How many Gen 3 owners are driving in Power Mode to obtain the best mileage? I find I am getting better mileage in Power Mode. Would love some feedback. Thanks Barb
It is probably other factors, power mode doesn't affect MPG very much, it just remaps the gas pedal response.
I'm not sure what effect it has overall, but I think I read something on here that says it will probably do better than ECO mode, especially on the highway. I forget where I saw it but since I read it, I stopped using ECO mode and my mpg went from 50 to 53.
You are not the first one to mention that. I remember reading a thread on that last year (I think), but I cannot find it now.
I only use pwr mode when I feel I need it, like when I get caught a light in the wrong lane and need to jump everyone to get over.
I did a simple test yesterday, I was cruising steadily at 95km/h with the cruise control engaged while in ECO mode. I was getting around 3.3L/100km avg. according to the Scangauge II then simply pressed the PWR mode button and saw the consumption climb to around 3.9L/100km right away. kept it this way for a minute or so and then went back to ECO mode and got back to my 3.3L/100km reading. So PWR mode might be better for mpg in some circumstances but it was not the case for me last night.
When I picked up my Prius last Sept. the salesman told me that Pwr mode will give the driver all the power that the ICE & EV has to offer. Since driving it now into the 12,000 mile range, very seldom use Pwr mode since I don't see the need for it. Today I tried something, I was driving up a long incline in normal mode (not Eco,EV or Pwr) when the ICE revved up to feed the traction battery, I switched to Pwr mode, Nothing happened that I could feel, I'm not running a scan gage so I can't report small changes, only those that I can feel. If your getting better MPG while using Pwr mode, I suspect that it's because your paying more attention to what your right foot is doing. I agree with Corwyn, the different modes only change the sensitivity of the fuel pedal. It is also know that ECO does reduce the AC & Fan speeds to save power on those items. I can't see those differences making a large difference in MPG....more a mind game.
My guess is certain acceleration situations can be done better (in terms of mpg) in PWR instead of ECO, although I have no data to back it up. The information above is interesting. I don't think anyone's done that test before (and surprisingly so) Not me, but it will depend on the driver. Some people do get better mpg in PWR mode and it's possible because they're forcing harder accelerations in ECO mode due to their driving style (or habit) so PWR mode fits them better (they get up to speed faster so they let off the pedal earlier). I'm already used to driving "the Prius way" with the Gen 2 so ECO works for me (plus it helps reduce heater demands in the winter and A/C demands in the summer). I do use normal mode out on the highway and PWR mode when the situation fits (or when I feel a little bored)
