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Toyota Highlander Hybrid MPG-Real World Numbers

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#358 of 417 Cold weather and hybrid Highlander by columg Mar 26, 2008 (10:08 am)
I live in MInnesota. Noted poor mileage performance of hybrid in cold weather. Does the same thing happen to non hybrids? Would I be better off to forego the hybrid for best environmental impact year around? Joe.
#359 of 417 cold weather, bad mileage by marshalljay May 07, 2008 (7:38 am)
columg -   dunno bout you, but all of my vehicles get worse mileage in the winter - I live in Iowa, so have much the same weather as you. My Tundra pickup goes from 17-18 mpg summer to 12-14 mpg in the winter. I'm driving an 06 Highlander Hybrid - well broken in with 55k miles, and while it gets as low as 22 mpg in the winter, now that winter has finally broken, I'm getting astounding mileage.   I have been getting consistent 27-28 mpg tankfulls; but now that gas prices have become ridiculous, I have started driving slower on trips. That has paid a huge premium; just by slowing to 65 for my Interstate driving, I've noticed that the battery is operating a lot more; I'm also seeing concrete results at the pump - last fill got me 31 (!) mpg. Subsequent refill still came in at 28 - so probably a valid reading.   Slow down a touch, and these hybrids are great - the electric motor just doesn't have enough power to deal with the wind resistance at high speeds, and consequently, mileage suffers. Replies to this message: tourguide (May 21, 2008 3:47 pm) cdptrap (May 21, 2008 9:38 pm) stevedebi (May 23, 2008 11:32 am) monte8 (May 25, 2008 5:25 pm) tourguide (May 25, 2008 8:03 pm)
#360 of 417 Cold weather gas milage by monte8 May 07, 2008 (12:04 pm)
All cars suffer from this problem.   I live in NE North Dakota. Much colder than Anchorage, AK (I lived there for 3.5 years), but warmer than Barrow, AK (3 years there).   My prior car was a 1998 Ford Contour w/2.5L V6. My gas milage dropped about 35% in the coldest part of the winter with the Contour. I saw a similar drop with my '08 HH. Installing a block heater helps a lot. But when it drops to -32 F, it takes time for the engine to warm up to efficient operating temperatures. BTW, I do not let my car sit and run to warm up, except for extreme cold weather (fogged/iced windows are dangerous), so I do not waste gas that way.
#361 of 417 Re: 2008 real-world numbers? [toyohh08] by t_mooney May 10, 2008 (12:14 pm)
Replying to: toyohh08 (Mar 17, 2008 2:23 pm) My 2007 gets about 25 mpg overall. The limiting factor is that I commute 5 miles each way to work everyday and mileage for the first 6-8 minutes is poor because it's warming up and the gas engine stays on. I did a "Sunday drive" of about 100 miles once, keeping not higher than 50 mph and really working at top mileage and got 32 mpg according to the computer, which usually is not optimistic by much. I would call that an upper limit and maybe a little unrealistic to expect under any real conditions. But when you're on 50-55 mph speed limit roads and you obey the limits and drive carefully, 27-28 seems repeatably doable. I can't stand to drive my non-hybrid anymore.
#362 of 417 2006 Toyota HH 2 FWD mileage - Scangauge II by sebemismnusa May 16, 2008 (1:07 pm)
There are mileages numbers on a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid front wheel drive, as measured by a Scangauge II , calibrated as best I can (enter in actual gas used during fillups). Almost constant driving one person and luggage, from Minneapolis, MN to Oshkosh, WI 30 MPG Summer 27.5 MPG Add a second person and more luggage Going speed limit on major roads   Mixed driving (city/highway)  23 to 25 MPG Driving in Minnesotan winters drops to, sometimes slightly higher 25 to 30 MPG Driving in "warmer" months - (closer to 30 MPG if I can "drive for mileage)   Driving habits: I monitor the air pressure in the tires; the Scangauge II is in gauge mode most of the time (watch engine RPMs, throttle position, engine load, and timing). Highest even seen - 32 MPG in mixed city/highway   To get these numbers, I need to drive, watching ahead for stoplights, slowing down before. Unlike other cars, I gently "ride" the brake, which initially kicks in the re-generative braking. I tend to gradually accelerate, except for unusual traffic conditions. Kicking in the turbo mode of the HH dramatically reduces gas mileage, although useful when merging into heavy highway traffic. Out, Scott
#363 of 417 worsening gas milage by rgauzenne May 19, 2008 (12:26 pm)
I have had my 2008 highlander hybrid for almost 4 weeks now. (No Nav system or moon roof but has 3rd row seats) First week I got 27mpg city and 26mpg highwy. Next week I got 25/city and 23/highway. Now I am only getting 21-22mpg in the city with warm weather and slow accelerations. Anyone else knows what is going on here? The Toyota mechanic doesn't
#364 of 417 Re: cold weather, bad mileage [marshalljay] by tourguide May 21, 2008 (3:47 pm)
Replying to: marshalljay (May 07, 2008 7:38 am) Slow down a touch, and these hybrids are great - the electric motor just doesn't have enough power to deal with the wind resistance at high speeds,   This would be incorrect. The hybrid system on the HH only operates at speeds up to about 40-45 mph. After that it is all ICE.   The phenomenon you are describing here applies to ALL vehicles, we are just too impatient to actually GO SLOWER. EVERYONE would see a benefit from doing this. Replies to this message: cdptrap (May 21, 2008 9:38 pm) stevedebi (May 23, 2008 11:32 am) monte8 (May 25, 2008 5:25 pm) tourguide (May 25, 2008 8:03 pm)
#365 of 417 Re: cold weather, bad mileage [tourguide] by cdptrap May 21, 2008 (9:38 pm)
Replying to: tourguide (May 21, 2008 3:47 pm) This would be incorrect. The hybrid system on the HH only operates at speeds up to about 40-45 mph. After that it is all ICE.   The above statement is also incorrect . The ICE can kick in at any time, from 0-mph to blast-off and the batteries can kick in at any time from 0-mph to blast-off.   On flat ground, it is possible to go from 0 to 40 MPH on electric-only. If there is enough charge and the ground remains flat, I can maintain 40-MPH for a very long spell. A good stiff tail-wind helps.   On downhill runs, the battery can go even further depending on desired speed. On steeper downgrade, even on freeways, the battery can provide all the power to maintain 65-MPH or 70-MPH (on really steep grade) while the ICE just idles. We see this all the time driving I-5 in Northern CA. The car is cruising downhill at 65-MPH and the ICE is madly charging the battery or the battery kicks in to give some power to maintain downhill speed. By the end of a run, the battery is all green (full 8 bars).   On a climb, the ICE kicks in and the battery will also kick in to boost power. The battery provides instant torque in such cases and the car just rockets up a grade like it is a V8.   The ICE and battery pack work together through all speed ranges. There is NO "cut off" where the ICE takes over completely without the battery pack. At least I have never seen it on our '06 HH.   Just want to clarify.
#366 of 417 Re: cold weather, bad mileage [tourguide] by stevedebi May 23, 2008 (11:32 am)
Replying to: tourguide (May 21, 2008 3:47 pm) "This would be incorrect. The hybrid system on the HH only operates at speeds up to about 40-45 mph. After that it is all ICE. "   No, I'm afraid YOUR statement would be incorrect. I own the FEH, which is similar in drivetrain design to the HH. The electric motors can provide boost at all speeds; the only imitation is the state of charge in the battery.   The design requires that the engine operate above 40 MPH, but this actually means only that the engine has to spin, not that it has to consume fuel. I think that on a downgrade with a full battery of vehicle will use the drag of spinning the ICE to bleed off excess electricity from the generator. At least, this is my understanding.
#367 of 417 2006 HH AWD base by peralta May 23, 2008 (3:56 pm)
Now 23k on the odo. 33 miles to work 95% highway. Average 28-30 mpg per tank. Some of my short local drives can be as high as 50 mpg. I tried many techniques. Cruise control at 57 mph gives good mpg but slow travel overall. Or I drive like a roller coaster, accelerate on the downhill and let it slow down on its own at the incline. I get the same mpg but the second technique is faster and more fun. Most of the time, I combine them, using cruise control on downhill once the speed is about 75 mph.

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