2010 Prius V mileage concern.

Only 2-5 miles per trip? That's where your problem lies.

 

2-5 miles? Part of that is just due to warming up.

In any case, 44MPG sure beats the 21MPG of my CR-V.

 

44.2 MPG instead of 12.8 MPG seems quite good to me. It seems to me that you are closer to the EPA numbers for the Prius than you were in the BMW.
Gas Mileage of 2007 BMW X3 3.0si
Gas Mileage of 2010 Toyota Prius

You are 13.3% below 51 MPG city in the Prius, you were 20% below 16 MPG city in the X3, so the Prius is doing better at matching the EPA estimates.

Two to five miles is a short trip for the car to get up to operating temperature in. I normally start seeing excellent gas mileage near 10 miles. If you consistently drive only short distances, grill blocking or an electric block heater can help you get to operating temps.

You can increase the tire pressure to just under the max on the sidewall, there is some ride trade off, but I find treadwear, handling and gas mileage improvements at 42f/40r in my 2009.

 

As others have noted, your short trips are the likely culprit. If you can group trips together, that will help quite a bit. You're generally best off going to your furthest destination first, then work back towards home, assuming you're not spending too long at each destination.

If you want to go nuts, you can do better with techniques like pulse and glide (search for info on how to do this), and try different routes (avoid traffic, stop signs, and stoplights; secondary residential roads are sometimes great for this).

If you don't want to do anything crazy, just try looking further ahead. If there's a red light, stop sign, or slowing traffic within view, get off the accelerator; you can coast to a stop. Avoid driving like your car has two modes; accelerating and braking - use a third (coasting!) as much as possible, when appropriate.

 

Thats about what I get and I am totally satisfied with it. It compares quite favorably to the 12.2 I got with my Thunderbird. In a couple of months I may start a fictional thread about how I get 72.1 mph (actual) due to my incredibly clever driving techniques, but it will be BS.

I, too, suspect the length of your trips is the major culprit, but that would probably hurt your mileage no matter what you were driving. Move your office or your home!

 

I have a similar driving pattern during the week with my 09 - a commute of about 4 miles each way and a few short trips during the week. In the summer I average about 40 - in the winter it is more in the low 30's.

OP - you may actually start doing better in the winter there in FL as your need for AC should be lower.

 

I average about the same. Now that my commute is longer (18 mi vs. 7 mi.), my economy has gone up to about 48.5 mpg. However, now that it's colder out, I'll see that drop again. I was getting about 38-40 on the short trips last winter.

 

The EPA rated 50 MPG is on some standardized tests (and the car isn't run on the road). It is a relative value for what the tests may consider "typical" driving.

Short trips and lots of stop and go beat down any car's mileage. Inflate you tires for better rolling, try to anticipate stops (if you can) to maximize coasting to a red light/stop sign and minimze braking.

Given your "commute" 43 mpg isn't bad at all. You'll absolutely love what the car does for you on longer highway trips (when you take them).

 

Also, these "tests" are done when the engine is already fully warmed up (per protocol) so obviously it'll get better mpg than in the real world when you have no choice but to factor in cold starts. EPA allows the 50 mpg figure to be used across all the trims since they share the same engine. In reality, the 17"-wheel V has a ~1.8 mpg hit compared to the 15"-wheel versions, according to the European version of EPA testing.

 

Actually, the city test starts off with a cold engine.

You are correct about the 17" wheels causing a mileage hit yet for the US EPA tests, there isn't a different reported number for the two different versions.

http://priuschat.com/forums/other-c...uth-about-epa-city-highway-mpg-estimates.html has more info on the EPA tests.

The very short trips are definitely hurting the OP's mileage but IMHO, you're doing pretty well considering the description of your trips. Thank you for answering my questions!

 

I have been experimenting with the Hybrid System Indicator - trying to stay out of the power area and on the left side as much as possible - getting 51.5mpg on this tank. Cruise control helps because you can increment easily without having to watch the graph constantly and it hardly ever goes into the power zone if you limit acceletration to 1-3 mph increments.
Seems to be working well but the people behind me are not happy at all!

 

And this is precisely why the Prius has such a negative stigma. Hypermiling is all well and good. But, when you're not keeping up with traffic, you become not only an annoyance but a danger as well.

 

Definitely the warm up cycle. Frankly I'm surprised you're getting 44. I sure can't during warm up.

 

I used to drive between 35mph and 45mph and would get 50-55mpg. one day i say screw it i'm just going to drive like it a normal car. i accelerate well into the power bar. i get up to 55 and glide with hsi at the middle. now i average about 57-63mpg during my 11mile trip to work. i drive 25-60 miles a day. I average about 58-62mpg and i have 17"rims. no ac btw.

 

sorry, but if traffic is going 60mph in a 45mph zone, I refuse to keep up...they can go around me....I drive the same in my Prius and my wife's Audi TT...people need to chill out and slow down!!!!

btw averaging 60.3mpg over 1500 miles with 17" wheels.

 

That's fine. However, that's not the situation with which I took issue. To wit:

So, when Jeff says that he is "trying to stay out of the power area and on the left side as much as possible", this leads me to believe, based on my own experience driving a 2010 Prius, that his acceleration away from a stop can only be described as lethargic. That's a problem. I'm not saying you should scream away, tires smoking, away from every light. However, there's a reasonable and prudent rate of acceleration which is considered acceptable. Taking 60 seconds to go from 0-45 in the interest of garnering another 1-2 mpg is irresponsible and could be potentially dangerous.

If you would like to go no more than the speed limit, you're well entitled to do so. There are many times during a longer trip where I'll simply set the cruise control at or slightly above the speed limit. However, I will do so from the right lane. People are welcome to pass me. But, I will not park myself in the left lane doing the speed limit and impede the progress of others. My attempts at hypermiling should be done with a minimum of impact to others. Driving and vehicle ownership are privileges, not rights, and, as such it's incumbent upon me as a responsible citizen to ensure my choices aren't negatively impacting others.

 

Hi Praecurvo,

You might try setting the HVAC to 77. That would be uncomfortable with humid air. But, the Prius HVAC can sense humidity, and will keep it comofortable with the higher setting.