Do most Prius drivers use eco-mode most of the time? I have just been using normal mode and my mpgs have been 45 in the city. When should eco-mode be used, or can I use it all the time? Also what mode is best for cruising at 75mph?
You'll get a different response from every poster for this question. Do what works for you. I personally often use Eco in town/city driving, normal when on an open road/highway and Power mode for ever taking or entering a motorway/highway. Eco mode can reduce the output of the heating/aircon so be aware of that on a hot/cold day.
If you like your Prius to respond to the throttle much like an 80s Yugo use ECO. It is possible to get basically the same MPG in all three modes if you can be sensitive with your right foot. ECO just makes it easier to accelerate gently by increasing the amount of pedal movement for a given amount of acceleration. The car supposedly does make some changes in heat and air in ECO mode but I have never seen a definitive measurement of its effect. I would imagine any effect would be measured in ounces. I've settled on using normal mode all the time. Pretty good response and I can move to different vehicles without have to relearn how to drive.
I have been driving in the eco mode and getting 48 to 50 actual mpg. I see the power mode but do not see any normal mode. Is it in the settings on the computer?The owners manuel leaves a lot to be desired.
I your Prius is not in Eco mode or Pwr mode, then it is in normal mode. So if you don't select eco or pwr you are in normal. That's what I drive in most of the time. I can't handle eco mode.
I have tried many different patterns and it really doesn't matter what mode you are in if you don't change your driving pattern. Your foot is the best mode, IMO. On my OEM 15 inch wheels and tires I get between 60 to 49 mpg's. Depending on how much my foot is on the gas. Keeping my eye on the display was fun at first but now its getting to me. I found myself looking at the display more than the road. When I just drive and pay my attention to the road and just keep my foot of the pedal as much as possible I still get a good 50 to 55 mpg. Now that I have replaced my wheels & tires with 18 inch and 225 tires w/ high threading (360). I get about 48 to 44 mpg's. I can still average 50 if I go back and look at the display but that is just not safe and tiring. EV mode is good in parking lots or short driving since it eats up the battery really quick anyway. Just a note: My commute is 50 miles each way in mixed highway and local streets in Socal.
It was my understanding that eco, normal, and power modes were about the response curve of the car to the accelerator. In other words, you can accomplish the exact same driving with any of them (except for some slight comfort control adjustments). Is this not correct?
I've heard ECO mode might also change Heat/Vent/AC behaviour, and maybe Cruise Control touchiness as well, all with the aim to improve mileage. Between that, and the less touchy gas pedal, I leave it in ECO all the time.
I tried Power mode once. Yes, it does sharpen response a great deal. But other than that, I have left it in Eco mode exclusively. That may change when it hits 120 degress in Vegas this summer.
Our 2011 Prius is still a baby (3 weeks old tomorrow/900+ miles). We have been using the ECO-mode exclusively, since picking it up. Actually, the owner's manual is a bit vague on the subject and I wasn't sure there was a "normal" mode. I'll have to give "normal" a go and see how the mileage varies. In "ECO", we got 47.9 mpg with the first tank of gas, but have been averaging 50.3 mpg to 52.2 mpg ever since. That's with about 85% small town driving and 15% interstate driving.
I'm a newbie (6 day old Prius). If I understand correctly, when you start the car, the car is in standard mode? Help!
If you are not in EV, ECO, or PWR mode you are in Normal mode. You will see the a corresponding green light for each mode on your instrument/dash panel, if none are lit you're in Normal mode. The best thing to do is study your owners manual and go out and start pressing the buttons to see what does what. Good luck.
My Prius is on ECO mode almost 100% of the time. It's great and I have 58.9 mpg on my current tank. The only trouble I have with ECO mode is when I drive another vehicle. It messed me up the other day, when I drove my V8 sedan. The lurching was a bit embarrassing, especially backing up. Also my foot is hurting a bit because you tend to keep the pedal pushed down further a bit. I'm having some issues with my foot so this is aggravating it.
If the car was previously in Normal (no indicator) or ECO mode (indicated on dash), it restart in the same mode. The other modes, PWR and EV, will cancel.
