Driving the 2010 Prius in severe winters?

Re: Driving the 2010 Prius in sever winters?

Hi. I purchased my 2010 Prius II in May and was getting between 50-52 mpg. However, this winter, I am only getting about 41 mpg. This is a LOT worse than the mileage I got in my 2008--relatively speaking. (Our daughter is now driving that car.) Can anyone tell me whether this is normal? My driving habits haven't changed in any significant way.

 

Re: Driving the 2010 Prius in sever winters?

Indyking....We too, have a CR-V which is actually a front driver untill the wheels slip a bit when the rear wheels kick in, and an '06 Prius. Frankly, the Honda is better in unplowed parking lots, but we'd much rather use the Prius on slippery snow packed winter roads. We put some Michelin T-ICE snows all around on the Prius and it will easily out perform the Honda in everything except the unplowed parking lot. Sure it is faster across the intersection, but once up to speed the Honda is a handfull compared to the snow tire equiped Prius. As for the mileage hit, we get in the low 40's while the Honda mileage sinks to the mid to low 20's. And, the Prius "starts" easily is sub zero weather while the Honda grinds hard to get started.

 

Re: Driving the 2010 Prius in sever winters?

Insufficient info. Decline in mileage is expect in all cars due to cold weather. Please start a new thread w/answers to http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-iii...-answer-these-questions-esp-if-youre-new.html.

What did you get in your 08 in comparable weather conditions to what you're facing now?

 

Re: Driving the 2010 Prius in sever winters?

My 2010 is averaging around 38 mpg this winter in northern Wyoming. It will be -23F tonight with a high temp forecast of 1F. 14k miles on the car. It is the best cold weather car I've ever owned!

 

Re: Driving the 2010 Prius in sever winters?

i believe indyking has been deposed.

 

Re: Driving the 2010 Prius in sever winters?

No snow tires = no go. Due to Electric motor, ABS. VSC you can not spin the wheels to get out of a jam. Spinning the wheels will fry the Electric motor. With snows, car goes well in up to 6 inches of fresh snow, then it gets stuck. Get engine block heater and it will start in coldest Upstate NY winters.(-30) no issues. Car will snap oversteer once those rear batteries & your luggage get rotating. Try to keep all of your heavy gear infront of rear axle. Worst MPG in 60mph headwind with a ski box on top was 38mpg. Getting a third Prii this June. Can't beat the MPG.

 

Re: Driving the 2010 Prius in sever winters?

Not that the "new" questions aren't valid, but yes, check the dates of the posts. I believe Indyking has long since ICE'd his way into the sunset in a Hyundai Sonata...

 

We did about 40 on the nose on our last tank in the winter here in Western NY, so it's a good 7-8 below summer numbers, but we've had a tank as low as 38. I think the car is just fine in snow. The reality is if you're trying to get through heavy packed snow no two wheel drive car is great, but for what we encounter here, ice, snow in storms, etc. the car does well. We are using all-seasons. May go winter at some point. Traction control and stability make this more than capable.

Remember, the vast majority of people do not have 4wd cars in climates like yours and they manage to make it.

 

Things will get better once you get snow tires, but the car is still one of the worst car I have had in the winter. The traction control is so sensitive that it can put you in a lot of uncompromising position, occasionally it would leave you stuck too. You just have to drive smart and unavoid spots where you would get trapped.

My indicator shows 18.4mpg on a 12mph average speed.

 

Words of wisdom... except avoid, not unavoid.

 

type too fast on the phone sorry, you are right

 

I don't know what you do but that does not apply. Here yesterday and today in Texas we are covered in 1 inch of ice everywhere - not an overstatement. My wife can barely move her 4 wheel drive Merc and a friends Infiniti is stuck down the the hill which I just drove up in the Prius. Simple rule when the Trac light comes on back off on the accelerator until it goes out and slowly move forward. I love this car in the snow and as long as it is not over 5/6 inches it is great.

 

I assume you mean five or six inches, not 5/6th of an inch.

Tom

 

Let's just say we have a different expectation on what a car should do in the winter time.

 

nyone have a good recommendation foe studded snow tires? I'm in Maine and go around 7K in the snow season

 

I'd go with General Altimax Arctics. They'll kill your gas mileage, I expect, but they are EXCELLENT even unstudded on my Subaru. I'd give them the edge over Blizzaks in slushy wet and packed snow. Can't say much about ice, but with studs they'd certainly win that battle too.

Zhe Wiz

 

Thanks I'll check 'em out