I wonder why the EPA has the city listed at a higher rate than highway, when all of your real life numbers seem to indicate the opposite... if the EPA numbers were the other way around (40 HW, 38 City), I would qualify for no sales tax on the purchase...

 

Sounds like you need to write to your state rep. What state is that anyway?

L

 

You answered your question when you say "real life". The big problem for EPA estimates is that they don't reflect real life driving. Actually with the TCH I'm getting numbers that more closely reflect the EPA numbers than any other car I've owned.

 

So you do better in the city than on highway?

 

No, I probably do a little better on the highway than "around town". But if my engine is warm (that's how EPA tests are done) I've had local trips (25 - 40 mph) where I get over 40 mpg. I'm just saying that my overall mileage is over 38 mpg which puts it right in line with the EPA estimates.

 

Ahh, ok. Well to be fair I can drive around my block in just electric mode, with the engine warm of course. So technically I can get unlimited MPG sometimes!

 

Luis:

I am in CT, and the law they have on the books currently is:

"Certain passenger cars utilizing hybrid technology. On and after October 1, 2004, and prior to October 1, 2008, the sale of any passenger car utilizing hybrid technology that has a United States Environmental Protection Agency estimated highway gasoline mileage rating of at least forty miles per gallon." is exempt from sales tax.
writing anyone in gov't willl not help, I'm sure. It's not stopping me from taking delivery when "my ship comes in"...

 

To be fair I can do the same. I'm referring to trips of about 8 - 10 miles where part of the time I'm on electric power while other parts of the trip I'm recharging the batteries.

Keep in mind when you're referring to highway you're probably thinking of hitting the interstate and maintaining a constant speed somewhere in the 55 - 75 mph range. If it's hot you're using the air conditioning.

When the EPA performs their highway tests they start with a warm engine, vary the speed from 45 to 60 mph, don't use A/C. So their highway test does not match what you probably consider highway driving.

Also, although the TCH gets 2 mpg more in the city than highway the Prius gets 9 mpg more (60 city, 51 highway).

 

True, and the Prius averages low-mid 40s, with rare occasions of over 60, and not in the City.

 

After 150 miles of ownership I'm averaging less than 26mpg, and that's with driving with a very light touch on the gas and trying to run electric whenever possible. Hilly local terrain and air conditioner usage (it's been hitting 100F here lately) are my theories as to why my mileage is so disappointing.

Can anyone shed some light?