BMW Diesel Beats Prius in Economy Run

[Quicksilver]

Is this a case of man bites dog?

http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache...&client=safari

A mid-size BMW sedan equipped with a diesel engine returned better fuel economy on a 545-mile, London-to-Geneva, run than a gasoline-powered Toyota Prius. A BMW 520d with a 2.0-liter diesel engine and regenerative braking (but no heavy duty hybrid features) got 41.9 mpg while the full-hybrid Prius, 500 pounds lighter, got 40.1 mpg.

Two writers for the Sunday Times (London) wondered if official mpg ratings were accurate after hearing from their readers who said the Prius ratings were high by 15 (U.K.) mpg. "If our readers are right and the official figure is wrong it has important implications, not least of which is that people driving frugal diesels are getting a raw deal," the paper said, since hybrids get some tax and roadway access benefits in Europe as they do in the U.S. To find out, they drove BMW's midsize 5 Series sedan and the Prius London-to-Geneva, adding 100 miles to the route "to give the Prius the advantage of running in urban conditions where its petrol-electric drivetrain comes into its own."

[B-Line]

QS,

I believe hybrids do better in city traffic then they do on highway drives. Something about when the engine shifts between electric and fossil.

Point is, I'm sure we can find many tests, in a bubble, that will result in diesels having better gas mileage..

[Quicksilver]

Perhaps but it's no secret that the Prius isn't all it's cracked up to be in the MPG arena. (Remember the uproar not to long ago?) So this test has it's merits outside of the bubble so to speak.

In this test the Prius ran out of gas near the finish while the 520d had a third of a tank in reserve.

[mrkbbd]

it would be nice to get a a 3/535d here in the states, something to compete with MB bluetech

[FSETH]

The hybrids are out of their element on the highway. City is their specialty. I would much rather have the Bimmer.

By the way, BMW 520d beats Prius in MPGs ( 1 2)

[rickp]

I don't know the price of diesel in the UK, but if this test were done in the US. The Prius would win in overall cost of trip if both mileage figures were about the same. Let me explain my (elementary) rationale.

87 octane petrol is less expensive than Diesel (at least where I live) with prices running $3.54 and $4.29 respectively. On a 500 mile trip that would be roughly about 10 gallons. The BMW would use about $43 (500/50*4.29) in diesel and the Prius would use $35 (500/50*3.54).

Personally, I would rather pay the extra money and drive the BMW but if economics were into play the Prius wins. It's cheaper to buy and diesel is now priced more than premium unleaded these days (It used to the cheapest). This simple fact may steal the_benefits_of_diesel thunder.

The originial article is here http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol...cle3552994.ece

[E61Silver]

Hybrids, advantage is city driving, not highway a strait gas engine can do better than a hybrid on the highway.

[Quicksilver]

Prove it!!!

Originally Posted by x54.4blue

Hybrids, advantage is city driving, not highway a strait gas engine can do better than a hybrid on the highway.

[E61Silver]

Prove what?

1) The Hybrid is made to regenerate energy when stopping.

2) On the highway you tend not to use your brakes therefore the benefit of Hybrid is gone.

[Quicksilver]

Prove your claim that "a strait gas engine can do better than a hybrid on the highway"
Which hybrid. Provide some data rather than a general statement.