Toyota Prius Review
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Out of the gate there were waiting lists and positive raves for the latest generation of Prius, and not a lot has changed since it first went on sale in late 2003: it's still in high demand and commands a premium even though Toyota has doubled production capacity since the launch. Especially with oil shortages and high gas prices, consumers are eyeing alternatives like hybrids more than ever, and the Prius is the clear king of the hybrid class. Since the outset, many reviewers have favored the Prius's hybrid technology over that of Honda's, since the two motors can work independently or together in the Toyota (due to the advanced technology of the Hybrid Synergy Drive), as opposed to in the Honda technology wherein both motors always run in parallel. Moreover, the Prius's sleek, aerodynamic form, while offputting to some, has a certain aesthetic appeal that has drawn in enthusiasts from across the spectrum.
See also the main fact sheet for the 2006 Toyota Prius and Prius Mileage Tips.
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High Points
- Fuel economy
- Safety ratings
- Relatively low base price
Low Points
- Actual fuel mileage somewhat less that EPA figures
- Anaemic performance
Performance and Handling
While performance is much better than the previous generation of Prius, performance isn't anything remotely 'sporty'. It ranks 3rd in performance in the compact class on Autos.com (albeit in a many-way tie). The Prius does ride smoothly though and handles well at low speeds.
Driving the prius can be both annoying and pleasant. Pressing the accelerator pedal to the floorboard from a dead stop produces a pleasant surprise. Doing the same on the highway will just induce a big sigh. The Prius launches without hesitation thanks to the electric motor's 295 pound-feet of torque from almost a dead standstill. Accelerating onto freeways isn't much of a fuss, but things go downhill quickly from there, as speed builds. Frequent highway travellers should look elsewhere. A top speed of around 100 miles per hour, takes what seems to be an eternity to get there. Speeding requires horsepower in addition to torque, and the prius doesn't have much of the former. As the Prius approaches normal freeway speeds, it relies increasingly on its gasoline engine. Toyota says the Prius can accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 10 seconds. The gasoline engine is supplemented by an electric motor which, together, Toyota calls Hybrid Synergy Drive™. Hybrid yes, 'synergistic' no. Not according to the definition of the word, anyway.
Toyota claims the Prius produces only one-tenth as much pollution as the average new car. By complementing the gasoline engine's horsepower with the electric motor's torque, the Prius makes better use of the energy stored in each gallon of gasoline, while leaving fewer nasty chemical compounds in its wake. The electric motor, which begins cranking out its maximum torque virtually the moment it starts spinning, gets the car moving and helps it accelerate while it's underway. The gasoline engine steps to the fore at more constant speeds, especially during highway driving, where horsepower is more critical for maintaining a car's momentum.
The hybrid system improves fuel economy further by turning off the gasoline engine when it's not needed, like when you are waiting at a stop light or even when puttering around town at low speeds. Any time the driver's right foot requests more motivation than the electric motor alone can provide, the gasoline engine fires up and joins in.
The transmission is non-traditional, too. Prius uses an electronically controlled, planetary gear transmission that functions much like a continuously variable transmission. This system constantly and automatically selects the most efficient drive ratio to get the car moving and to keep it moving.
Gas Mileage
According to 692 drivers at GreenHybrid, the current generation of Prius averages 47.6 MPG. The official EPA numbers are 51 MPG Highway and 60 MPG in the city. Most people can't achieve the EPA numbers due to the Testing Methodology which doesn't use real world conditions to test fuel economy.
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Trim |
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4-cylinder CVT |
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Engine |
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1.5L DOHC |
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MPG (City/Highway) |
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60/51 |
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Safety
- Driver and front-passenger Advanced Airbag System
- Driver and front-passenger front seat-mounted sideairbags and front to rear side curtain airbags
- Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist
- Traction Control (TRAC)
- Engine immobilizer
- Rear-seat Child Restraint System (CRS) lower anchors and top tether brackets (LATCH)
- 3-point front outboard seatbelts
- Front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters
Optional Equipment
- Direct Tire Pressure Monitor System
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
The 2006 Prius got 4/5 stars accross the board in NHTSA tests. In the "European New Car Assessment Programme" the Prius scored an impressive 5 of 5 stars for Adult safety and a solid 4 of 5 stars in child safety.[1]
Reliability & Maintenance
The latest generation of Prius has two recalls, one for a faulty steering component that was present in 1,000,000 Toyota Vehicles from 2004 to 2006, and one for a rare software glitch that could cause the gas motor to stop functioning. In August 2004, Toyota began a Special Service Campaign (SSC 40G), affecting most previous generation Prius cars manufactured between 2001 and mid-2003. This repair involves re-sealing terminals on the high-voltage battery to avoid minor electrolyte leakage. Repairs will be performed free of charge on affected automobiles. In May 2006, Toyota announced the recall of up to 320,000 Priuses because of a crack which can develop in the steering shaft if the Prius is frequently steered at full lock, or if the front tires strike the curb. The fault can affect Priuses made in 2004 through to November 2005.
Manufacturer's warranty:
Basic: 36 months/36,000 miles (all components other than normal wear and maintenance items).
Hybrid - Related Component Coverage: Hybrid related components, including the HV battery, battery control module, hybrid control module and inverter with converter, are covered for 8 years/100,000 miles. The HV battery may have longer coverage under emissions warranty. Refer to applicable Owner’s Warranty Information booklet for details.
Powertrain: 60 months/60,000 miles (engine, transmission/transaxle, front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, seatbelts and airbags).[2]
Interior and Comforts
The engineers must have very cleverly hidden the battery packs as the car is surprisingly roomy both in the front seat and in the rear. There is generous cargo space in the hatchback trunk, including a hidden compartment. Even at the top end, there are no automatic seat adjustments or seat memory, but the front seats are relatively adjustable. The optional auto-dimming rearview mirror also includes HomeLink® universal garage door opener.
The dashboard and steering wheel layout is very usable, if somewhat clumsily styled. The gauges are set very far ahead, at the base of the windshield which helps your eyes vearing off from looking at what's coming up the road. The downside to the seating position is you cannot see the front edges of the hood, increasing the difficulties of parking. Top spec models have steering wheel controls for the radio and A/C. Since the top spec trim is bluetooth phone compatible, answering and ending calls from the steering wheel is possible as well. The central LCD screen shows a live picture of fuel usage and economy on GPS optioned cars. All models have radio and a/c controls through the touch screen LCD console.
Exterior
While the exterior bodystyling is clearly aerodynamic, the design is far from attractive. The five-door hatchback layout is extremely versatile though, and the flat faced door handles are pleasant enough to use. The sheer amount of window glass on the Prius can tax the air conditioner on hot and sunny days. Passengers will enjoy the views on trips, if they aren't sweating too much. The rear hatchback has a high cutline which hinders the view out of the rearview mirror. The optional rear camera goes a long way towards alleviating the problem.
Styles and Major Options
Standard Equipment on the Toyota Prius
- 1.5L Inline-4 cylinder VVT-i gasoline engine with 76 horsepower and 82 lb-ft of torque
- 650V electric motors with 140 horsepower and 296 lb-ft of torque
- Nickel Metal Hydride Battery Technology pack with a maximum output of 40 horsepower (30 kW)
- Continuously variable transmission (CVT)
- Dual Zone Automatic Climate Control that can run with the engine off
- Electrically assisted rack-and-pinion steering
- Traction Control, Brake Assist
- Split-folding rear seat
- Remote entry
- Push button starting
- Liquid crystal multi-information display panel with energy monitoring, climate control, outside temperature and audio status modes
- Central instrument display with digital speedometer, fuel gauge, shift-lever indicator and odometer with twin tripmeters and warning lights
- Use of wheel spats and underbody pans resulting in a low coefficient of aerodynamic drag (Cd) of 0.26
- AM/FM CD with six speakers S
Package #1 - GY
- Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side curtain airbags
- Front and rear airbags
Package #2 - HE
- AM/FM CD with six speakers
- Auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability
- Smart Key System
- Backup camera
Package #3 - HF
- Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side curtain airbags
- Front and rear airbags
- Auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability
- Smart Key System
- Backup camera
Package #4 - HG
- Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side curtain airbags
- Front and rear airbags
- Auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability
- Smart Key System
- Backup camera
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
Package #5 - HI
- Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side curtain airbags
- Front and rear airbags
- Anti-theft system
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink universal transceiver
- Smart Key System
- Backup camera
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
- JBL AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations
- Auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability
- Hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth
Package #6 - HK
- Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side curtain airbags
- Front and rear airbags
- Anti-theft system
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink universal transceiver
- Smart Key System
- Backup camera
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
- JBL AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations
- Auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability
- Hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth
- High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps
- Integrated fog lamps
Package #7 - NL
- Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side curtain airbags
- Front and rear airbags
- Anti-theft system
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink universal transceiver
- Smart Key System
- Backup camera
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
- JBL AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations
- Auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability
- Hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth
- High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps
- Integrated fog lamps
- Voice-activated DVD navigation system
Package #8 - NW
- Driver and front passenger front seat-mounted side curtain airbags
- Front and rear airbags
- Anti-theft system
- Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink universal transceiver
- Smart Key System
- Backup camera
- Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)
- JBL AM/FM 6-disc in-dash CD changer with nine speakers in seven locations
- Auxiliary audio jack and MP3/WMA playback capability
- Hands-free phone capability via Bluetooth
- High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps
- Integrated fog lamps
- Voice-activated DVD navigation system
- Leather-trimmed seats and steering wheel
Main Competitors
- Honda Accord Hybrid: side-by-side comparison
- Honda Civic Hybrid: side-by-side comparison
- Toyota Camry Hybrid: side-by-side comparison
External Links
WikiCars Contributor Favorites
- Coastal Tech - Custom Prius Accessories
- HyperMiler Driving - How to max your mileage (From Wikipedia)
- wikibooks.com - Prius Driving Tricks (from WikiBooks)
- Fuel Economy - Car comparisons
Toyota Manufacturer Sites
- Toyota Prius - Official US Site
Community Sites
- GreenHybrid - Prius Discussion Board
- PriusChat.com - Enthusiast site and Prius accessories shop
- Hybrid Rental Car - Site that helps people locate places that rent hybrid cars
