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Toyota Prius Snow Driving

prius-snow.JPGTomorrow is the first official day of winter but somebody forget to tell Mother Nature. Here in the Midwest, we’ve already seen over 17 inches of snow. That is more than half of our average annual snowfall (32″ where I live) and it seems we are just getting started. For the past few years, I’ve owned several different all-wheel drive sport utility vehicles during the winter driving season, but with the purchase of a 2010 Toyota Prius this past summer - I’m now getting used to driving a front-wheel drive car again.

Many of you who live on the East Coast are also relearning how to drive on snow and ice. With this weekend’s snowstorm dumping 10 to 20 plus inches in Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and surrounding states - road conditions are poor at best. And with well over a million Toyota Prius on U.S. roadways, I have lots of company sharing my hybrid driving experience.

I’ll admit that I debated even buying a new Prius because I wasn’t sure how it would handle the snowy roads, but it had nothing to do with it being a hybrid-electric vehicle. My concern was mainly about moving from a 4 wheel drive truck with 10″ of ground clearance to a 2 wheel drive car with about 5″. Right before the blizzard hit, I decided to do a few online searches to see what others were saying. That’s when I discovered there is a lot of debate surrounding how the Prius does in snow and in cold weather driving.

On sites like PriusChat.com and GreenHybrid.com, most of the negative comments center around poor traction from the Prius’ stock (factory OEM) tires, a big drop in fuel economy, and issues with the traction control reportedly causing the Prius to stop on slippery hills. Comments are all over the board, ranging from those who claim the Prius is one of the best FWD small cars they have driven in snow to those who say it’s nearly useless. The majority of people commenting on these forums own a second generation Prius (2004-2009 model years) but my guess is the ride is similar in the 2010 Prius 3.

Although I have less than 2 weeks of experience driving my Prius in the snow, I’ve been impressed with how well it’s done so far. I don’t see any major traction issues yet, but I haven’t had to climb any large hills either. Most of my winter driving with the Prius has been in town as well. What I have noticed more than anything is the big change in gas mileage. For the first 10,000 miles I averaged 50 m.p.g. in my 3rd generation Prius. Driving on snow and in temperatures ranging from zero to 32 degrees (Fahrenheit), I am averaging only 37 miles per gallon. Again, some of that has to do with the fact that I haven’t been on the highway during this time, but it is still about 10 mpg less than what I got during the summer and fall. From what I’ve read, a 20% drop in fuel economy is normal for most cars under these driving conditions.

If you own a Prius, we’d love to hear how yours handles in the snow!

By Jeff Carey

There Are 15 Responses So Far. »

  1. I went from an AWD Subaru to the Prius and winter driving was a concern. I had my Prius less than a month when we got dumped on for snow in the Northeast. I have never owned a FWD car before (only AWD and RWD). It pulled along better than I feared but in this case, I do miss the AWD.

    One thing I am concerned about is the brakes. I found that it felt like it the brakes went out when trying to stop. At first I thought that it was because I was on snow and was overdriving the car. Since then I have found that I could duplicate the braking issue in any weather condition. I do intend to bring it up with my dealer and possibly corporate Toyota. I hope this isn’t how the brakes are supposed to react!

  2. We have a 07 Prius and we live in the U.P. of Michigan where we get 300 inches of snow a year. When I put snow tires on the Prius it handled extremely well on snow and ice. The only problem was the wheel well fill with snow and have to be cleaned out repeatedly during the winter. On the original tires the Prius was a little shaky on snow and ice. With snow tires, I have no problem. It handles great. We love the Prius. 50 mpg in summer and 39 mpg in winter. We have over 80,000 miles on the car and have not had a problem. We rotate the tires with each oil change. It works for us.

  3. I have a 2010 Prius and live in northwest suburbs of Illinois. Over the summer I was getting 59.8 miles to the gallon now that it has gotten colder I’m only getting arround 50 mpg. This weekend I drove up to northern Wisconsin and only got 40.7, I love the car but am disappointed in the lower gas milage in cold weather. Seemed to drive ok in the light snow and snow packed roads in town in wi. I only have 3800 miles on the car so far but I do love how the car handles on the road.

  4. We’ve had a Prius in UK for 5 years. Last year we had quite a bit of snow and I took it out in very slippery conditions. I have never driven a worse vehicle! I managed to get it out of the drive but before it cleared the gatepost it decided “computer says no!”. No traction. Not forwards. Not backwards. Not anywhere. I took an age to push the stupid car back in and there it stayed. We have more snow now and I can’t even consider using it, so we’re marooned miles from anywhere. And before you ask, my wife is an ex-rancher from Colorado - if anyone knows how to drive in snow, she does! Of the going’s tpugh - get a land rover!

  5. […] automobile and car. 2010 Toyota Prius Driving In Snow | Winter Driving & Handling Tomorrow is a initial central day of winter though somebody forget to tell Mother Nature. Here in a […]

  6. Driving in the city in winter has been no different for us with our 2009 Prius vs. our 2000 Camry. I do note the change in mileage. I can handle that, but I’m very dissatisfied with the lack of heat in the car’s cabin in near-zero temperatures. Two pairs of warm socks and a pair of heavy winter boots and a 30-40 minute drive to work with no heat almost made me trade in the car when it was a year old. The only thing that kept the Prius in our family was my husband’s offer to trade cars in the winter.

  7. I’ve a 2008 Prius and love everything about it except for its handling. I don’t feel safe in it and in the snow it’s unreliable. In mid Michigan in the last 2 years we have not had much snow to give me trouble but I slip & slide easily on a wet, slippery road; this is in comparison to my CRV or my many previous Camrys. This can be also when it just a rainy day.

    I experience a skip to the left (the whole car literally jumps to left) as I turn right into the driveway at work which has a bit of a pothole; and this is at a very slow speed, maybe 7 mph on dry or wet pavement.

    Where there are grooves in the road I feel a strong pull at the tires and have to manage it in steering. That doesn’t seem right.

    At higher speeds on the highway the car runs well but I don’t feel it’s a predictable ride. I do not understand the comment made above about tires but would make an adjustment to get safer ride. Otherwise I think I may have to give up it up, I really do love this car.

  8. I have a 2009 Prius and I need to get snow tires or chains. Up in Vermont for the week and had to get pushed up a hill this morning in the fresh snow, not that deep.

    Has anyone used chains?
    With snow tires are two enough, or do I need four?

  9. I’ve owned my 2010 Prius for one year. I got as high as 60.8mpg in the summer, but was sorely disappointed to see its fuel economy drop to 38mpg in the cold weather.

    I’m attributing the loss in fuel economy to the fact that the gas engine MUST run to provide the heat for the cabin interior. The heat is obtained from the hot exhaust etc.

    I’ve noted that during the summer when I’ve stopped for a red light, both engines turn off, providing the gear shift is in D. However in the winter the gasoline engine continues to run, but if I turn the heater off the gas engine will also turn off.

    In fact if I don’t use my heater at all my mpg improves. But I continue to use my heater, however as another owner reported the heat for the cabin is not as warm as I’d like it to be even when the thermostat is set to MAX.

    I’d like to hear from others regarding these issues.

  10. I got my 2009 Prius for the fuel economy. I am now paying the price in winter driving. The poor little car does not go up my driveway which is a pain. I love the vehicle, too. Why doesn’t Toyota make the RAV4 in hybrid? That would solve the problem. I do love my car, though. It’s cute, and awesome on fuel.

  11. I am also thinking maybe snow tires will help my traction issues. I notice that the stock tires get “coated” with snow many times and I believe that negatively affects traction in snow. It doesn’t take much snow to make for a slippery ride.

    As to reduced gas mileage, a few have mentioned that to heat the cabin, it requires engine heat with takes gas. I completely agree, but would also point out that at least for me, when my tires start to loose their grip do I take my foot off the gas pedal? No, I slam that gas pedal down to try to get the tires to a point of traction faster. Usually some other car is headed for me and I don’t want to get t-boned. I am sure this activity has a huge impact on my mileage.

    I realize the mileage would be poorer, but I would welcome the idea of an AWD Prius, in case anyone at Toyota is listening. But in the interim, I will be considering snow tires as a quick fix.

  12. I purchased Prius 2010 in the end of 2009, living in the New England. Last year I did not much drive Prius in the snow. But well, this year LOTS OF OPPORTUNITY!!! My feeling is that ABS of this car (at least mine) does not seem to work well. The interval between unlocking and locking wheels are TOO LONG comparing any can that I have driven in the past. So that I have to pump the break pedal lots of times like I’m driving a car which does not have ABS.
    I’m intending to bring this issue to dealer in this winter and see what they can do.

  13. We have Toyota Prius 2010 model living in the New England in US.
    Well we have LOTS OPPORTUNITY!! to drive this car in the snow this winter.
    My feeling is that ABS of this care (at least) does not work well because the interval between locking and unlocking wheels is TOO LONG!! So that I have to pump the break pedal lots of times like I’m driving a can that does not have ABS.
    I’m intending to bring this issue to the dealer in this winter see what they can do.

  14. 2010 Prius II in Anchorage, Alaska. 50mpg in the summer and about 39 mpg in the winter, with temps on average around 15-20F. Also have pretty heavy duty snow tires with studs. Traction is excellent. Live on a hill and no problems at all. Very, very happy with the car. Buy another in a heartbeat (stereo in II is rubbish though).

  15. This is the end of my second winter with my Prius 2010 III. With 4 winter tires, the car is a tank, and i live in Quebec city ( near noth pole for those of you don’t know where it is). The fuel economy is not as important than summer, but this is a challenge for company how built hybrid cars right now. The control is very clean, you can push down the accelarator in a turn on snowy road and the yellow light take care of getting you in the right way…belive me, i know winter and even with a lite gas economy drop (by the way, every subaru guy out there are consuming twice the gas than summer..).

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