka Blind Guy & Wife)