Toyota Prius breaks world fuel economy record with 93.2 MPG

Wayne Gerdes traveled more than 1,000 miles on a tank of gas during his trip from Los Angeles to New York.

The new Toyota Prius LE breaks the Guinness World Record for the lowest fuel consumption from coast to coast in the United States, averaging an astonishing 93.158 MPG (2.5 L/100 km). Who needs an electric car with a battery pack when you can have a hybrid this efficient?

Wayne Geddes’s journey covered 3,211.7 miles (5,168.7 km) from Los Angeles City Hall to New York City Hall. To cross the United States, he drove to altitudes of 7,000 feet (2,100 meters) and through areas such as the Mojave Desert, where temperatures soared to 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).

Read: 55,000 Toyota Prius models in the U.S. have rear doors that can be opened while driving

Toyota is keen to point out that the fuel efficiency figures achieved are not typical, as the Prius has an EPA-estimated combined fuel economy of 57 MPG. However, Gerdes does have a few tips that can help the average driver improve fuel efficiency.

For example, supercar experts recommend starting slowly from a stop and applying the accelerator pedal evenly. It’s also important to release the accelerator early when approaching a stop, to use the car’s momentum as much as possible.

“For a record attempt like this, there’s a lot of planning that goes into it,” he added. “You can’t just go do it without looking in front of you. You have to have a plan. But you also have to be able to improvise. So if circumstances change, you have to change your plan. Re-route. Figure out what you’re going to be able to do to make this happen.”

There’s no mention of how much gas Gerdes used during his trip, or how much he spent to fill up his Prius. However, we do know that the Prius’s gas tank holds 11.3 gallons, which means he was able to get just under 1,052 miles (1,693 km) on a tank of gas, a pretty impressive number considering Toyota’s claimed range of 644 miles (1,036 km).

Michael Tripp, group vice president of Toyota Motor Marketing, added: “The Prius has impressed us over the past 23 years, and frankly, it continues to amaze us today. To us, the top MPG world record is just one more piece of evidence that the Prius truly is an engineering marvel.”