Driving Mode for a Newb

It went through the EPA tests in normal mode, so you do not have to use ECO, no.

EV mode is useful for extremely short distances when warm, re-parking the car elsewhere in a parking lot, as an example.

Normal mode and PWR mode just remap throttle response and pedal travel.

ECO mode also does that and also alters how aggressive the A/C is (as we need A/C less and less, this will have less impact on MPG)

If you are more comfortable with how the gas pedal works in another mode, that is the mode that is best for you.

(I pressed ECO as I left the dealer's lot, and have never changed it, but my Prius is the most powerful car I have owned since a 1971 Ford Torino station wagon with a 302 V8 with 210 HP)

 

It is possible to beat EPA without using ECO. ECO makes certain things easier, like gliding, which allow much higher MPG. High MPG is possible in any mode if you have a talented enough right foot. However, if your problem with ECO mode is that you think it is too sluggish, you are probably not on your way there.

By the way, the pedal has nothing to do with your MPG, the engine does. Pushing the pedal more in ECO to get the same response as you get in PWR mode gets the same MPG as you would get in PWR mode. Think ECO mode as a pillow on the gas pedal if you will, and PWR mode as a weight.

 

When we first got the "v" I felt uncomfortable with the pedal feel in ECO mode ie: felt like I had to push to far to get the response I was used to in my '08 Town & Country van....I know from reading other posts that most of the owners were using ECO to achieve the highest mpg....Even with that information I continued to used the "normal" mode...but occasionally experimented with ECO to compare short usage mpg results between "NORMAL and ECO"....
In my instance ECO provided better mpg's and with all the experimenting/ flipping between the two modes I became more comfortable with the ECO mode.....
Now just keep in ECO.....approaching 12,000 miles

 

I have come across 5 modes...
Normal - no buttons...
ECO -
PWR
EV
and ECO EV - will both light ...
though above about 20 mpg EV will drop out with a beep...

I drive in normal mostly...
I have found that highway - interstate - I get better mpg in pwr mode. not just for accelling on the ramp-
I don't know for sure - but it feels as if it utilizes the electric more to assist in torque...
in the end it's less efficient since it has to charge the battery for that used power... however - it accells faster and recovers from slight hills much faster...

acceleration is where most fuel is consumed... and it's a trade off to accelerate slow and steady for miles...
or speed up quick and just maintain - either way you have to get 3200lbs of mass moving ... and then keep it moving...
simple physics.

where i've noticed the most gain in mileage - is by not passing people ... watching further ahead down the road - for changing stop lights - people turning, etc. and coasting - or braking less. that's your biggest gains...imho.

 

I say experiment and see what effect the modes have on your fuel economy. As others have said, its all in your foot. I find my foot more comfortable and best control using normal mode most of the time. I have used ECO mode when the weather was warmer trying to get the best FE I could as it reduces the power usage of the Fan/AC/Heater as well. Now that its cold outside I'm more concerned about comfort and making sure the cabin heater is working at its maximum potential, so i leave it in normal mode.

 

Just leave it in normal and drive normally (not hyper-miling or driving like you work for Car and Driver) and you'll likely get the EPA numbers - I do. I prefer manually setting my AC and heat which I think overrides any benefit of using ECO. Also, after a few days/weeks you'll get used to the way the car accelerates and likely find you really don't need to bother with the Power mode either.

 

i have always used normal, and i get 44 mpg. i just wish i could use ev mode more but it just wont stay. like in places i only go 4 mph. oh well.