Real World MPG Numbers

20? That doesn't sound right. Have you checked your tire pressure? There's no reason my mileage should be better than yours, given where I live.

 

Just filled tires from 33 to 38 psi the other day. Maybe not actually 20, but I'm pretty sure I've gotten mpg in the 20s. 40s for sure. I assumed it's due to electric engine not being warmed up on really short trips. These are days when I might go down the street to the gym, park for 2-3 hours, then drive to the market down the street, then go back home.

 

In my car daily records, I found 3 days that added up to 1.4 - 1.8 miles total for the day. Based on the low mileage those have to be errands in the neighborhood only; wouldn't make it to the next town without going at least 5 miles round trip.

Last weekend I drove 1.8m and got 20 mpg. Two weeks earlier I drove 1.6m and got 37 mpg. Week before that I drove 1.4m and got 40 mpg.

I just drove 0.9m on a hot engine (just commuted 15 miles, went to the market, and then drove 0.9m home) and got almost 95 mpg.

 

That sounds about right for what you drive to me. I suspect it's all those short trips that are hitting your mileage. Without witnessing how you drive it is impossible to advise you exactly, but you will find that your mpg increases to normal after about 10 miles of driving, YMMV.

 

And then some.

 

My MPG gauge ('16 Two) is about 1-2mpg high, but as a percentage that's probably within the margin of error for fuel levels, tank temperature, etc.

Currently averaging 52.3 over 5,000 miles during a colder than normal winter with lots of idling while warming up, and still getting used to best practices for driving it.

 

After months of these reading reports of terrific mileage, and my new 4 touring returning tank averages in the high 40s I have some good news. I went for the proverbial Sunday drive today from Oakland to the coast and back. Mixed highway and byway not driving slow, but enjoying the drive. Round trip of 150 miles was a satisfying 62 mpg. So I know it is possible.

 

So far Fuelly is reporting a combined average of 50.91 MPG for the 2016 Four Touring vs. 54.81MPG for the 2016 Four with the less fashionable 15" (I made this size correction with an edit -- my original post said 16") wheels.

I think they show similar numbers for the other Touring vs non-Touring models.

 

So, after drawing all sorts of conclusions from the graph showing the 2016 Four Touring vs the 2016 Four, I went back and checked the numbers for the 2016 Three Touring vs the 2016 Three.

The MPG difference was still there, but it was much smaller.

Fuelly is reporting a combined average 52.11 mpg for the Three Touring vs 53.4 MPG for the Three. A much smaller delta.





Go figure.

 

The Four & Three non-Touring have 15 inch wheels in the US just like the Two & Two Eco.

 

That was what I was going to say. The mileage difference between 15" and 17" wheels is minimal but I think there is a difference in fuel economy.

 

I agree, but the Fuelly data is insufficient, IMHO.
I think the self-reported sample sizes listed are too small to draw many conclusions.

 

Here is a Fuelly chart for all 2016 models.

52.84 mpg average per tank.

 

Maybe there's 17" tire levels mooshed in with the 15"? I've not thought about it, looked at mine (3rd gen Canadian Touring, with 17"). I gave my location as Canada, and am presented with these level options:


The actual Canadian 2010 Prius levels were: Base* , Premium, Premium w/ Solar Panel, Technology and Touring. However, what Fuelly shows me looks like UK levels?? So I just gave up, picked Premium.

And even in the States, maybe people are messing up their level, or just leaving it on Base? If that's the case that'd mean the spread between 15" and 17" might be a bit wider than reported. I notice too, in the graph showing all, there's twin peaks, maybe the 15" and 17" peak.

(* think that's what it's called, not clear in brochure)

 

Thanks for the data ATHiker. Sounds about right. Bigger tires and more stuff on the 4 touring is going to be what may be. Btw, the drive to the coast was to go hiking! Point Reyes national seashore is a treasure. I love this place more than chatrooms more than words.

 

Guys I want to brag about my mpg. Yesterday and today, I went for high scores and achieved it with the wonderful weather these two days. My normal commute last week in slightly cooler weather and normal driving has a daily average of about 65mpg displayed. Today I reached an average of 73.4 mpg over my 67.9 mile commute! Temperature was 60s-80s F. Mainly highway and some traffic. I was trying really hard timing, p&g and staying in the slow lane. My commute has quite some elevation changes as well. I don't think I'll do this often as I feel like apologizing to everyone behind me. But I feel so proud today.

One thing though I noticed that the total daily mileage decreased to 67.9. Normally my commute is religiously 68.1 mi displayed during normal driving. Maybe the slower speed today and yesterday affects how the computer reads mileage. Or maybe the slow lane has slightly less distance covered.

I've attached the elevation of one direction of my route.

 

Inside track is always shorter. If you watch any car races, everybody goes inside going into a turn because of this. On my work commute, ~42 miles round trip, if I'm the only car on the road, I'll hit the insides myself.

This is how I made the Kessel run in 12 parsecs.

 

I got 61.9 MPG in around 78 miles. I hope the spring and summer provide better mileage but I think there are too many hills around my area to improve much on these numbers.

 

Real world... happy with 62 mpg on my 'Sunday drive'. Happy with 46-50 on my daily urban commutes.

 

Warm engine. 30mph roads. Early morning drive, zero traffic so I was able to accelerate very gently.

Equivalent to 94 mpg (USA)


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