USA Today published the new and old EPA MPG estimates today. If you go on line you can find any car or truck back to the year 2000. 2007 Prius Old..... City 60, Hwy 51, Combined 55 2007 Prius New....City 48, Hwy 45, Combined 46
Interesting! The average on Greenhybrid.com is higher then revised EPA numbers! and I consistently beat the EPA numbers here in Boston! I run 55+ in the city/suburbs and >48 on the freeway. I wonder how other cars will change as well! But these numbers seem almost too negative?!?
Yeah, since the drop is for all vehicles, I wonder how that will effect the gas guzzler tax, or will the EPA for gas guzzling drop too?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(berylrb @ Feb 23 2007, 09:33 AM) [snapback]395172[/snapback]</div> Here you go... Nice link to a Kiplingers article that lets you see a comparison for any vehicle: http://kiplinger.com/tools/gas_mileage/ Here's a link to a thread at CleanMPG with some examples and discussion: http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/general/t-2...mator-3577.html
What really surprised me was how some cars with the same engine gets DRAMATICLY less mileage when using E-85. It seems to be a no brainer that using E-85 is a total waste. There better not be a corn on the cob shortage or I'll really be pissed. LOL
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom 6850 @ Feb 23 2007, 05:57 AM) [snapback]395093[/snapback]</div> While I'd argue that the City rating is probably a lot more realistic that Hwy rating is far lower than people will actually get. Even driving 70mph you should get 50mpg in any Prius. Ah, I'm already answering part of my own confusion... Looking at THIS PAGE of the EPA site that describes the tests click on the "High Speed" "Air Conditioning" and "Cold Weather" tabs then the "Detailed Comparison" link to see exactly what the new tests that were used to adjust the ratings consisted of. For the HWY portion they used a fairly long segment of 80mph driving as well as multiple acceleration and deceleration cycles to relatively high speeds, stuff that will definately cut severely into FE and rob the Prius/hybrids of much of the advantage they'd normally have.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(efusco @ Feb 23 2007, 12:07 PM) [snapback]395230[/snapback]</div> I drive 70 on the highway. If possible, I get in a lane and set the cruise control on 70 and just leave it there. Under those conditions we usually see about 44 mpg, maybe a bit more in perfect conditions. Perhaps this is influenced by the condition of our roads and our average temperatures. Tom
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(qbee42 @ Feb 23 2007, 11:11 AM) [snapback]395237[/snapback]</div> That's abnormally low. Do you use 42f/40r tire pressure? Standard wheels? Have you had your alignment checked? Seriously, you should exceed that unless your car is fully loaded, there are brisk quartering head-winds, or very cold conditions. In very adverse conditions I've gotten as low as 37mpg at 75mph interstate conditions, but usually end up right at 50-51mpg at 70-75mph interstate driving with modest AC/heat settings in mild weather.
With the OEM tires I got 50MPG @ 70MPH on I-95 through Florida. Never quite get that with the current tires, but the occasional 55MPG @55MPH on trips is still doable. So, I wonder what this will do to the magical numbers thrown around for the 2008 Prius: bring them back to 60MPG City?...
At 70mph, I get 5.1L/100km (~46-47mpg). This is in the PNW. hmm... oh well, at least I can now brag I beat the EPA lol I still haven't beaten Transport Canada's average of 4.0/4.2 yet.
So, how soon will the media bashing against hybrids begin? Conveniently, they'll probably ignore that MPG is a nonlinear 1/x equation that hurts the lower MPG cars much, much more.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NuShrike @ Feb 23 2007, 10:46 AM) [snapback]395315[/snapback]</div> Well, most Prius drivers have also conveniently forgot that the same applied to fuel savings - going from 30mpg to 45mpg is the same fuel savings as going from 15mpg to 18mpg. Both save you 1 gallon of fuel on a 90 mile trip. That was what GM was saying when people pooh-poohed the 2mpg improvement of their "hybrid" pickups.
2007 Honda Civic Hybrid average is now 42 MPG! 19% drop! Does that mean it won't qualify for HOV? I remember it needs to be at least 45 MPG. Dennis
I like the new estimates for the Prius. They seem much more reasonable. Does anyone know if the Canadian counterparts have any plans to update too? The current estimates for the Prius (City 59, Hwy 56), are even more optimistic than the old EPA numbers! And, we have a lot more cold weather!
If there were any stickers left - what would this do to HCH and Prius eligibility for HOV lane use? I though qualified cars had to rate at least 48 mpg combined.
I'm happy that the EPA tests are now closer to reality and that I'm going to beat the average. Unrealistic expectations always bring disappointment. Just imagine, now there will be at least a little truth in automotive ads.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Curtis SAC @ Feb 23 2007, 06:45 PM) [snapback]395552[/snapback]</div> I'm sure they'd just adjust the scale to stay consistant w/ the new EPA numbers...ei lower the MPG required by 15-20% or so.
