Help! My 2014 Prius v only 30 to 37 mpg

I'm only at 300 miles on my Prius v but even the slightly warmer (35 vs 15 F for the high yesterday) weather the last couple of days has made a huge difference.
Being used to driving a hybrid (previously an '05 Ford Escape Hybrid) I will say the Prius is much easier to get into EV mode. It is harder to keep in EV mode starting from a stop, but easier to get to drop into EV mode once moving and keep there at a higher speed. The Escape rarely saw EV above 30 MPH. My first tank (which started about 2 weeks ago in sub-zero temps) is at 36+ MPG and climbing. With the Escape I was fighting to get 25 MPG.

 

I know I'm late to the game, but as others have said, tire pressure is an important factor, I usually run 42f/40r. I did a trip from Boston to Michigan over Christmas, and I averaged 39.22 MPG for the entire trip in the winter cold. I went the speed limit (or usually 2-3 over) the whole way (top speed limit 70). I also use plenty of heat (set at 75).

Another thing that might be involved, you said you use cruise control. Many people just set it an go, I tend to reduce my speed if going up a large hill so I would stay out of the power region (not always possible if going through mountains), literally slowing down only 1 or 2 mph (not 5-10) to stay out of that region until I hit the top of the hill. If you are doing 75 and starting to go up a large hill that can really drop your MPG as well.

Good luck.

 

^^^^ do you keep your heater set to AUTO at 75?? If so your ICE has got to be running an awful lot to maintain that higher temp. I guess it's not so bad if it's not on auto and you keep the fan at a low setting at 75.

I tend to keep my HVAC on auto around 67-69 and find that 67 is sufficient when it's very cold out, 69 when it's not so cold, and I shut it off for the most part if temps go over 40ish. Everyone is different but to me 75 would be unbearable...

Just remember the colder it is outside the more the ICE has to work to maintain those higher temps that are asked of it. If you are steady cruising on the highway it is not so bad though as engine heat helps the temp stay up.

 

No, I do not use the AUTO function at all. I don't tend to like it when it kicks on high (very loud). I usually keep it on one bar, usually split for feet/defrost. Once I get to the freeway and the engine has heated up a bit I'll kick it up to 3 bars until I get too warm then turn it down again. (Edit: I'll also turn it down once I get off the freeway) I'm grill blocking (lower only) which helps to keep the engine from constantly running. By the time I make it a couple of blocks the engine is usually up around 130F and will shut off when at a stop light. I'm also running in the 'normal' mode, not the Eco or Power.

Thanks for reminding me, I should have noted in my previous comment about the lower grill blocking, not that that would be doing much at highway speeds but possible slightly better aerodynamics (or so I've read).

 

Gotcha, I recently blocked my Lower grill as well. Haven't quite got a tank through the car yet to see if it has helped..

I do find that auto HVAC does work real well on the prius though I must admit... One caveat is when windshield defroster is needed you have to start with that button then switch to auto..

 

Auto mode does use the floor-defrost combo setting some time. It has to be pretty humid in the car, but it does do it. Auto also uses the A/C sparingly, so fogging windows is less of an issue.