Prius, Your Days Are Numbered!

Posted by:Jeromy
Chebby Guy

Starting with the 2008 model year, the EPA is requiring revamped fuel economy estimates. In most cases, that means that the MPG ratings for new cars will go down, because the new rules reflect more realistic driving conditions.

Who is this going to be most painful for? High-mileage cars like the Toyota Prius. In fact, the Prius’ current city fuel economy rating of 60MPG will likely go down to something like 48-50. Is it any wonder why Toyota is launching huge financing incentiveson the Prius right now? Once those new window stickers hit dealer lots, Prius cars aren’t going to be nearly asattractive.

Here’s a slick comparison tool for EPA modelyear changes, and here’s the story straight from thegob’ment.

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Posted at 7:15 am in News

Comments

John
Mar 16, 2008 at 12:33 am

I am considering buying a 2008 Prius. I drive 25-30,000 miles per year. What MPG are people acually getting out there?

Thanks, John.

PR
Mar 30, 2007 at 12:09 am

I have an 03′ Prius. I logged my mileage / gas consumption for an entire year and ended up with 49mpg. The car displayed 50.5mpg. This is exactly what the old style EPA estimate for that vintage prius predicts. It seems to me, cars ARE capable of achieving EPA estimates, its mainly driving habits and trip duration that beat down achieved mpg. At the very least they should have two numbers:
Ideal Conditions = 60mpg
Typical American = 48mpg

Dave S.
Mar 25, 2007 at 9:29 pm

I have been driving my 2005 Prius for a year and a half and have averaged 43MPG. This is nearly all short trips and city driving and we have hard winters in Iowa. There is far more than mileage to this car (but it beats any other vehicle by 40%). This is a mid-size car, small on the outside but big inside. This car has more safety features and well designed systems than any car for a lot less money. There is virtually no maintenance required and it is the most trouble free car built by anyone. O yeah, it is great in the winter too. Heat right now, great window clearing and it just about impossible to stop in snow.

Mike@HCVN
Mar 24, 2007 at 3:42 pm

What moves Priuses is how much money is saved on gas buying the car. If that results in a net savings, people buy a Prius to save money (saving gas is means to this end).

The new EPA numbers don’t change how much money it looks like you’ll save with a Prius over a non-hybrid.

Mike

Duh
Mar 23, 2007 at 3:48 pm

Won’t the estimated mileage go down for ALL cars? YES, so the Prius will likely still have MUCH better gas mileage than most non-hybrid cars.

Bryce
Mar 23, 2007 at 2:29 pm

I drive a 06 Prius and average between 53-57mpg. I did upgrade and add the EV chip to it so you can run up to 4 miles on electric only. Also keeping the tires above 40psi helps too. Before I was getting 50mpg average. You can check it out by going to youtube.com and typing in “Prius mpg” and I have two entries there of screen shots of me going 150+ miles while getting over 60mpg the whole way.

David
Mar 23, 2007 at 2:27 pm

Do you really think this is going to make much difference for people buying a Prius? I thought EVERYONE already knew that 60MPG is unrealistic. I won’t say that people don’t buy it for the fuel economy; it’s just that the word has been out for years that 45MPG is a realistic estimate of a Prius’ mileage. If everyone already knows that, why would the sticker make that much difference?