My Prius drifted backward at a ramp.

First, a little truth.
The Prius system does indeed have "automatic transmission creep" built in. Unlike the ancient design automatics it isn't a disadvantageous part of the operation, it had to be added. And yes, it will hold the car on a -slight- incline. And just like an ancient design automatic transmission, when the slope is steep enough it won't hold the car.
That's why we have brakes!

 

Try doing it on a motorcycle... with a passenger. Shoot, Lombard St Downhill... now there is some serious downhill creep!

Seriously, that's why they added the Hill Assist on the Prius. Works like a charm.

 

Gotcha

 

This is NOT a problem at all.

It's the responsibility of the driver to know the capabilities and characteristics of the vehicle they are driving. The Prius is equipped with something as mundane as "brakes" and as exotic as Hill Assist.

With these "tools" at your disposal, if you drift back several feet on a ramp without noticing it? The fault is with the driver not the vehicle.

 

Why would anyone prefer the car to waste electricity holding position on a hill when the car comes equipped with brakes, which are operated mere inches away from the gas pedal? This behavior is similar to the horrible practice of feathering the clutch on a manual car to hold position on a hill.

Isn't hill assist for those that are terrible at operating a clutch? Very odd that it's included on a car that has an automatic transmission.

 

The Prius transmission's not bad at holding on an uphill grade. Better'n our last car, with a regular CVT.

I only need to resort to Hill Hold on insanely steep situations.

 

I guess it would be easier if you drive with both feet.

 

FWIW the Prius does have a creep built in, I seem to recall its been estimated at about 500W. If you let your foot off the brake on a flat it will start moving forward. If you are on an incline it will either move forward, hold still, or roll back depending on the angle of the incline. Same as an AT.

Rob

 

I would normally put my left foot on the brake and the right foot on the gas to keep a car from rolling back, but I understand that the Prius gas pedal doesn't work when the brake is applied, courtesy of so called run away acceleration.

 

^^ Is that really true? Guess I'll try it tomorrow to see.

 

You are right, Honda Honda Honda, oh wait where is the insight now!?

 

Don't back up a grade with a Prius; absolutely gutless. It uses battery only as there is no reverse gear. My front wheels were on dirt and there was a step up to the pavement. I had to almost floor the gas pedal to get the car to move.

 

Update: I'm not sure this is true. I had my left foot on the brake and gave it gas. The car was trying to pull forward.

 

Maybe you are driving a JDM model

 

Wow, thank you! that was my wife's only complain (of course about car only ) )

 

My foot generally has two modes of operation. It's either on the gas or the brake pedal and almost any given moment.