prius mpg w/o hybrid system

since it's somewhere between a corolla and camry, i'd give it 32 combined. but there may still be some expensive advantages it has over corolla that could increase fuel economy despite no hybrid system. light weight, aerodynamics, etc.

 

Use Fuel Economy to find similar class and weight vehicles with 2.0-2.4L engine. Then compare the city and highway mileage. Alternatively, use the car the GM favoring, hybrid skeptics loved to use, the Chevy Aveo:

• 52.3 MPG - user mileage for 22, Prius c
• 39.6 MPG - user mileage for 10, Jetta TDI
  • Prius pretender from "Green Human" stunt in 2009
• 28.8 MPG - user mileage for 12, Chevy Aveo
  • the favorite of GM and CNW Marketing in 2007

Bob Wilson

 

Nope. Electric steering and water pumps are also found on an increasing number of non-hybrids.

 

If you consider the engine part of the hybrid system, then one technique would be to consider other Toyota built cars with the non-hybrid version of the very same engine.
Toyota ZR engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• Toyota Allion 2007-2009
• Toyota Premio 2007-2009
• Toyota Corolla
• Toyota Auris
• Toyota Yaris (Europe only)
• Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe (North America only)
• Scion xD

Due to similar area and shape, I would choose the Matrix.

If you were wondering what that Atkinson engine would do without the hybrid transmission, it is tougher to guess, as that engine is so gutless they don't put it in a car without extra electric motors, to get it up to speed.

 

A 2012 Camry with 2.5L + Auto gets 28MPG combined.
A 2012 Camry Hybrid gets 41 MPG combined.
The non-hybrid version gets 68% of the MPG, in the same car.

A 2012 Prius gets 50 MPG combined. 50MPG x 68% = 34MPG.

I think 34MPG would be a reasonable figure, for a Prius stuffed with a non-hybrid drive train.

 

The closest vehicle is probably the Matrix auto which is rated 28 MPG combined. It runs on the same 1.8L gas engine but with Otto cycle and traditional transmission.

 

I would say that is in the right ballpark. I would guestimate 32mpg.

You could go through the engine downsizing, one of those 1L 3cyl 120hp ecoboost engines might push it to 40mpg If you keep the eco button to properly shift the transmission and cut off the inefficient range. You would need a 6sp transmission, that toyota says they are making and others have. A slightly bigger 4cyl turbo might get the same highway milage as the prius, but it would take a big hit in the city figures.

 

The Matrix is rated below the Corolla despite the same platform and drivetrain, due to the high Cd. .33 (Corolla .29). It is a far cry from the .25 Cd of the Prius.
Vehicle Coefficient of Drag List - EcoModder

 

Right but wagon interior space is more similar to Prius than the trunk of Corolla.

 

yep for comparison
Compare Side-by-Side
focus sfe and mazda 3 skyactiv both get 33. I assume a prius would get the camry 6speed instead of the corolla 4 speed.

That doesn't matter, what matters is cdA for drag, and weight and tires for rolling resistance

 

Didn't know Ford and Mazda also make 50 MPG Prius.

 

pretty similar cda and weight as a prius would be with a 6 speed transmission and NA ice. They may have slightly more efficient engines than toyota has available, whish is why I guessed 32mpg. I don't think the prius would get fuel economy as bad as the corola or matrix.

Ford does make the 47mpg c-max hybrid on the focus platform. If toyota took a skyactiv 1.6L - similar power to prius - and put it in a prius, it should beat the mazda 3s 33mpg combined epa.

 

Has been discussed many times before.
EPA MPG without Hybrid Components? | PriusChat
How efficient would a Prius be without HSD? | PriusChat

I'm sure there are more threads.

 

The car I sold to get into my Prius was a 2005 Matrix. I used to average 31 MPG driving normally city/hwy with a 1.8L engine capable of 130hp. The current Prius 1.8L engine only nets 98hp. This earlier version Matrix weighed @2,679lbs vs. the Prius GenIII's 3042lbs.

The 2nd generation (2009 and on) Matrix now weighs 3053lbs and gets 21/29mpg. Looks like it put on some weight.....

 

Airbags, structure reinforcements, all those things add weight.

 

There's been general size, horsepower and weight bloat over the years.

I don't know which version you had of the 05, but per Compare Side-by-Side vs. Compare Side-by-Side, there hasn't been very significant FE change on the Matrix. In fact, the autos have gotten better.

Csaba Csere: Minicars? I don't See No Stinking Minicars – Column – Car and Driver and the executive summary at Light-Duty Automotive Technology, Carbon Dioxide Emissions, and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 Through 2011 | OTAQ | US EPA discuss the bloat trend.