Real World MPG Database
I just found that the EPA has (or is building) a database of real-world mileages for many late-model cars:
For the 2005 Prius their results are:
Number of Vehicles: 77
Average User MPG: 47.6
Range: 32 – 61 MPG
Updated On: 01/17/2006
Again, in line with my own mileage.
Interesting that the variation is the key, and not the average. I mean, if someone wanted to make an easy (lazy, dishonest) anti-Prius argument, they’d just cherry-pick from the low end and go with that, right? Kinda like those CBS Jerks (original source the Weekly Standard) did a day or two ago.
Update:
It’s important to remember that hybrid foes often claim that the Prius has a small increase in mileage (real world) over the Toyota Camry. Using this new EPA source, we see that the (2005, 4cyl, auto) Camry gets:
Number of Vehicles: 14
Average User MPG: 27.8
Range: 21 – 35 MPG
Updated On: 01/17/200
Far from being a minor improvement, the average Prius is scoring a 71% increase in mileage over the Camry!
March 22nd, 2006 at 11:26 am
I believe the answer for the Prius variation may lie in the radically better mpg that hybrid cars get in the city (since they are runing largely on the batteries then). On the highway they burn gasoline, right?
When will the EPA finish revising its test cycles for cars to better reflect real life?
March 23rd, 2006 at 6:35 am
The way it works for me is that the first few (3, 5?) miles out from my house are bad (35 mpg?) but once the car warms up, and depending on road grade and traffic, I can do better (50 mpg).
If I just do 3-5 mile trips, stop, let the engine cool, and then start up and drive home again, I’m rackng up that “bad” mileage. For those few miles.
Actually, the easiest way to rack up 50 mpg is a road trip, since the car warms up and then, at 65 or 70, cruise control will take care of things.
The reason the warm up sucks fuel is that, in order to satisfy clear air regs, the Prius must run the engine long enough to heat the catalytic converter to operating temperature. In cold weather it will tend to keep the gas engine on more, for the same reason.
March 23rd, 2006 at 6:38 am
On the EPA, no idea. I heard on the radio yesterday that they are still in discussions.