Not getting 50 MPG on new Prius?

Ed, has your commute changed or have you done anything new to the car? If not then maybe you could fill out the questions contained in the mpg sticky thread in this forum. I'd link you but I can't with my cell phone.

 

Just bought a 2011 Prius and I am still on my first tank of gas. My mileage so far on about 250 kms of mixed city and highway driving is 4.4l/100km, which is 64.2mpg Imperial or 53.5mpg US.

Based on what I've read on the Internet, I've made very modest adjustments to my driving style as follows:

a) Generally Slower acceleration in most situations
b) coasting and gliding in city traffic - looking at the instant mileage gauge to optomize efficiency.

 

My 2010 has consistently given me 50+ mpg during summer and winter. I commute 46 miles a day--mostly city driving in the Baltimore/Washington area.

 

Don't believe the computer

...well, after owning this '05 for a few weeks I can see that the computer mileage is off by quite a bit. Like someone posted here, it's not what you read on the dash, it's what you put in at the pump.
106 mile commute showed 41mpg.
Actual was 48.6mpg.
106 miles / 2.179 gallons = 48.6mpg
I'm pretty happy about that.

 

Re: Don't believe the computer

Keep a record of your tank refills and you'll find the GenII Prius is actually pretty accurate. It is on average only 2% off. This has been verified by PC members who have been tracking their refills for the last 6-7 years.

 

I've found that after 14K miles, that the computer and reality are off by about 2.5 mpg. The real mpg is less.

 

Re: Don't believe the computer

Agreed with F8L that the trip computer/MFD in the 2nd Gen Prius is pretty accurate once you average those readings vs. averaged out manual calculations.

Rapid Dog: any reason why you posted in a Gen 3 thread? The MFD is gone in the 3rd gen and the interface for the displays (aka MID, IIRC) is totally different on Gen 3. Also, from everything I've gathered, Gen 3's trip computer accuracy has taken a step back w/some or all reading significantly higher than actual...

 

I have 1500 on my new Prius with longest trip being 25 or 30 miles round trip three days a week, the rest of the time its very short trips. temp about 70ish to 90ish in Portland since i got the car. Ave 56.1 mpg but as my wife would say i drive kinda slow and glide allot if no cars are around.

 

Re: Don't believe the computer

Much too short for an accurate check. Pump shutoff variations and the infamous Gen2 bladder variations will throw considerable inaccuracy into short trip calculations.

As F8L suggested, keep a fuel log and average multiple consecutive tanks.

 

I have the same issue living in san francisco. 2011 Prius 3 for about a month 2k miles on it avg 45-47

 

Why is this an "issue"? What do you expect and why? I don't know what part of SF you live in, but the hills in many parts along w/the terrible traffic and lots of stopping at traffic lights doesn't help.

 

Re: Don't believe the computer

mY oH MY! Please forgive. I was responded to the original question I posted about what kind of real mileage one would get on a Gen 3....but bought a Gen 2. So slap my wrist one mo' gin....

But to wit, I filled up the tank post 'flashing empty bar' at 378 miles.
Average on the computer read 41+. Used 10.2 gallons.
That's 37mpg...so now it's going the other way.
Someone call a monitor and remove this puh-leeze!:tape:

 

Re: Don't believe the computer

Not in the least. Research the GenII bladder vs. a fuel tank. You can NOT do these sorts of calculations on a 2004-2009 North American market prius.