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Performance difference between two Primes

Discussion in 'Prime Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by srivenkat, Jan 11, 2021.

  1. srivenkat

    srivenkat Active Member

    Joined:
    Feb 28, 2011
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    Location:
    IL
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    Hi All,

    I picked up a new 2021 Prime XLE last week, which now has about 750 miles after the drive home. In doing a performance comparison on a 16 mile (half 65MPH highway + half 70 MPH interstate) trip with my soon-to-be-sold 2020 XLE (3200 miles), I noticed that the LOD (on my SGII) and consequently the RPM and HPR are shown higher on the 2021. Here are some snapshots at the same spots on the trip between the two:

    2020 XLE (3200 miles, Toyo Nanoenergy A41):
    LOD RPM HPR
    90 1664 22.2
    89 1920 26.3
    89 1728 23.1
    89 1600 21.4
    89 1824 24.7
    89 1760 23.4

    Dash trip MPG: 16.3 miles at 54.7 MPG

    2021 XLE (750 miles, Dunlop Enasave S91):
    LOD RPM HPR
    92 1440 19.3
    92 1888 26.5
    92 1952 28.1
    92 1856 26.8
    92 1952 28.4
    92 1888 27.1

    Dash trip MPG: 16.2 miles at 52.5 MPG

    The 2021 has the port-installed OEM body side moldings and the OEM door edge guards that the 2020 doesn't have. Could these along with the newer (and different brand) tires on the 2021 be causing these differences in the LOD and other performance characteristics?

    I am losing the 2020 XLE to the new owners Wednesday morning, but could do some additional comparison testing tomorrow if anyone has any suggestions.

    Thanks.

    EDIT: Outside temp was 30F and except for the driver seat heater on LO, cabin heat was set to OFF in both runs.
    EDIT2: Both cars had 0 EV range left before the 2 trips and were driven in HV mode.
     
    #1 srivenkat, Jan 11, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
  2. vvillovv

    vvillovv Senior Member

    Joined:
    Mar 19, 2013
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    Location:
    NY
    Vehicle:
    2017 Prius Prime
    Model:
    Prime Plus
    I'd suggest you compare the traction packs of both Primes with DrPrius.
    suggestions:
    Full Charge - 100% EV miles,
    O% EV miles,
    (90% EV miles - somewhere around 3 to 5 miles driven in EV, depending on uphill or downhill and speed at 30 degrees F)

    The load and rpm from SG2 might indicate the 21 has more traction pack capacity. Need more data to make better guesses.
     
    #2 vvillovv, Jan 11, 2021
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2021
  3. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    That small of a difference over such a short distance could easily be explained by a difference in how far below 0 EV miles the battery was at the start of the trip. Plus there are plenty of other variables.
     
    #3 jerrymildred, Jan 12, 2021
  4. srivenkat

    srivenkat Active Member

    Joined:
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    IL
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    XLE
    Thanks. I did a comparison run last week as well and at that time I thought the performance difference was because of the luggage rack the 2021 came with. I then removed the rack and did the above second comparison. I have a feeling it's the tires plus the drag from the body side moldings and the door edge guards. Will try to do another run after 3000 miles on the 2021 and see.
     
    #4 srivenkat, Jan 12, 2021
  5. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    That could be a factor, too. But there can also be wind differences, on top of the initial battery SOC variable. I'd think you'd want about 100 miles to smooth out those variables and then it gets harder to duplicate the conditions.
     
    #5 jerrymildred, Jan 12, 2021
    srivenkat likes this.
  6. MTN

    MTN Active Member

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    Location:
    SB, CA
    Vehicle:
    2021 Prius Prime
    Model:
    LE
    Wow, another analyzing Prime post. I guess you can't spell Prius owner without OCD, despite the actual spelling!

    First off - your speedometer and odometer can be slightly or more off between various cars. The tires will make a huge difference - was the PSI and temp exactly the same? The ICE engine gets more efficient after breaking in, also. Etc, etc. You'd have a hard time getting reliable comparison data in a lab / test track. Real world - no effing way.

    Oh, and I love data comparison and analysis - I just have to draw a line a some point.
    I've tracked every tank for my vehicles for many years, and with years of data on a vehicle, you CAN spot a difference with new tires. Whether it is statistically significant is another thing, though.
     
    #6 MTN, Jan 19, 2021
    pghyndman and jerrymildred like this.
  7. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk EGR Fanatic

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    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    Touring
    As soon as you have two, of anything, the differences can drive you nuts.
     
    #7 Mendel Leisk, Jan 19, 2021
    Henrik Helmers, MTN, pghyndman and 1 other person like this.
  8. jerrymildred

    jerrymildred Senior Member

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    Reminds me of my factory days maintaining the high speed presses that made beverage can ends. We had a row of four "identical" machines. Each one was unique in dozens of ways. Next to that we had four more older models that were also "identical." Their differences were even more pronounced.

    But even brand new, each had its own unique personality.
     
    #8 jerrymildred, Jan 19, 2021
    Henrik Helmers and Mendel Leisk like this.
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