How fuel efficient are cars such as Prius in real world driving compared to other cars?

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timbosan

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# 214503 15-May-2017 10:34

So I know lots of people such as taxi drivers prefer the Prius as its fuel efficient, but in reality how efficient are they compared to other modern cars?

Case in point, I recently purchased a 2013 Mercedes A180, and with features such as cutting the engine at idle, adaptive cruise control, etc. it is very fuel efficient. I have also assumed that the Prius with all its extra weight and complexity of its drive train wouldn't yield that much of an increase in efficiency.

And I wrong? What does a Prius return in real world driving compared to ICE cars?

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# 1782389 15-May-2017 11:17

My Mazda 3 claims the fuel economy is 5.6l per 100km; this is only achievable on the highway during long road trips.
Around town this climbs to around 8.5/9l per 100km.

Based on other threads I have seen Prius owners with under 4l per 100km, but can't recall if that was open road or around town driving.

mrdrifter

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# 1782432 15-May-2017 11:47

Don't forget many taxi drivers (in Wellington at least) purchased the Prius as until reasonably recently, there were a bunch of rules around emissions etc... that precluded many other vehicle choices. One local driver said to me on an airport run, that he only purchased a Hyundai i30 following changes to the restrictions and newer cars providing better fuel efficiency ratings.

Wash

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# 1782437 15-May-2017 11:53

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The advantages of a hybrid are in stop-start town driving for two reasons:

1 - The engine stops when not needed - should be a similar benefit as stop start on your Mercedes.

2 - Energy is reclaimed when braking that can then be used to help with coasting or acceleration later

Some manufacturers try to harness a bit of that energy when braking or coasting to charge the accessory battery but I don't imagine that makes a huge difference. This feature is one of the features of Mazda skyactiv and BMW efficient dynamics.

On the open road, I don't believe there is a huge amount of benefit once the battery is topped up, but in saying that, my father drives a hybrid Camry and he reported mid 5L/100km on his recent drive up the north island. Not bad for a comfortable mid sized car.

timmmay

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# 1782440 15-May-2017 11:55

My 2016 Qashqui can get 5.5L/100km on the open road.

I wonder if a plug-in hybrid is better than all petrol.

davidcole

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# 1782445 15-May-2017 12:01

timmmay:

My 2016 Qashqui can get 5.5L/100km on the open road.

I wonder if a plug-in hybrid is better than all petrol.

Should be since they're supposed to have 30 - 50km worth of ev only driving. I thought the old prius was electric + petrol, so if you hooned it everywhere the petrol engine kicked in therefore negating a lot of the electric benefit.

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timmmay

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# 1782476 15-May-2017 12:19

I'll have to replace my weekday commuter car in the next couple of years. I drive 20km/day. I wonder if I'll be able to find anything that I can afford by then.

davidcole

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# 1782477 15-May-2017 12:21

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timmmay:

I'll have to replace my weekday commuter car in the next couple of years. I drive 20km/day. I wonder if I'll be able to find anything that I can afford by then.

I'd like to replace mine in the next few years, I'm hoping hybrids and PHEVs will be outnumbered by pure EVs rather than the reverse which is current.

richms

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# 1782478 15-May-2017 12:27

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There is a thing on the dash that shows how well you are driving. If you accelerate like I do, then it shows not that good. I think if you aim to keep that looking good you will do well, but its annoying and you are also frustrating people behind you by taking off from lights like you have all week to be somewhere.

Richard rich.ms

davidcole

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# 1782484 15-May-2017 12:40

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richms:

There is a thing on the dash that shows how well you are driving. If you accelerate like I do, then it shows not that good. I think if you aim to keep that looking good you will do well, but its annoying and you are also frustrating people behind you by taking off from lights like you have all week to be somewhere.

I found my car is most efficient when I turn the engine off and push it. Great economy then.

MikeAqua

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# 1782513 15-May-2017 13:10

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Hybrids are great if your a slowing/stopping a lot. On an open road trip you just have an underpowered, overweight car that rides hard and lacks manner when cornering badly.

I base that comment on the Prius in the company fleet at a previous job. Anywhere from Nelson involves going up and over significant ranges of hills. The Prius would invariably be on petrol power by the top. The bumpier roads really showed up the poor suspension as did the corners.

It would of course recharge nicely on the way down the hill, but by then everyone had made up their minds ... no-one took it on the open road twice. People preferred utes which speaks volumes about the 'comfort' level of the Prius on the open road. Around town it got a lot of use.

I've also noticed that in taxis Priusae (?Priuss?) tend to exhibit more wear and tear (fabric, plastic panels etc) than other vehicles in the same taxi fleet. I'm guessing this reflects materials used. The hybrid Camrys seem to age as well as their petrol counterparts.

Mike

timbosan

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# 1782525 15-May-2017 13:26

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timmmay:

I'll have to replace my weekday commuter car in the next couple of years. I drive 20km/day. I wonder if I'll be able to find anything that I can afford by then.

My solution to that was this:

Much quicker ride to work, and far less than a car.

KillerHulk

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# 1782530 15-May-2017 13:31

timmmay:

I'll have to replace my weekday commuter car in the next couple of years. I drive 20km/day. I wonder if I'll be able to find anything that I can afford by then.

Even a smallest ev would work for me too . as i have only 10 km/day roundtrip.

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timmmay

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# 1782533 15-May-2017 13:34

timbosan:

My solution to that was this:

Much quicker ride to work, and far less than a car.

The major downside is the significantly increased risk of death. I've had one friend killed in a motorcycle accident (open road), one had a crash with no lasting problems, and another has a significant injury as a result of a crash. None were at fault, it was all other drivers.

timbosan

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# 1782536 15-May-2017 13:39

timmmay:

timbosan:

My solution to that was this:

Much quicker ride to work, and far less than a car.

The major downside is the significantly increased risk of death. I've had one friend killed in a motorcycle accident (open road), one had a crash with no lasting problems, and another has a significant injury as a result of a crash. None were at fault, it was all other drivers.

I cannot argue with that - I was knocked off my scooter (before I bought the bike above) on the North-Western motorway, luckily I was only doing 30-40km/h but it hurt. Smacked the back of my head (helmet) on the motorway and on the rebound smacked my nose into my helmet. Had 2 days off work with concussion. Even that (very) small accident has changed the way I ride.

Luckily I only ride from 1 on-ramp to another now, and can get to work without any motorway at all if I had to, which reduced the risk of major injury.

Dingbatt

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# 1782569 15-May-2017 14:19

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So some 'real world' figures from my Camry Hybrid.
Around Auckland, with a mix of Urban and Motorway driving, 5.2 l/100km (averaged over three tank fulls - about 3000km). Can be as low as 4.6 depending on the journey.
Trip to Cambridge from Auckland 4.8l/100km.
It is a big car, much smoother riding than the Prius, but not a world beater when it comes to looks. In reality, a typical Toyota. By comparison, the Maxima it replaced used to do 11l around town and 8l on a trip. Hills don't kill the performance of a hybrid, not driving them properly does. Most Wellington taxi drivers I have experienced don't know how to drive a hybrid.

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