Looking up the spec. for Prius v Canada vs. USA model I see that they fuel economy quoted in both countries don't add up. Canada is a bit too optimistic and USA is a bit too pessimistic. Canada specification: City / Highway / Combined 4.3 / 4.8 / 4.5 L/100km 66 / 59 / 61 mpg (imperial gallons) the above would translate to 54.7 / 49 / 52.2 mpg (US gallons) Now USA specification listed: 44 city / 40 hwy / 42 combined mpg Why such a discrepancies? Did USA performed their test in Alaska and Canadian Government in Florida :-/ ?
Canada uses something like the old CAFE tests (pre-2008) so numbers are "inflated". As Canadian poster Mendel Leisk has noted on PriusChat, Canadians who want a more realistic number look up the equivalent on fueleconomy.gov.
Different testing criteria and techniques? Kind of like the pre-2008 EPA testing that put the GenII at 60mpg city. I bet they are still using the pre-2008 EPA testing methods or they alter them slightly like allowing preheating of the engine, lower speeds or the like.
Canadian numbers are very unrealistic and inflated but not impossible to achieve. Currently my computer is reading 4.6L/100km (US 51.1mpg) and temp outside is 40 to 50F; it if gets a bit warmer those numbers are possible.
