I own a 2013 Toyota Prius. I wonder about the 3 settings on the transmission - Normal, Eco and sport. Does putting the transmission on Eco put more strain on the CVT – like lugging a traditional transmission? I’m less worried about Sport since that just seems to lower the gear ratios like down shifting. So am I hurting the car at all in Eco mode?
No ………………
Eco mode won’t hurt the transmission any more than the sport mode will. Might help you get a couple more mpg but the 2010 in the family does just fine without the eco button.
Sport gives you better throttle response, particularly for steep hills but doesn’t really change the mileage. At least in our experience over the last 9+ yrs