The new Toyota Prius, however, gets up to 58 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway*. The figures are excellent, and you can enjoy the ride knowing that you’ll save a ton of fuel on all of your excursions.
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The Toyota Prius uses little gas.
Improve Your Daily Drive. The most fuel-efficient Toyota vehicle is the Prius Prime Plug-In Hybrid, with an estimated 54 city mpg and 133 highway mpg.
How far can a Prius travel on one tank of fuel?
The 2021 Toyota Prius’s all-electric range, according to the EPA, is 25 miles. The first-generation model’s range is more than doubled by this. The 2021 Prius can go 53 miles per gallon on the highway and 58 miles per gallon in the city when using gas. According to this, the 2021 Toyota Prius has a 655.4-mile city driving range and a 598.9-mile highway driving range. You won’t have to stop very often because the hybrid’s 11.3 gallon fuel tank has a large capacity.
What is a Toyota Prius’ actual mpg?
Despite the fact that its trip computer sounded overly optimistic, the 2021 Prius XLE AWD came close to meeting its EPA rating but fell short.
The Prius required 4.611 gallons of gasoline to refuel after traveling 215 miles. That translates to slightly more than 46.6 miles per gallon, which is still a respectable figure but falls short of our target of 49 mpg and, technically, even the vehicle’s lowest highway rating (though you can round 46.6 up to 47). The trip computer, which I had reset prior to the journey, said that the vehicle had logged 51.5 mpg.
The test was conducted in conditions with low to moderate winds and temperatures in the high 30s to low 40s. A significant amount of highway driving along the route, possibly more aggressive acceleration than the EPA utilizes in its testing, as well as higher average speeds, are more likely causes of the lower fuel economy. Illinois roadways frequently have speed restrictions of 70 mph, though many motorists tend to view them as suggestions.
The 2021 Toyota Prius AWD is a fantastic option for consumers who need all-weather traction but still want top fuel efficiency because it achieves over 46 mpg, which is still pretty high compared to other new cars. The Prius won’t do all the work for you; if you want to achieve those EPA ratings, you might need to be more environmentally conscious than I was.
How much petrol does the Prius save?
Many Americans are seeking for methods to drive less, bike more, and use public transportation in light of the climate problem and the wildly fluctuating price of petrol, and Green America members are leading the way. However, unless you reside in a major city with a first-rate mass transit or car-sharing system, owning a car is frequently a requirement.
The most environmentally friendly option is to trade in an older, inefficient car for a far more efficient one if you have the money to do so. A hybrid vehicle that achieves at least 40 miles per gallon is one of the greenest possibilities for those who need to buy a car right away (mpg). Additionally, there are over 30 kinds of pure electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles available, with ranges of up to 315 miles (Tesla Model S).
When gas prices are low, some potential automobile buyers might believe they can’t justify spending up to $5,000 more on a hybrid vehicle than on a comparable conventional one. However, hybrid vehicles actually offer their owners a number of financial savings and additional benefits that go beyond gas station cost savings and can make a hybrid purchase more frugal than purchasing a standard vehicle.
Save Money, Save the Earth
In today’s hybrid vehicles, a battery gives the gas-powered engine an electric boost, resulting in 2035 percent greater gas mileage than standard vehicles. For instance, the 2017 Toyota Prius, which has long been the best mpg for hybrids, averages 50 miles per gallon overall in real-world driving. Of course, products from other manufacturers perform just as well.
By the model year 2025, vehicles and compact trucks will have a fuel economy of 54.5 mpg thanks to a bill that President Obama approved in 2012. Today’s drivers who opt for more fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles are contributing to the achievement of this goal in time to mitigate the worst effects of the climate problem. Additionally, hybrid vehicles produce 29% less nitrogen oxide, a smog-producing gas, at ground level compared to other vehicles. Even if some conventional vehicles can attain “Only hybrid vehicles help preserve cleaner air, and they have hybrid-style mpg.
(Note: The administration agreed in January 2020 to gradually raise standards once more, this time at a pace of 1.5 percent per year, despite President Trump freezing fuel economy standards at their anticipated 2020 level in 2018. However, this is still well below Obama-era standards, making moral consumer decisions even more crucial in the car sector.)
Bryan Palmintier was a fellow at the Rocky Mountain Institute, a think tank that focuses on energy and other resource-related concerns, when he and his wife were seeking to buy a car. He then started to calculate the extent to which some financial advantages of hybrids are not represented in their sticker price. In his highly read blog entry, “In his co-authored book Rethinking the Cost of Hybrid Cars with Noah Buhayar, Palmintier demonstrates why drivers in need of a new vehicle shouldn’t assume they can’t afford a hybrid before carefully considering all of the ways that hybrid cars might save them money.
Many customers get sticker shock when they learn how much a new hybrid costs since “the additional cost won’t pay itself back very quickly on fuel savings alone,” he adds. However, this short study ignores a number of additional economic advantages of hybrids.
Federal Incentives for Hybrid Cars
Owners of brand-new hybrids may be eligible for federal tax credits worth up to $3,400, ranging from $250. The amount of the federal hybrid tax credit that a certain hybrid owner can anticipate receiving varies on a number of variables, including the car’s fuel efficiency and how well-liked a particular model is. The recently passed economic stimulus plan did not prolong or enhance these incentives, and some models have already exceeded their quotas and are no longer eligible for any tax credits. Consult the Internal Revenue Service to determine how much of a tax credit you might be entitled to claim. In addition, starting in 2019, any vehicle with charging capability, including plug-in hybrids, is eligible for a tax credit under the federal Plug-In Electric Vehicle Credit. This credit ranges from $2,500 to $7,500.
State and City Incentives and Perks
Some states and towns provide tax benefits and the ease of being able to drive alone in “HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) highway lanes” as incentives for hybrid drivers. Additionally, many localities grant benefits to hybrid owners, such as free or reduced parking. If you want to know if a new hybrid qualifies you for parking benefits when you’re driving around town, get in touch with the city clerk’s office.
Employer Incentives and Perks
Employers are increasingly pushing their staff to commute in hybrid automobiles. Some progressive businesses, such as My Organic Market, Patagonia, and Clif Barmembers of the Green Business NetworkTMoffer employees up to $5,000 for leasing or buying a hybrid, effectively erasing the price premium. Here is a list of companies that provide hybrid employee benefits.
Faculty and student-owned hybrid vehicles may be eligible for discounted parking at several universities, while some hotels may offer complimentary parking to hybrid drivers. Make sure to inquire about any particular perks offered to hybrid owners from your company, school, and other institutions in your life.
Loan Discounts on Hybrid Cars
Financing a hybrid vehicle can be less expensive than financing a regular vehicle. Loan rates for hybrid vehicles are favourable at many banks, particularly credit unions. For instance, Meriwest Credit Union gives a 0.25 percent rate discount on any auto loan for new or used hybrid vehicles in the Greater Bay Area and Tucson, AZ.
Insurance Discounts
In some jurisdictions, a number of auto insurance companies, including Farmers Insurance Group, Geico, and Travelers, provide hybrid drivers with lower insurance rates. Make careful to find out if purchasing a hybrid may reduce your insurance costs.
Repair Costs and Brakes
According to Consumer Reports, owners of hybrid vehicles shouldn’t anticipate paying any more for maintenance or repairs than owners of conventional vehicles. Typically, hybrid vehicles come with a warranty covering their particular hybrid technology for an additional three years and 36,000 miles (100,000 miles for Toyota hybrids and 80,000 in Honda hybrids, for example). Actually, the technology a hybrid uses to recover energy when braking results in brake pads in hybrid cars lasting three times as long as those in a normal automobile, lowering the frequency of break pad replacement.
Resale Value
Hybrid car owners have been ecstatic to find that their vehicles have retained their value better than non-hybrid counterparts of the same model when it comes time to market a car. Buhayer and Palmintier advise looking for models of the car you’re contemplating in the Kelley Blue Book that are roughly as old as you’d anticipate your car to be when you resell it in order to get a quick idea of the average resale value for a car of the kind you’re considering.
For instance, Palmintier estimated that he would keep a 2008 Prius for three years, therefore he compared its current resale value to that of comparable non-hybrid vehicles. The resale price of the 2005 hybrid was $4,000,600 higher than the resale prices of the two non-hybrid 2005 versions.
Gas Savings
We may expect gas prices to eventually rise again, even if they have temporarily decreased due to the approaching global peak in oil supplies. So throughout the duration of owning and driving a hybrid automobile, the real-dollar value of its superior mileage is probably going to rise.
Benefits Beyond Money
Shira Fischer needed to buy a car when she relocated from a transit-friendly city to start medical school in Worcester, Massachusetts, and she was willing to spend more money to get a hybrid.
According to Fischer, who has subsequently grown to adore her Toyota Prius, “I didn’t want to buy a car.”
But I was aware that I needed one and that I wanted to reduce my impact on the environment.
Fischer has had both material advantages and intangible advantages: “[The price premium] was unquestionably worthwhile when taking into account the number of hours I spend working on it, the tax refund, the gas savings, and how good I feel about it.
“She claims that the best part is how many people stop and inquire about her mileage. Everywhere I go, I feel like an advertisement for environmental causes.
Is a Prius worth the money?
The Toyota Prius is a reliable vehicle, yes. It offers a spacious load hold and outperforms practically all other hybrid vehicles in terms of fuel efficiency. A long number of features and plenty of comfy seating are also present. Its poor driving qualities, though, include slow steering response and subpar acceleration.
Is a Prius expensive to own?
The Toyota Prius consistently receives good ratings from Consumer Reports readers, as shown by its high placement in our annual owner satisfaction poll. People are astounded by more than simply the excellent fuel economy. The Prius has a wide interior with a spacious backseat, plenty of cargo space under its hatchback, and a ton of safety and convenience features. It is obvious that this aerodynamic green machine is more complex than it first appears.
We put up this helpful reference to the essential information regarding the Toyota Prius for any buyer or owner because of this.
For a thorough road test, information on pricing, dependability, owner costs, and more, see the Toyota Prius model page.
It gets great fuel economy
Did you know that in our tests, the Prius has the best fuel efficiency of any car powered by a gasoline engine? 44 mpg overall, 55 mpg on the highway, which is amazing. Yes, we do believe you can perform better.
It’s one of the least expensive cars to own
In addition to saving money on gas, the Prius is also one of the most economical vehicles to buy altogether. The Prius works out to an incredibly economical $0.47 per mile when depreciation, gasoline costs, loan interest, insurance premiums, sales tax, and maintenance and repairs are taken into account. You can see why the Prius is “green” by comparing that figure to the anti-Prius, the BMW 750Li at $1.77 per mile. The Prius is “green” because it not only saves on gas but also money.
The odds are good that it will last a long time
Many owners have logged hundreds of thousands of kilometers thanks to the remarkable long-haul reliability of these vehicles. Even older Priuse models with roughly 200,000 miles on the odometer passed our retests with performance results that were remarkably comparable to those of brand-new models in the initial testing.
You can do some basic maintenance yourself
The Prius contains more high-tech hardware than you may expect, but it is still simpler to repair than you might assume. We even lowered a dealer quotation for a 30,000-mile inspection from $249 to to $85. (Discover how to reduce the expense of car maintenance.)
Want a ‘sportier’ Prius?
Yes, you read correctly: A whole range of TRD accessories, including bigger wheels, springs, and sway bars, are available for purchase from Toyota. A Prius may be be customized to look sexier.
Save your money on the Prius plug-in
Since the Plug-in version only provides roughly 12 miles of all-electric drivingeven on a good daywe advise avoiding it. Furthermore, it raises the cost of a basic Prius by roughly $5,000; Toyota has reduced the price by about $2,000 since its launch. While it lasts, buyers are qualified for a $2,500 federal tax credit to help defray some of that expense. We wouldn’t bite, though.
Just because it says ‘Prius’ on the outside doesn’t mean it’s a winner
Yes, there is a Prius that we dislike: the Prius C, the ordinary Prius’ younger sibling. The C receives a D- grade for acceleration, ride, fit and finish, and mediocre performance in the IIHS small-overlap crash-test despite averaging a very respectable 43 mpg overall in our tests.