What Is Considered "Good" Gas Mileage In A Toyota Prius?
So you bought a Toyota Prius, and now you want to know what your gas mileage should be. Well, I am here to tell you that we will explore why your gas mileage is "good" despite what other people are getting.
Why Gas Mileage In Prius Varies So Much
I know quite a few Toyota Prius owners all over the world. Every one of them has a unique story to tell about the gas mileage they achieve in their car. But why do my friends on the East coast get 45 miles per gallon, and my pacific northwest friends get 39? The answer is closer than you think.
Many factors go into gas mileage, and I want to expose them, starting with the number one, the driver. Believe it, the person operating it is the number one reason for your gas mileage being good or not.
The way we drive our Prius does not have to be slow. I drive my Prius in a lively manner, but I am mindful of when to be spirited and when to lay off the throttle. Being aware of your surroundings and courteous to other drivers will help you find your happy medium of road speed.
Another big variable is the weather. Too hot, cold, or windy can undoubtedly cause your reduced mileage to the tank. The Prius loves a no wind 75-degree day. It is almost as if Prius has a personality all its own. The right temperature, though, keeps Prius operating at peak efficiency, and that translates into MPG.
Several other things affect your MPG. Tire pressure, routine maintenance, and of course, your hybrid battery health. So there are many things to consider when trying to figure out why your fuel economy is hanging out in the range it is.
Why Does A Healthy Prius Get "Bad" Fuel Economy?
This is the thing that most people do not understand about fuel economy is where they live. That is right; your terrain dictates a very hefty margin of what your Prius will get for MPG in every tank. How do I know this, you ask? Let me explain.
Ever since owning a Prius, I have become obsessed with playing the fuel economy game. For years I drove the same route to and from work (when I was commuting) and recorded like clockwork my fuel economy.
It was 17.2 miles one way downhill into work and the exact 17.2 miles uphill back from work. My car had a healthy engine, battery and the tire pressure was checked weekly. The exact route landed me 43 miles per gallon which was not bad.
I then began driving a different route for another purpose and began averaging 48 miles per gallon. My driving habits stayed the same, but changed was my terrain.
Conclusion
If your Prius is not getting what you think is good gas mileage and you have checked everything, maybe it is time to take a road trip and relearn your computer to different roads. Good gas mileage is all based on your and your surroundings.
The more I drive, the more I realize that you can be as careful as you want, but if your roads are all over the place, well, you have a considerable force against you.
That is all for this article, and I hope your Prius is treating you well. Remember Today's Adventure is Tomorrow's Story.
Will 4Runner ever get the hybrid option before 2025?
Check out this wild new battery tech that Tesla has and why it will forever change the auto industry.
Also, watch Toyota suddenly bringing its BZ4X electric SUV concept to United States on Torque News Youtube channel and please subscribe us on Youtube and follow on Twitter for daily Toyota and EV news reports.
Peter Neilson is an automotive consultant specializing in electric cars and hybrid battery technologies. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Automotive Service Technology from Weber State University. Peter can be reached on Linkedin and you can tweet him at The_hybrid_guy on Twitter. Find his page on Facebook at Certified Auto Consulting. Read more of Peter's stories at Toyota news coverage on Torque News. Search Toyota Prius Torque News for more in depth Prius coverage from our reporter.