So I've tried out Power Mode a few times, and other than revving the engine higher at part throttle (like holding lower gears longer), I'm not sure it does much. Definitely can't feel a difference at full throttle. The Manual just says to use it to "drive more powerfully or in mountainous areas" - huh?

So, does it do anything like apply more electric motor torque, or maintain electric assist longer (drain the battery more for short spurts), cut off AC, less lean fuel mapping, etc - anything that would actually improve 0-60 time at the expense of mpg or emissions or whatever?

 

On my Prius the PWR mode seems to decrease the effort on the accelerator with the net affect of better pick-up. My wife repeatedly gets 54+ mpg with PWR mode on 90+% of the time. On the HS the perception of better off-the-line power with the PWR setting is less noticeable so I usually don't use it.

 

I find that Power Mode gave me faster pick up and less effort to depress the accelerator pedal. I did notice a slight decrease in gas mileage.

 

So what I'm hearing is it just changes the spring rate on the accelerator pedal? The effect is all psychological?

FWIW, I find the HS to be very drivable in "Normal" mode. At least up to 8/10's - that last bit of accelerator seems to bring more noise than thrust. As long as I keep the engine rpm below maybe 3000 (hard to tell), the car keeps composed IMO. It seems there's a point where it goes from sedate to "screaming engine", without a smooth ramp-up in rpm. Or maybe I'm still learning how to drive a CVT.

 

Consider using it for getting on a highway when someone's right on your arce .

 

Power mode switches it to gas engine only.

 

Um, maybe it does for taking off from a stop but not all the time. My wife uses power mode exclusively in her Prius and the electric motor takes over from the i.c.e. as it is supposed to. Moreover, she gets stellar gas mileage, averaging about 53-54 mpg.

 

Try PWR MODE and put the drive selector in "B". You will get the most responsive throttle feel/accelleration in this manner.