I think I understand the original question a little better. My car has on a few occasions seemingly held an upshift longer than I think it should. Each time is with a cold engine. Guess it's probably a normal thing, as long as it goes away after warm up.

Geoff

 

2000 rpm sounds well within normal gentle driving for a car with multiple gears. The Niro has really stepped gears in the transmission so the engine actually does need to rev up as it goes through each gear. The Prius has a fancy electric motor planetary gear set that basically acts like a CVT so as long as your gentle with it the engine will just sit in the minimum effort/maximum efficiency range all day.

Overall this is a really interesting take to me because I see so many references to people complaining about the engine not revving up and down when they drive cars with CVTs. Essentially, you’re the inverse of that; a driver accustomed to a buttery smooth CVT/EV experience who’s concerned with excessive revving from a traditional transmission.

 

You only see the RPM when the regular engine is running. This is normal for an engine when starting out from a stop. I don't know the Prius system, other than it's different, but gas engines all work the same.

Geoff

 

You only see the RPM when the regular engine is running. This is normal for an engine when starting out from a stop. I don't know the Prius system, other than it's different, but gas engines all work the same.

Geoff

Thanks for your response. I’ve never had any engine rev so high unless I stomp on the gas pedal. Just easing away from a stop, I’ve never seen that. It just doesn’t seem right. I know we likely just have to accept that feature,

 

I have a 2016 Honda HR-V with a CVT. Before buying the HR-V, I did a test drive of a Honda Fit, which changed from a traditional automatic transmission to a CVT. I hated it. I am not a fan on CVT transmissions.

 

I've found this is most noticeable when the engine is cold and the hybrid battery is low. In those situations, I've observed that the transmission will hold onto lower gears longer which raises the rpm of the ICE. I assume this is to a)get the engine to its optimum operating temperature as soon as possible and/or b)charge the hybrid battery to get it into its preferred operating range.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of this because I have uphill climbs on every road within a mile of my house and the engine will end up revving over 3000 rpm no matter how easy I am on the throttle and I believe in the old racer's standby that revving your engine over 3000 rpm before its reaches operating temperature is bad juju. I will use the gear shifter to manually command an upshift to a higher gear in some instances. Which likely annoys the hybrid control system computer but I have sympathy for my wear surfaces in the engine.

 

Thanks for your response. I’ve never had any engine rev so high unless I stomp on the gas pedal. Just easing away from a stop, I’ve never seen that. It just doesn’t seem right. I know we likely just have to accept that feature,

 

Most engines idle at around 1000-1500 RPM. On flat ground, I often drive a mile or more on battery before the engine kicks in. 2023 Niro HEV. All it takes is a gentle foot on the accelerator.

Update: I just got back from a short trip with my 2016 Honda HR-V. At the start, before the engine was fully warmed up, after coming to a full stop on a level road, the engine went to 2000 RPM as soon as it started moving, and stayed there until the car reached the 45 mph speed limit, then dropped to about 1500 rpm, as would be expected with a CVT.

Two miles down the road, engine speed went up to 3000 rpm to maintain the same speed while climbing a grade. On the return trip, with a warm engine, it started at 1500 rpm after a full stop, but quickly rose to 2000 rpm, as it had on the outbound trip. Gentle acceleration at both ends of the trip.

 

I also felt that the RPM were too high especially on a morning when the engine is cold. Driving between 20-30 MPH I can get nearly 3000 RPM after the initial electric drive.
I spoke with the dealer and went out on test drives with them. When warm the RPM is around 2000 RPM, which I find acceptable. The dealer also told me that it is normal when the engine is cold.