I just got a new 010 and don't like the Eco mode very much. It's a little too slow in traffic. I'm used to my 06 which had both of these modes built into the operations system of the car. Right now my milage is not that great around 46mpg. I'm going to inflate the tires to 42 front 40 back and see if this helps. FishHawk Ps I like the Pwr mode but it probably wastes more fuel.
Choose the happy medium, turn off both and use normal mode. I have gone complete tanks in both ECO and Normal and did not see any difference in gas mileage, but drivability was better in Normal. When I use PWR Mode, I tend to have a heavier foot, so in my case it does use more fuel!
The mode isn't probably doesn't waste more fuel but your right foot will (esp. since it's easier to rev the engine up in PWR mode). Just use normal then. There's a reason why Toyota decided to give us 4 different driving modes (although EV Drive Mode isn't used in normal driving).
How do you do normal mode? Mine only has the three buttons? EV, ECO and PWR I know I could read the manual. TED
If you have it in ECO or PWR mode as indicated on the dash, press the button again and you'll see it disappear. When you don't see ECO, PWR, or EV indicated, then you're in NORMAL mode.
^ What he said. If there are no green lights on your dash, you're in "normal" mode... some call it default. You can call it whatever you want =).
I don't understand what you mean by "... my 06 which had both of these modes built into the operations ..." The 06 had normal mode built-in, nothing else. Use normal mode if you want the equivalent mode for your 2010. Tom
Please do... really there is a lot of good information in there. I read that thing through the first night.
I've heard the ECO mode might change some AC/heat parameters as well, not sure though. Trying both ECO and "Normal", my take is that you have to push further down on the gas to get a reaction with ECO, and using a light touch in Normal might deliver the same mileage but be less frustrating.
The same is true for power mode, a light touch in power mode is just as economical as a heavier touch in eco or normal. On a short (200 yds) steep hill I sometimes use, I perceive a short burst of power mode to get up to speed (30 mph limit) followed by a lighter touch is more economical than a constant throttle up the hill. Doing this, the instant mpg readout is on 15-20mpg on the burst and soars to over 50mpg on the lighter throttle the rest of the way up, whereas using a constant throttle in eco or normal, the mpg readout shows 20-25mpg all the way up the hill (and I don't reach 30mph).
I read through the manual on this and I think they do a very poor job explaining all this. EV mode, not much good for anything and I'm surprised they even have a button for it. In fact it says it is bad and will reduce gas mileage. EVO mode - does not explain what it does; says nothing about the gas pedal being slower or other changes being made. PWR mode - good for mountain driving but does not explain what it does It does say to turn if off you hit the button again but I does not say this puts it in "normal" mode. In fact the manual says nothing about "normal". Would have been nice to tell us exactly about each mode, what changes are made, and what the benefits are for each. TED
EV is beneficial if moving the car from driveway to street, within a parking lot, etc. Those types of very very short distances at slow speeds. I tend to use it in my neighborhood when I arrive home if I have high bars on the SOC. The rest of the options - ECO, Normal, PWR - basically just change pedal mapping. In other words, how far you have to push it to get a certain response. Full power is available in all of these modes if you push the pedal all the way down. It does seem like you get more power from the MG in PWR mode, but I believe it's part of the mapping and response. I tend to stick with Normal mode unless I'm on the highway. Then I'll use PWR mode because I want that more immediate response. If I could figure out how to log, chart, etc all this information via TechStream I would do it. I just haven't figured out how to have it log information as I drive. I'd be curious to see pedal location (based upon sensors), torque from MG, MG RPM, ICE RPM, etc during the same drive.
What I meant by have both modes, the 06 would sense the need for more power and you simply got it without pushing a button. As far as the disappearing of the PWR and ECO modes my salesmen said if for example your annoyed with the PWR light being on simple push the button again and your still in PWR mode until you change it to another mode. Perhaps he has it wrong . I'll bet that the Gen II with pulse and glide driving would get more milage than the Gen III. Toyota gave use the override option but perhaps they should have left things as they were. Once I get used to the Gen III I might like this feature. FishHawk
While I do prefer that people read the manual at least once, I will say though, it's probably best to ask us for any clarification. The manual reads as if it was translated from Japanese (rather than a native English-speaking person describe it) and then run through the American legal system to ensure everything is covered (like.. "be careful not to pinch your fingers when closing the cupholder lid"). It is quite poor... but after 4 Toyotas, you kinda get used to how the manual reads. It does. It's more aggressive with engine shut off (prob. a lower temperature threshold? or maybe b/c the heater is requesting less heat). You'll notice a difference in fan speed (mostly by sound) btwn ECO and normal even if the icon for the fan speed doesn't change.
Unfortunately, that's only true if the engine is warm. I tried to move mine this morning out of the garage to install the HID Kit and it said EV was not available. When I put it in reverse the ICE almost immediately came to life. I figure it's because the engine was stone cold from sitting overnight...
It's the same with the Gen III: press harder if you want more power. This is true in all modes, and full power is always available. If you want the same profile as the Gen III, run in Normal mode. Nothing has been taken away from you, but new modes have been added for those who want to use them. As for P&G with the Gen III verses the Gen II, some have expressed the opinion that it is easier to hypermile a Gen II, but normal drivers find it easier to get good mileage with a Gen III. Tom
True. But, it doesn't have to be all the way warmed up either. I have managed to move mine the first time starting the car in EV if I hit the button at the right time. I didn't manage to do it this morning, though, when I moved the car to the flat part of my driveway so I could put the winter tires on the car.
As expressed in other threads, I have consistently needed a coolant temperature above 68F for EV to work at all. Below that, I haven't found any button timing that works. Online weather indicates that both you (Delawhere) and Paul58 (Atlanta) had temperatures well below that this morning. All the reports of EV working down to freezing appear to have come from other continents. PS. My engine takes a while to cool down. After sitting in the company parking garage for a full workday, it is still 8 to 10F higher than ambient.
wow thanks for this tip, I'm a Toyota newbie and was wondering how driving in PWR vs ECO would affect mileage overall and what happens when EV or PWR or ECO is not displayed.
