Some of the TrueDelta MPG findings are very interesting (e.g., the 2008 MPG average is only 40.2). Can these findings really be used to predict real world MPG performance for the model years shown? 01 - 45 MPG 02 - 45.2 MPG 03 - 43.3 MPG 04 - 51.5 MPG 05 - 44.8 MPG 06 - 48.6 MPG 07 - 49.6 MPG 08 - 40.2 MPG 09 - 48.1 MPG 10 - 53.4 MPG
The 04-09 are basically the same car and the mileage should be the same under the same conditions. The lifetime mileage for my 04 was 44.8 and for my 09 it's currently 44.5. There are a lot of short trips in those lifetime MPGs. The mileage will be considerably higher for those with long commutes.
Your mileage may vary (YMMV). Length of trip, trip time, weather conditions, tire pressures, replacement tires, are among many things that will impact a car's reported mileage. I'm averaging nearly 60 mpg with my typical commute, BUT Mon - Fri: I drive 35 miles per trip, two trips per day (to and from work). I average ~ 62 mpg or so. Sat - Sun: I drive 5 - 10 miles per day, with multiple, short, trips. I average ~ 50 mpg or so. If someone were to have a commute like my weekend trips (2 - 3 miles, 5 - 10 minutes), they would be lucky to get 50 mpg. My overall mileage is good because I have longish highway trips with some slow and go/stop and go (= pulse and glide) traffic to help boost my mileage. YMMV. You can check fuelly.com and see a bar graph showing the distribution of MPG's. In the SF Bay Area, I would expect to see some of the best mileage as it doesn't get too cold or snowy in the winter. It isn't very wet in the summer and Fall. Cold and water very much impact MPG's.
I do about 80 miles RT a day M-F and the 2010 average looks close for spring-fall commutes, while summer commutes average close to 54-56 mpg.
When you look at these figures, you also have to look at the number of vehicles within each model year they are reporting on. If I remember correctly, some model years only had 1 or 2 vehicles reporting data, and if the sole persone reporting for that specific model year has a lead foot, you're not going to get an accurate representation of average mileage. I recall that the 2010 had the largest number of vehicles reporting data to this sight, so it will probably have the more accurate reporting... Just food for thought...
Even if worst case you get 40mpg, it is still better than anything else on the road. The Prius warm up cycle kills short trip mileage. But a cold engine on anything kills mileage. Do like the singing fish says and "don't worry, be happy".
I just checked truedelta , I found over 100 samples ( a guess on sample size) with an overall average mpg of 48.6 for the 2008 prius. For the 2010 49.9 For the 2004 44.9 . Real-World Gas Mileage (MPG)
Added www. fueleconomy. gov data into a table. My eyes suggest we're looking at +2 MPG for each model. Both sets of data have different anomalies. Bob Wilson
53.4 is just about exactly what I'm getting 125 miles into my fourth tank...mixed interstate and surface roads, and paying moderate attention to my throttle use, so it's probably a little high for "real world" values, but a little on the low side for the hypermiliers out there. I WAS getting 48 in Eco mode, and driving like a normal driver. Edit: My Kawasaki gets 50, my Harley gets 30-33, and my GMC gets 20--so yes, the Prius will save even the unwashed "normal" drivers out there a little in gas... FWIW...