Drive modes

But if I read only the summary version, how would I know not to
1) Drink electrolyte from either battery;
2) Slam the hatch on my head;
3) Hang opaque clothing on the clothes-hanger hooks (The emperor's new duds might be OK.);
4) Drive nails into the seats?

All those are in my manual.

 

Not quite linear. It is dynamic and there is severe hysteresis. I find it very frustrating. I would like a mode that mimics a mechanical connection to the throttle plate.

When in Normal, I find that even if I hold the pedal steady, the power output will either climb or decrease based on what the car is doing. To keep it where I want, I have to back off or press more depdending on the situation. Further, when first getting on the gas, the pedal is very sensitive, but if you back off and get back on, it is very insensitive. You can learn enough to manage this, but you have to be much more attentive than you should have to be.

 

Actually in Gen4 Eco mode is now linear, Normal is above linear (power is like in Gen3).
Use Eco mode, it is like normal mode in Gen3.
So much so that I had to adapt my gas pedal press to compensate for the fact that it react more than before.

 

I only use ECO mode. When I need to have more immediate power, the throttle still responds.

 

Since last week I have the car I actually never really tested the other modes. Eco mode the whole time...

 

Didn't see there was another thread about the modes before posting mine, so here it is: Driving modes and active cruise control | PriusChat

 

The past two days, as part of my experiment with MPG's, lI've driven 156 miles of mostly city / some highway -- using the "Power" mode 100% of the time.

The car feels "much lighter on her feet." Much more responsive. Seems to perform better. The gas pedal is not "stiff." My White Knight traded in her clunky hiking boots for a set of light-weight running shoes!

And would you believe the MPG display shows my mileage has increased from the normal 60.0, to 62.3? Of course, I don't know if that will last as I go through the full tank... but the pleasant surprise is, so far the MPG has not decreased when using the Power mode. And I like the way the car moves much better. I'm not "stomping on it", just driving normally.

I never averaged more than 60 mpg even in the Eco mode, and my car felt somewhat sluggish and kind of "heavy." Don't know if that makes sense, but using the Power mode has changed everything. It's a whole new feeling.

 

Oh Oh what a feeling...

 

You guys should try it for one tank of gas. You might like it. Experience everything your Prius has to offer.

 

I spend way over 90% of my time on Cruise Control, so for my driving style, modes do not matter. (3 seasons in Eco, summer mornings in Eco, and normal in the summer afternoons)

 

Again, supposedly all the modes were shifted to the aggressive side by roughly one mode in the 2016 Prius. If that's the case, I'd definitely find Normal more than adequate in the car, finding it very linear in 3rd gen.

 

The modes are really just there to accomodate different driving styles. Personally, I really dislike eco mode. Have to press the pedal much too far to get moving, in my opinion There is no fundamental difference in performance or engine running parameters by mode... just throttle position. So, if you have a heavy foot: eco mode will help you with better mileage. If you like instant response, power mode (much like an advanced cam in a mechanical linkage). If you have a lighter foot and want balance, normal mode. It is really just which is best for your driving style.

 

ECO mode on third gen drove me nuts: a constant workout for my right foot and leg, way too much travel. If anything it decreases control: it's easier to do small motions then big, in this case.

 

I find normal and power modes too "touchy". I like to use the travel in the pedal to manage my acceleration.
Eco fits me fine.

 

I agree, but up to a point. In city traffic Eco mode (at least in Gen3) would not keep the ICE running so much as in normal mode to keep the cabin warm, by also reducing fan speed to reduce the "wind-chill" effect. Without eco mode, regardless of how you drive, your mpg is quite affected if you have a lot of standing at traffic lights.
In power mode, at least in gen3, the ICE tends to stay on more often to make sure the battery is Charged for better response.
I like also Eco mode more, because in city traffic here in EU I can modulate much more finely the response and speed.
I switch to normal or power in suburban or highway driving.
Moreover, word is that in Gen4, there is active monitoring of the accelerations of the car while driving and engine response is adjusted accordingly...

 

You can turn Eco Heat/Cool and S-Flow on, though, without turning on Eco throttle mapping, if that's how you want to roll.

 

It's worth noting that when I test drove the Gen 4 at first, I found Eco and Power's non-linearity to be annoying, and Normal to be about right.

In practice, owning a Gen 4, I leave it in Eco - the car teaches you to go light on it, and then Eco behaves more like a linear throttled lower-powered vehicle (easier to keep in EV), but with an available kickdown for more power, in my opinion. (I mean, it's not a physical kickdown switch, but it's definitely a range near the end where throttle increases quickly.) It is worth noting that I'm normally fairly heavy on a throttle, though. (Which probably explains why my commute gets me ~22 MPG in the Miata (the short gearing is part of it, but the fact that the Miata gets driven hard and put away wet is a lot of it...), versus 50-60 in the Prius...)

 

I'm not knowledgeable about all the technical aspects. But the one big difference I immediately noticed, is the throttle response. (Gas pedal tension.) In Power mode, the pedal feels so "light" and there is nearly instant response. My car seems to leap off the line.

I have nothing against "Eco" mode, and used it during the first month of ownership. But I always felt like I had to press harder (and longer) on the gas pedal. Then I switched to "Normal" in month two/three, and that mode felt more comfortable. Gas mileage didn't decrease at all. Now I'm experimenting with "Power", and it seems just fine. I get up to speed much more quickly, with just a light push of the pedal... and then I can back off and the EV comes on. Gas mileage has not decreased at all.

What does all that mean?? Beats me! But it's fun to try all the different modes and learn about my Prius's performance and capabilities. (I want to get my $27,000 worth!!)

 

I used eco for the first month, and I've used PWR for the last 3 months. It changes the whole car. I like it because you get the same gas mileage. I don't have to mash the pedal to start moving.