[jyl]

On the highway at 65 mph, a gen 2 Prius will do close to 50 mpg real-world. The regenerative braking helps a little, since the engine switches off and the battery charges when the car is coasting and then the battery propels the car at light throttle. Thus the engine is "off" about 1/10th of the time. On all but the most flat, most empty highway, there will be periods of coasting. Up the average speed to 70-75 mph, and the mpg will drop to 45 mpg.

This is based on our 2 drives per year from PDX to SF Bay, loaded up w/ 4 people and luggage. Stick a roof pod and a pair of kayaks on the roof, and mpg drops substantially!

The hybrid part of the car doesn't weigh that much. The battery weighs about 100 lb. The electric motor and regen brakes weigh something. As an offset, the engine is smaller than it would otherwise be. My guesstimate - the hybrid aspect costs maybe net 200 lb in weight.

But, you're right, the hybrid tech works best in town.

Remember, the Prius (and, I think, other hybrids) is quite sensitive to driving style. My wife routinely gets 5 mpg less than I do. She accelerates to every red light, cusses out other cars, etc. She doesn't know what "zen" is, behind the wheel. You'd think she was in a Mustang.