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52.5 Highway with Prius with AC

Created September 7, 2004, at 4:12 pm by Anonymous

I'm getting consistent highway mileage of 52.5 MPG with my new 2004 Prius and this is with the AC ON! This is Interstate driving at 60-65 mph.

City driving isn't as good. I'm running around 48 MPG (with the AC on). I did turn the AC off and ran about 10 miles there and back at about 45 MPH and the mileage averaged 62 MPG, but this atypical.
Kevin

Anonymous

7 years ago

That's awesome! Great work on the numbers. I'm real close to 50 MPG on the highway speeds (60-70 MPH), about 45 MPG in town (35-40 MPH). My signature has my lifetime average at almost 47 MPG. Plus partial-zero emissions ALL THE TIME! Best speeds seem to be: 45-55 MPH and rolling hills for recharging/coasting and the less-than-20-MPH speeds which the EPA uses to get the 60 MPG number (who drives in the 'city' that way!?) Haven't used AC alot up here in SD much, been a cool summer really. Not looking forward to cold and winter fuel and lower MPGs. I am looking forward to 'testing' the VSC and traction control when the snow and ice hit...in a parking lot of course. Drive fun, drive clean, drive Prius! 8)

Anonymous

7 years ago

We have had our Prius since January 2004 (waited two months). First long trip since taking delivery was from Los Angeles to Reno, Nevada and back--just under 1,000 miles. Going north, the average was 43.5 mpg; coming back, 48. Going north is uphill, while going south is mostly downhill, which I think accounted for the difference. The gas gauge is extremely conservative in warning for low tank. Down to one dot, and that one lighted, signifying "you better get gas now." I was 35 miles in the middle of nowhere, north of the desert town of Mojave and got a little worried. Not to worry, though. There was still about a gallon left of the 11.9 tank when I got to Mojave.

I was pleasantly surprised at getting that much. In city traffic on freeways and streets, the average has been 43 or 44 so I expected less on highways because the gasoline engine is used more.

In city driving around LA (San Fernando Valley area) I conclude that driving around 49 mph would produce about 50 mpg but that speed is impractical on many streets, and even illegal on our freeways!

Anonymous

7 years ago

i drove to las vegas last weekend - 235 miles each way - from Claremont, the edge of LA county.

i got 45 mpg on the way out (generally uphills) and 38 miles coming back with a strong headwind the whole way. the radio claimed 35 to 45 mph winds. the car handled well anyway at generally 75 to 80 mph.

with the money i saved in gas i had an excelent breakfast at the Bellagio!

steve

Anonymous

7 years ago

Perhaps a 2002 is old news but I am test driving a 2002 prius at an auto auction and it seems to have wide swings in gas mileage. When I drive 75 mph it averages 31-33 mpg and when I drive 65 mph it gets 46-49 mph. Does anyone else have this problem? I drive 170 miles a day for work and I am looking for gas mileage and of course speed. I am thinking the prius isn't for me at 75 mph.

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