When they first released their hybrid efficient Prius, back in 2004, Toyota
were really ahead of the pack. The Prius has been one of the best gas mileage
cars on the market ever since. When it first came to market the majority
of people had no idea how a hybrid car even worked. Other car manufacturers
were amazed at the technology that was packed into the Prius. This car was
the hybrid trailblazer and it would be some time before it would have competition
from other hybrids. Toyota still lead the pack in hybrid efficient cars
and their latest rework, the 2010 Prius has lots of new high tech features
and options as well as offering the best gas mileage for a Prius yet.
The Prius was first released with a 1.5 litre 4 cylinder gas engine but
many customers were unhappy with the slowish acceleration. The latest Prius
has a larger 1.8 litre gas engine producing 73kW in combination with a 60kW
electric motor. The car is still sluggish from a standing start because
only the electric motor is used at slow speeds, but when the gas engine
kicks in at about 25 mph acceleration is comparable to other family saloons.
Slightly bizarrely the new 1.8 litre engine returns better gas mileage than
the old 1.5 litre unit. This is definitely in part because the more powerful
engine doesn't need to work as hard. The hybrid engine is paired with a
continuously variable automatic transmission which works to keep the gas
engine in a narrow rev band thats best suited for maximum fuel efficiency.
The Prius is the best gas mileage family car on the market. It has amazing
fuel economy - 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway. Only tiny cars
with very small engines can beat these figures. This is one efficient car
that you can be confident will return the kind of gas mileage advertised
without having to press the gas pedal with a feather. The 2009 model Prius
had slightly worse fuel efficiency at 48 mpg for the city and 45 mpg on
the highway. Tailpipe emissions for the Prius are similarly best in class
- only 89 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
The Prius suspension is very soft and as a result there is quite significant
cornering lean. In a straight line the ride is great, but the suspension
does need stiffening up for the corners. The steering feels fine but you
have to go easy on the skinny tires (the narrow tires help gas mileage)
because there's not heaps of grip. The Prius has a tight turning circle
- great for narrow city streets. The brakes on the Prius are good but very
sensitive and need some getting used to. Toyota's hybrid is not a bad car
to drive but neither will it blow you away.
The unique looks of the Prius haven't changed very much since it was first
released and after six years it needs a major facelift. When the car was
initially unveiled, being one of the
best gas mileage cars
and having cutting edge technology, its futuristic looks suited it. But
a lot seems to have changed in six years because now it looks slightly dull
and conservative - not a good image for Toyota. The design of the Prius
is highly aerodynamic so styling changes would have to match these properties,
but there must be other attractive shapes that give such low drag. I think
Toyota need to work hard in this area before competitors get too far ahead.
Huge windows provide excellent visibility from inside the Prius. Passenger
space is great and 5 adults can comfortably be seated with good head and
leg room. Space for cargo is also good for a medium sized car so the Prius
should be very practical for most families. Base Prius models are priced
quite cheaply considering the expensive hybrid technology and batteries
on board. The luxury Prius models are considerably more expensive and some
of the interior plastic starts to look a bit cheap at that price.
The Prius is a very safe high gas mileage car. It comes with front, side
and curtain airbags, anti lock brakes and stability control as an option.
Results from crash tests are good with four and five star ratings achieved.
The optional Advanced Technology Package has several further safety features
which are at the forefront of safety technology. Radar cruise control automatically
brakes should the car in front slow down, then resumes the desired cruising
speed when its safe to do so. A pre-collision system tightens seatbelts
and applies the brakes if it detects an imminent collision. Automatic lane
keeping stops the Prius from wandering out of its lane on the freeway.
Toyota's hybrid Prius reinforces its position as a technology leader with
generous standard equipment and interesting optional features. The latest
version of these best gas mileage cars has a push button start system, 6
speaker MP3 CD, cruise control, multi information display, and numerous
steering wheel buttons for hands free operation. Options include voice activated
GPS, a solar powered ventilation system, seat heaters, parallel parking
assist and rear reverse camera. The solar ventilation is an interesting
new feature. A solar panel on the roof provides power for a fan to suck
hot air out of the car when parked.
The Prius very definitely still leads the way in hybrid cars. It has the
best gas mileage of any car of its size and Toyota are increasingly doing
more to produce the car in a more sustainable way. Besides being environmentally
friendly, the Prius has cool high tech features. The new safety package
of the 2010 model which includes radar cruise control, automatic lane keeping
and collision avoidance system is great. The car has minor problems with
the way it drives but overall performs well on the road. The biggest issue
is a subjective one and that is the cars styling, which for me looks boring
and needs updating. The Prius is an amazing hybrid car that keeps getting
better and is right at the top with the best gas mileage cars.