It works out fairly nicely, in fact. Over the course of several wintry days, I traveled between 10 and 298 miles in a 2017 Toyota Prius Two Eco, combining city and highway driving.
In This Article...
How It Drives in Snow
I was able to drive the Prius on several icy and snow-covered roads before the December temperatures threatened to reach a record high for Chicago on the last day of my loan to see how it handled the hazardous winter weather.
The Prius is a front-wheel-drive car with all-season tires as standard, according to Toyota. All-season tires are adequate, but winter tires give better traction and performance.
I observed no difference in tire traction throughout my test compared to any other all-season-shod vehicle I had been evaluating.
The Toyota Prius also tends to understeer, which means the front end stays moving straight even as you tilt the steering wheel to steer into a bend, making it a generally predictable vehicle to drive in the snow. Every time I tested this, as soon as I let off on the gas or used the brakes lightly, the front end of the Prius found traction, allowing me to make the turn. Once more, this experience is comparable to other front-wheel-drive cars I’ve driven in snow.
What has changed
The car’s brakes felt a little “grabby” in the snow, which took me off guard a few occasions. This is mostly because the regenerative braking mechanism of the gas-electric hybrid car uses energy lost during stopping to recharge the battery. Before you come to a complete stop while traveling at a slow pace, there is an abrupt increase in braking force, which causes the automobile to jolt to a stop. It took some getting used to, but when I wasn’t wearing my cozy but cumbersome winter boots, I was better able to modulate the pedal and had smoother stops.
How It Braves the Cold
Battery life is negatively impacted by cold air, as anyone with a smartphone can attest. The Prius, however, differs from a phone in that it has an engine and exhaust fumes as its own heat source.
Toyota claims that the exhaust heat recirculation system of the automobile enables the heater and hybrid system to be warmed by the heat from the exhaust gases.
However, it should be noted that if you tend to venture outside in extremely cold weather, the Prius owner’s manual warns that “it may not be possible to start the hybrid system when the hybrid battery (traction battery) is extremely cold (below approximately minus 22 degrees Farenheit [minus 30 degrees Celsius]). In this instance, consider restarting the hybrid system once the battery temperature has risen as a result of rising outside temperatures, etc.
The automobile has been left outside all night in temps as low as 15 F during my testing, with the coldest starting temperature being 21 F. I regret not having had the opportunity to explore the Prius’ lesser capabilities. What I did observe is that the Prius began to operate right away, and the gas engine began to operate nearly quickly to help the climate control system. The Prius Eco started on warmer days with a high temperature of 52 F and ran in electric mode for a while before switching to the gasoline engine.
Mileage
I averaged 42.9 mpg on the coldest day while combining city and highway driving, which is much less than the Prius’ EPA-estimated 56 mpg combined fuel economy figure. It’s possible that the Prius’s prolonged exposure to cold weather played a role, but it’s also true that I kept the climate control set at 74 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not the most efficient approach to increase fuel efficiency.
I traveled 596 miles on the highway in the Prius. The Prius achieved 51.9 mpg on the portion of the journey that began at 27 F and warmed to 37 F. The Prius achieved 51.2 mpg for the return trip, which began at 52 degrees, warmed to 66 degrees, and ended at 49 degrees. Again, these numbers fall short of the EPA’s anticipated 58 mpg highway fuel efficiency figures, despite the fact that the agency doesn’t test vehicles in windy conditions or during peak holiday traffic.
Equipment Hits and Misses
Because my first car didn’t have a defroster, I have a thing for cars that defrost windows quickly in the cold, and the Prius does not disappoint. It rapidly removed the fog and made it simple for me to see where I was going despite the wide windshield and quantity of glass in both the front and rear of the vehicle.
Sadly, the Prius Eco lacks a feature that might have been useful occasionally during my drive: a back windshield wiper. The rear wiper comes standard on all other Prius levels.
After utilizing the Prius to transport groceries, Christmas packages, and skis, I can finally understand why it’s so well-liked on the trails. The Prius is spacious inside, and I found it to have a better cargo space than several of the small SUVs I’ve tried, particularly the Ford Escape and Mazda CX-5. However, there is one downside: Contrary to those SUVs, the cargo floor has a lip that can grab objects instead of being flush with the back of the vehicle. If it weren’t there, I would prefer it.
Overall
Overall, even though the mileage numbers are low, they don’t really surprise me because I wasn’t trying to squeeze out any extra miles by not using the cruise control or turning off the air conditioning. As with any other car, I drove the Prius as I would any other one, and I typically came near to but didn’t reach the fuel economy estimates.
I don’t often go outside when it’s that cold, so even while the idea of owning a car that might not start at 22 below zero might worry me, that’s not really the case. I truly don’t mean “don’t often” when I say “don’t often.” Similarly, although there are days when I believe I would prefer all-wheel drive, the reality is that front-wheel drive is enough in the types of conditions I typically drive in.
Of course, it must be acknowledged that the abrupt warmth we encountered prevented us from testing the Prius’ full capabilities in the cold. Maybe the next time I can test its performance in cold weather by traveling a little further.
Driving a Prius in the snow is it safe?
Many prospective car buyers are curious how the Prius performs in the snow after this year’s severe winter weather blanketed the country, saturated places with normal snowfall, and even soaked states which rarely get flakes. Here, we provide all the information you require on the Prius’ winter performance.
Due to the cold weather, all vehicles’ fuel economy decreases throughout the winter. The Multi-Display panel on the dashboard causes drivers of Prius vehicles to become hyperaware of efficiency, not because the Prius is more affected than other vehicles, but rather because it makes people more conscious of this shift.
Efficiency declines for a variety of causes. The energy gained from fuel is decreased by the cold, dry winter air. Fuel efficiency is also affected by refinery winter formulations. More butane, which evaporates more quickly in the winter, is present in gasoline. Additionally, icy wheel bearings and snow-covered roads increase rolling resistance in tires, which reduces fuel efficiency. Additionally, a constantly operating temperature control system that maintains interior warmth shortens the time the gas engine spends at rest. Reduced battery capacity in cold weather reduces the efficiency of all vehicles, not just hybrids. The Prius uses more fuel as a result of this.
The front drive wheels of the Prius are supported by the hybrid drive system, which is the most weighty component of the vehicle. It makes use of this to its benefit. The Prius improves its traction on the road by pushing its driving wheels through the snow. Additionally, electric motorslike the one in the Priusare more effective at dispersing torque. It’s a popular fallacy that the only vehicles suitable for snowy weather are those with high ground clearance. The Prius has plenty of clearance thanks to its 5.25 inches. In fact, snow is frequently cleared from busy roadways before it becomes too bad.
Traction Control is a feature on the Prius that stops slipping and tire spinning. Loss of grip not only puts people’s safety in jeopardy, but it also causes tire wear, which lowers performance and has the potential to be dangerous in and of itself. There are things you can do to improve the performance efficiency of the Prius, even though some people may find the abrupt stopping to be the reverse of helpful.
- Invest in more aggressive snow tires.
- It’s crucial that all four wheels have snow or ice tires. The Prius may be able to drive more effectively with only two up front, but stopping and control are unlikely to significantly improve.
- Retain proper tire inflation at all times, regardless of the season, to maintain maximum efficiency.
- These methods may be useful under extreme circumstances:*
Drive the vehicle first, then use Brake mode. In packed snow, this will alter the driving dynamics for the better.
Temporarily disable traction control. With 60 seconds to spare:
- Turn on the ignition switch.
- Press the gas pedal twice while the transmission is in park (P).
- Place parking brake on.
- By depressing the brake pedal and pressing N instead of Drive, the transmission will enter neutral (N).
- two times on the gas pedal
- Press the gas pedal twice while the gearbox is back in park (P). “!Car!” should show on the LCD panel.
- To start the engine, depress the brake pedal and turn the key. (After the automobile has been stopped and started again, a warning symbol on the LCD screen will vanish.)
Fuel economy will increase as the season changes. The Toyota Prius can withstand winter weather. Observe your surroundings carefully. Recognize your car. All cars are affected by winter conditions, keep in mind.
WINTER SAFETY TIP
Always remove snow off radiators, license plates, and lights.
*For particular instructions for your vehicle, consult your drivers’ manual. The capacity to move forward does not enhance the capacity to stop. Be mindful of your surroundings.
Do Prius require winter tires?
The Prius’s low fuel consumption is one of its many wonderful features. The fact that a Prius has thin, low rolling resistance tires contributes to its excellent fuel economy. Low rolling resistance tires offer much less traction, which causes more road slippage even if this boosts miles per gallon. This is especially true when it is snowing or icy outside. The answer? Take your Prius out with snow tires.
- The Prius is a front-wheel drive vehicle, which means that more than 60% of its weight is up front. This enables greater control on slick surfaces, yet snow tires are strongly advised due to the low rolling resistance tires.
Do hybrids do well in the snow?
After seeing how a hybrid’s fuel economy can be badly impacted by cold weather, let’s investigate how hybrids actually operate on snow and ice. It’s a valid worry if you’re still attempting to drive a little more sustainably in the chilly winter months. Large trucks and SUVs are popular choices for buyers in colder regions because of how well they manage snow and ice.
The belief is that fuel-efficient vehicles, frequently due to their very characteristics that make them ideal for green driving, are at a major disadvantage when it comes to snow and ice. For instance, a hybrid’s lower stance improves aerodynamics and lowers ground clearance, but it also makes it more difficult to clear deep snow. Another illustration is low-rolling-resistance tires, which are excellent for saving gasoline but don’t provide much traction even on dry pavement. Hybrids often have a light weight, which makes them a little easier to slip and slide.
However, the type of hybrid you purchase will ultimately determine how well it handles snow and ice. There are now hybrid vehicles of all sizes and shapes, including all-wheel-drive hybrid trucks and SUVs for better traction in the snow.
On snow and ice, hybrid sedans of all sizes may perform admirably. These little hybrid vehicles are typically front-wheel-drive. Front-wheel-drive vehicles have an advantage over rear-wheel-drive vehicles because the engine is on top of the drive wheels, pushing them down into the snow and improving their grip, even though they are not as surefooted on snow as all-wheel drive vehicles. Additionally, during snowy seasons, drivers have the option to put snow tires on their hybrid in exchange for a bit less fuel efficiency and more traction. Finally, the majority of modern hybrids are equipped with traction control, which among other things keeps track of tire spin to assist the driver in keeping the vehicle under control. In essence, traction control aids in preventing skids and slips for the driver.
So, a Land Rover can handle snow just as well as a Toyota Prius, right? Most likely not. However, a GMC Yukon Hybrid will perform equally well as a regular Yukon. A Prius will certainly get its driver through the snow safely and consume a lot less petrol than the Land Rover while doing so with some cautious driving and perhaps a new set of snow tires. And the Prius driver will have been willing to put up with a few weeks of cautious snow driving to enjoy the advantage of money saved at the gasoline pump when summer rolls around and gas prices climb.
Are repairs for Prius expensive?
Given the added technical complexity and computing prowess of hybrids, it would seem that they would. It’s a misconception that has undoubtedly spread among backyard mechanics. However, that hasn’t held true. The oldest Toyota Prius cars are already more than ten years old, and there are hundreds of thousands of Prius models on American roads (and nearly 900,000 sold), so there isn’t any urgency to replace batteries or expensive powertrain components. Surprisingly, they have proven to be bulletproof.
Replacement of the battery hasn’t proven to be the problem that was anticipated. Many of those older Prius cars still have their original nickel-metal hydride battery pack and have traveled more than 150,000 kilometers. Although the total cost of replacing the battery pack is still close to $3,000, a number of specialized shops have emerged that are willing to do it for a little less. They can also repair the Prius battery pack by replacing just one or a few of its cells in older or collision-damaged models to lessen the financial blow.
That doesn’t sound so bad in a time when the beginning price for a competent automatic-transmission rebuild is around $3,000 or the price of a few other significant front-end or air conditioning repairs.
According to a survey conducted by an insurance claims analysis company last year, repairs to the Prius are around 8.4% more expensive than comparable repairs to other models. In the same study, hybrid cars like the Toyota Camry and Honda Civic only slightly cost more than their non-hybrid counterparts, in large part because of the scarcity of secondhand and aftermarket parts.
Of course, in the end, the Prius has demonstrated that it requires repairs less frequently than many other compact cars, and that’s one of the reasons for its lower ownership costs.
Additionally, since the powertrain’s regenerative braking helps brake pads live longer, you might be able to run longer between oil changes. In theory, the electric motor system should also help protect the old gasoline-burner.
The Prius II (or Prius Two as it is now known for 2011) has an MSRP of $22,800 and a market price of $21,666, according to the ownership-costs specialists at Vincentric. The Prius will only cost $1,406 in repairs and $1,868 in upkeep over the course of five years. A tiny compact automobile typically requires $2,304 in maintenance and $1,557 in repairs. Considering that the average cost of maintaining and repairing a car is about $2,600, the Prius is unquestionably more inexpensive.
Vincentric discovered that over the course of five years, despite the fact that insurance and repairs are plainly less expensive for hybrids, you still end up paying more for one. A 2010 Toyota Prius will cost $3,227 more to buy than a 2010 Toyota Corolla. The average price premium for a hybrid was $8,298 while the average fuel-cost savings was $2,364 over five years with the vehicle driven 15,000 miles annually. This includes the $2,364 difference in fuel costs.
Therefore, purchasing a hybrid, like the 2011 Toyota Prius, is still the environmentally friendly course of action…but not always the most economical. Hybrids may be cheaper to fill up and, shockingly, less expensive to maintain and repair as well.