What is mpg at 78-80 mph?

i just finished a trip from SF to a little below LA, on the way down i was driving 80-90 on I-5 with a few bursts of over 100, and the way back it was 70-85 average

MPG down: 46.6
MPG up: 47.7

 

From:
The Prius's Not So Secret Gas-Mileage Secrets - All About Prius

"The Atkinson cycle has a longer power stroke than compression stroke, which enables the engine to produce more power in a certain operating range. The 12- to 14-percent gain in efficiency versus an Otto-cycle engine is mainly due to the reduction in pumping losses, or the amount of energy needed simply to suck air into the cylinders and then expel spent exhaust gases.
Toyota's use of a electronic continuously variable transmission--it uses a planetary gear set to vary the power split among the engine, primary, and secondary electric motors, instead of a fixed set of gears-- allows the engine to stay in its high-revving efficiency sweet spot for greater amounts of time than it would with a traditional, geared transmission."

What these two statements imply is that the advantage of the Atkinson engine is gained at the higher rpm ranges. Therefore I agree that even at high rpms there is a residual advantage to a Prius over a similar Otto-engined Corolla.

The real advantage of the Prius is in City mileage where the CVT effectively keeps the engine in the optimum rpm band. Another example of "synergy."

 

BS - what other mid-size gas burning car gets 40mpg+ at 75-80mph?

THERE AREN'T ANY

 

You miss the point. The several thousand dollar premium for the Prius will not be paid back by the slightly lower FE of another economy car. Economy is related to total life cycle cost, not just cents per mile.

 

I go back and forth 400 miles quite often, and I get an average of 42 when i'm traveling at 85 on the interstate.

 

Some quick figures, all subject to variation, but you'll get the point.

MSRP of Corolla ($15,250 - 18,760) vs. Prius (23,375 - 24,270), gives an average difference of $6817.

Difference in gas costs for Corolla (35mpg) vs. Prius (48mph) on the highway, at $2.25 per gallon, and 40,000 miles per year... works out to $696 per year.

At this rate, it will take 10 years (even ignoring interest expense) for the Prius to pay back based on highway gas savings. Your Prius will be pretty worn out at 400,000 miles (as would the Corolla), so the difference in trade-in value (one of the reasons for the Prius' low TOC figures in trade magazines) is not a factor.

I'm not equating the cars, but I am being realistic about the cost per mile difference that the Prius gives for you, since that seems to be your criterion for car selection... and the cost to obtain it.

No BS.

 

Instead of answering the original question, the thread drift has now wandered into a vehicle comparison by proposing the Corolla as a substitute for a Prius. Often called a 'red herring," this is a familar game since until about six months ago, the Corolla was the standard comparison vehicle of hybrid skeptics.

So if we play this game by 'the rules' (per the Boston Globe), we also get to choose whatever price source we want. For example, Edmunds, Consumer Reports or my favorite, the Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) without regard to any other vehicle attribute. For example, an average of MSRP prices or any other criteria that supports the claim. Done properly, we can just grab any price or model combination or options combination that supports whatever claim we want. So playing by 'the rules', I choose the lowest MSRP found for each vehicle at the manufacturer's web site. But remember, the Corolla lost its cache with the hybrid skeptics about six months ago.

The EPA web site, www.fueleconomy.gov, classifies vehicles by "Market Class." Sad to say, comparing a Corolla to a Prius jumps between two Market Classes, "Family Size Sedans" and "Small Cars." A proper comparision would at least choose vehicles within the same market class or if from different market classes, the least expensive ones. Cool, this will be fun:

FAMILY SIZE SEDANS

	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5	Column 6
0	EPA Hwy	Combined	Make	Model	MSRP
1	45	46	Toyota	Prius	$22	000
2	34	34	Toyota	Camry Hybrid	$26	150
3	34	29	Chevrolet	Malibu Hybrid	$26	225
4	34	29	Saturn	Aura Hybrid	$27	045

Sad to say but if the original poster wants a fuel efficient, family sized sedan, to compare with the Prius, they will have to go with the less expensive Prius and . . . get the best mileage. They can pay more and get less mileage in the EPA Family Size Sedans.

SMALL CARS

	Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5	Column 6
0	EPA Hwy	Combined	Make	Model	MSRP
1	45	42	Honda	Civic Hybrid	$23	650
2	40	33	Volkswagen	Jetta Diesel	$22	270 (manual)
3	36	32	Toyota	Yaris	$12	205 (manual)
4	37	32	Mini	Cooper	$19	200 (manual)

Sorry but the Corolla showed up as fifth, not in the top four mileage in either class of car. But not to worry, the Toyota Yaris did and it is even cheaper than the proposed Corolla.

The original poster will love the Yaris, a great commuting car with better highway mileage than the Corolla. Yes, quality counts and the Yaris is another Toyota. The original poster will have a lot of fun at 80 mph on an icy, snow covered highway where the Yaris makes the drive so entertaining. Not to worry, the original poster can count on the terrific savings, nearly $10,000.

Yes, like "KTPhil" points out, the original poster can save a bundle by just taking a less expensive car in the next smaller group. Don't save $7,000 but rather $10,000 with the Yaris. Now if the original poster will soften up the mileage requirement, I understand there is an even cheaper Kia. Too bad the Yogo is no longer for sale except in the used market.

Now if original poster is willing to jump vehicle classes, they can also jump into the used market, which includes my favorite, the GEO Metro, a really fun car. Experience the thrill of a motorcycle sidecar sandwiched between two motorcycles. Indeed, the new GEO Metro owner can probably get one for $2,000 and save $20,000.

Of course the original question was "What is mpg at 78-80 mph?" and that is a fine question. We don't need to substitute other vehicles because there never was a list of original requirements. That is an entirely different question having nothing to do with 'mpg at 78-80 mph.'

Bob Wilson

 

Not really sure what your point is... he stated he drives 40K a year due to a long highway commute, so I used his scenario.

I chose the Corolla becasue you can make a pretty comfortable car out of it if you load it up, and still save thousands over a Prius.

The Prius is a better car for many reasons, but his primary goal was good highway mileage and economy; the latter favors a car other than the Prius. I love mine, but not just for highway mpg (instead, in the Prius I seek room, carrying space, novelty, AT-PZEV, and overall fun and value).

 

Keep in mind that the Civic is a compact car and the Prius is a mid size car Much more room than a Civic I own both a Prius and Hybrid Civic. Highway MPG at sustained high speed is within 42-45 MPG for both.

 

We just drove from AZ to CO (840 miles) with a fair load (3 boxes of files, 2 golf bags, 2 laptops, overnight bag and 2 passengers). We used the cruise control and kept up our speed except for brief stops for gas/food and a short traffic slowdown in ABQ. Here's wat we got:

Mesa AZ to Raton, NM - 45.5 mpg (pretty flat except for the Mogollon Rim and Glorieta Pass, cruise control on 79 and 80 mph, very little wind)

Raton, NM to Lone Tree, CO - 44.3 mpg (pretty flat except for Raton Pass and some miles-long hills, cruise control at 77 and windy in So. CO)

Hope this answers your question. BTW, I used mid-grade gas (89 octane)

 

I have a 90 mile a day commute (round trip) 99% freeway, usually above 70 mph, and was getting right at 50 with the stock Gooodyears. I switched to BFG G-force sport in a larger size, same wheel dia, and now get 43.7. Keep the stock tires and you should get close to 50 above 70.

 

Ahh the 'ol inaccurate 'Corolla vs Prius' price comparo. Both are vehicles, right?

The first inaccracy is that the Corolla is not a 5 door hatchback. Of course the Prius is more expensive than a Corolla, it's not a sedan it's a 5 door hatchback. The Prius has more utility. To compare two equivalent vehicles on price then you should look at the Matrix ( the non-hybrid Prius ). Now the differential is valid. It's about $4000.

If you don't care at all about comparing 'equals' and are just looking at best 'bang for the buck' then a new Corolla vs a 3 y.o. Prius is the valid comparo....or a 3 y.o. Corolla with a 5 y.o. Prius.

 

I always find amusing the Corolla versus Prius comparison.

We (gata y gato) actually drive a Corolla 1.4 D4D (diesel) and a Prius, and, in fact, the Corolla can be cheaper at highway speeds.

But...

The Prius is a lot more car, and for familia de gatos trips the confort and inner space over the Corolla is hardly comparable.

If you want really cheap, go and buy a Yaris diesel (don't know if available in the US).

 

I've been meaning to ask about Toyota's engines:

• 1.5L - are these being phased out or is there a dual, variable valve version coming?
• 1.8L - seems to be taking over the lower sized models, at least in North America? Will they replace all 1.5L engines?

Thanks,
Bob Wilson

 

Wiki is a good source here, Bob. [ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Toyota_engines"]List of Toyota engines - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]


The 'R' family of engines - which first debuted in 2002 in the 4runner as the 1GR 4.0L - are taking over and being implemented in every product. These were at first just VVTi, now are Dual VVTi and soon I think will be Dual VVTi + Valvematic.

1GR - 4.0L 4Runner, Tacoma, FJ, Tundra
2GR - 3.5L Everything.. RAV, Camry, Avalon, Sienna, Highlander, Venza, ES, RX
3UR - 5.7L Tundra, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, LX570
1UR - 4.6L Tundra
2ZR - 1.8L xD, Corolla, Matrix, Prius
2AR - 2.5L Camry, RAV ( + XB, tC, Matrix? )
1AR - 2.7L Venza and Highlander

Then there's the
1ZR - 1.6L used in the Euro Corolla/Auris and Avensis
3ZR - 2.0L used in JDM

 

Suggestion: Keep the trim rings on if you drive mostly on the highway. It reduces the airflow drag around the wheels.

 

The original poster was asking about a car for a 70 mile commute (40K/year). He wasn't asking about a car with carrying capacity. He was asking about mileage, indicating that was an important criterion for his car selection. So comparison to reasonably comfortable, safe, and reliable cars is valild. I'm not saying the Corolla and Prius are the same, I'm saying they are both high mileage solutions from Toyota.

I needed the utility of the 5-door, so a Corolla was not one of my options, but it certainly is a worthy mpg/TCO competitor for the OP. And the more economical one in fact. Probably has more comfortable seats, too!

 

When I drive my 130 round trip commute in the Prius at 75-80 MPH, I get right in the 42-43 range...with the OEM tires. I'll do it now and again, and once in a while for like a week straight. The car now has about 18k on it. I admittedly do not have a years worth of regular data on this.

Lifetime AVG of my '03 Jetta is 45.3 with most of the time being spent on that same commute. Even the Jetta did a lot better when my average speed was more like 68...but now with the 65mph speed limit, I don't get a warm fuzzy from 68 anymore. I consider the car to be much more stable on the highway, too, particularly if you're used to German. That said, the Gen IV Jettas have a MUCH smaller back seat than the Prius, if that matters.

I'll second whoever's post it was: Rent or borrow one for a week. You;ll get a good gauge of the milage, and of the comfort factor.

 

Yep I understood the need being just a commuter. Thus the 2nd half of the post. If the need is just for the most economical commuter then a 2-3 y.o. Prius is a better option than a new Corolla. Same price, same reliability, same durability, but the Prius is larger with more options and has significantly better fuel economy.

 

In Cali nobody is selling their Priuses! When they dom, they get 80% or more of the new car sticker, especially if they have the carpool stickers. Crazy! Maybe that will change when the 2010s are released in volume?