Gas Economy
When I purchased my Prius I was getting 60-64 MPG's and after one year I am getting 38-46 MPG. This is very disappointing because the inital investment was quite high compared to similar size cars. I will never make up in savings for gas economy but I feel I am helping to save the environment.
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I've had my 2007 Prius for about a year-and-a-half and have averaged 48 in the summer and 44 in the winter. When you first start driving a new Prius the computer doesn't have much information to go on...it's more accurate in determining your average milage after a few thousand miles. I suggest that you rarely, if ever, reset the milage computer. You want your milage reading to stabilize on long term information. It's spring now and I'm getting 48 to 49, may hit the 50 mark with a little luck. The biggest problem some people have is learning to drive economically. Drive as if there was a raw egg between your foot and the accelerator pedal! Takes some getting used to but that and using the cruise control as much as possible and keeping your speed no higher than the limit should help you get a nice average in the 40 to 50 range year-round.
I have a 2007 Prius and it's such an awsome car. I live in an area with a lot of stop and go traffic and I average between 44.5 to 46. If I drive 50 mph with a few stops, I get almost 57. I use my cruise control as much as possible and try to run on the battery when I can; no abrupt starts or stops, just coast up to the lights. It helps a lot, also, to not waste gas when you stop. With the price of gas, I try to keep it full. I'm not the least bit embarrased to pull in and buy 2.2 gallons of gas. The manual warns to NEVER run out of gas. My dad liked mine so well that he bought one for himself. He loves his as much as I do mine.