It's been suggested that Toyota could alleviate some of the disillusionment that many Prius buyers experience with MPG by including SOME kind of disclaimer in its advertising. Yes, it's in the owner's manual. Yes, the truth about EPA testing and results is known to many, perhaps most. But it is obviously not known to ALL---and then there are the "disingenuous", many, unfortunately, who are also legalistic, even litigious! I'm not clever enough to offer up an example, but I'd think Toyota could especially disclaim the 60 MPG number (which is much more the problem than the 51) by saying something like, "real-world driving may produce lower MPG in non-highway driving than present EPA testing procedures indicate".
Hmmmm. Filled up the car this afternoon, hopped on I-75, drove down to visit my parents, showed 67.8 MPG after 10 miles of 65 MPG driving and 3 miles of "city" driving. Now... What's the issue?
Well, if you think about it, if you are driving a conventional car, you also have seen the sticker that tells you how many mpg your car makes on a highway and in a city, but since you don't have a computer that tells you how much you made on a particular trip, no one cares. Prius gives you an instant feedback what mpg is, and it is up to you to impove it or make it worse, and I know in some instances it is impossible to improve. I can make it way better than EPA for the whole tank , not just 10 miles. Would I go and tell Toyota to change their ad tactics??? No, I just go on with my life. It is what it is and I am happy with it. I am proud of my decision of buying a hybrid. I don't care if it saves me money or if Toyota made money on me by finding a sucker to buy their hybrid if it doesn't economically make sense. It is one step closer to braking those old rules that we need to support an economy of ONE coutry. I don't care who made it, I don't care how much it cost, I feel proud that I possibly I could be making a difference in a global perspective. Perhaps I am stupid and naive, but my intentions are genuine!
If you pay attention to how you're driving and it's not the middle of a cold winter, 60MPG is not unrealistic.
I regularly pull 55+ MPG in mixed driving. I just fueled this morning and the MFD showed 57 MPG after 567 miles. Bottom line: The Prius is entirely capable of returning real-world numbers that meet or exceed EPA estimates. The necessary technology is in the car. IMO, the real question boils down to whether the person behind the wheel is willing to abandon poor driving habits that are incompatible with high mileage returns and learn new habits that strreeetccch each and every drop of petrol.
Just found out that my new plates will read “MPG60.†So far I’m right around 50. Should I confess that I’m guilty of false advertising? Of course I only have 850 miles on my 2005 Driftwood Pearl beauty, so I haven’t yet given up that I’ll reach the 60 plateau. Maybe a few more miles and the addition of Mobil 1 will help, although at the rate I’m using the car it may be a while before I reach the 5k mile oil change. Oh, and now that the Midwest weather has turned cooler, I should check the tire pressure again to be sure it’s still at 42/40. I think the EPA should get real about their mileage estimates - adjust them to what average drivers might expect.
Unless they change all other EPA estimates then the Prius EPA mileage should not be changed. It does not matter if it is right or not it was designed to give you a reference to which to guage the other vehicles (since they are measured by the same standard). My wife's old Honda Civic that was suppose to get 35 mpg only gets about 28 mpg. BTW, Toyota says that you should get an avg of 55 MPG. I am getting 54 ATM, so close enough.
Don't forget, that's just the EPA. Transport Canada rates it at 4.0/4.2 or 58/56 mpg. Japan rates it at 37km/l or 2.7L/100km or 87mpg US.
I like the mpg reporting just as it is. It is a realistic maximum you can achieve for each car. The problem with using something less is there is no such thing as "typical" driving conditions. So the number becomes meaningless. Depending on conditions every car maxes out near the EPA numbers and the minimum for every car is 0 mpg running AC in a multi hour traffic jam. So the range people should get is anything from 0 to the EPA or slightly over. People have to learn to adjust their expectations to the actual conditions. All my cars have varied greatly between summer and winter. To report better numbers for me they would at least need a summer number and a winter one, but this would mean nothing to someone down south. So I like to know the max that is possible when conditions are optimum. The numbers should be changed only if a car is proven not able to ever get those numbers.
there already is a disclaimer on the sticker if you look below the estimates it will say something about variations in mileage and how the numbers are provided to compare vehicles within the same class. so their advertising of the number is legit and anyone who has a problem can take it up with the epa... why is it toyota's fault that noone reads anything anymore?
The disclaimer should point out US EPA standards are antiquated. Reality fuel economy is dependent on ambient air temperature, slope, traffic conditions, vehicle mass and operator behavior. Individuals can complain all they want. Proof is in the driving. My last three tanks average 60 mpg. My cumulative fuel economy is over 50 mpg. No rational person can drive rodeo style then complain about not reaching antiquated EPA fuel economy estimates. EPA needs to clearly explain the criteria and methods for their fuel economy numbers. EPA fuel economy estimates are a range, not an absolute.
unless EVERYONE is changing their reporting figures, it will do nothing but confuse the issue and let other high mileage cars off the hook. if one cannot understand that the EPA can ONLY be used as comparison purposes, then they deserve what they get. btw imho, the figure is NOT misleading in anyway what so ever
I try what I can other than capping my speed at 60. I still go 70-75 when I can though often get held up behind other cars. Moderately flat freeways I can't get a tank near 50. My highest has been 46.5 or so. However, that's still great and had that been the EPA I'd have still purchased the car.
So, can I assume that the mileage esitimates for different vehicles would be skewed by the same amount for the same driver with the same driving habits? For example, if I would get 53 mpg on a Prius because of the conditions I drive in, would I get 43 in the '06 Civic hybrid (EPA 50)? I've finally decided to get a hybrid, and I've narrowed it down to either an 06 Prius or an 06 Civic hybrid. The 10 mpg difference is a big factor, but I'm wondering if the real-world gap is really that big. thanks!
On the fence: There are people who own both, or did. I know such a person. PM me if you're interested and I'll give you her e-mail address. She's a member of HCH list, too, but you'd probably have trouble locating her. She only posts here occasionally.
Diskier, What part of the country are you in? I drove from Texas to Florida this weekend down I-10 1865 miles round trip. I let the cruise handle the drive much of the time and ran the AC at 78 for a fair part of the drive. I averaged 51.2 for the trip.
