Toyota Prius
A hint of what's to come or a folly on the road to greener motoring? Robert Farago tests the Petro-Electric Hybrid.
The Toyota Prius is a technological tour-de-force. At low speeds, its 28hp nickel metal hydride battery provides propulsion. Put the hammer down, and a 1.5 litre, 76hp internal combustion engine takes over. The transition between the two systems is relatively seamless. You don’t even need an extension cord; the gas engine and energy from the braking system recharge the battery. What’s more, the new look gas-electric Prius hybrid exceeds California’s Super Ultra Low Vehicle (SULEV) exhaust standards. Driven sensibly it gets around 45mpg (US Gallons).
Terrific! If you’re a money-conscious motorist who believes SUVs and their ilk pollute the planet and pervert the course of American foreign policy, the $20K Prius is a godsend. But if you’re a petrolhead who regularly sacrifices social responsibility on the altar of adrenal release, Toyota’s clean, green mileage machine is a far less attractive proposition.
Snore
For one thing, the design is spectacularly dull. Quite how Toyota managed to blend so many ill-conceived details (slab-sides, gruesome headlights, hideous rear hatch, etc.) into such a narcoleptic shape is a mystery almost as impenetrable Chris Bangle’s justification for his “flame-surfaced” BMWs. In fact, the Prius is so unintentionally stealthy it gives drivers automotive Alzheimer’s; I “lost” the car in a supermarket parking lot whilst standing directly in front of it.
For another, Toyota’s single-minded pursuit of fuel efficiency compromises the Prius’ ergonomics. Jump inside and slip into bus driver mode. You hold the undersized steering wheel in your lap, sitting “on” rather than “in” the seat. Blame the Prius’ raised floor, lifted to accommodate the batteries and electric motor. The set-up also necessitates an ugly, visibility-killing split rear window.
The elevated floor leaves reasonable cargo space - although the sloping roof limits your storage options to grocery bags, dwarf plants and short luggage.
Look
The situation is no better up front. In an attempt to eke out the last possible mpg, the Prius’ designers opted for a steeply raked front window. There are army tanks with more forward visibility. The aerodynamically efficient screen also requires huge “flying buttress” pillars to support it, which virtually eliminate peripheral vision. And, as the Prius’ digital speedo, fuel gauge and gear selector live in the forward edge of the endless windscreen, the display seems a good five miles away.
The Prius’ central display provides the hybrid’s P.C. party trick. The computer screen constantly calculates your mpg and the amount of electric energy re-generated during braking. (It’s the virtuous version of the devilish G-force meter found in the late, demented Nissan Skyline.) Tap the screen to switch to a graphic of a skeletal Prius indicating whether you’re using or reclaiming battery power. The touch screen also provides audio and climate tweakery intuitive enough to make a mockery of Germany’s craze for over-complicated “mouse” controllers. Unfortunately, you can’t shut the damn thing off.
The Prius’ champions - and they are legion - will dismiss such complaints as environmentally insensitive kvetching. The Prius is a cutting edge automobile, leading the charge towards responsible motoring. Style, visibility and toys be damned! The mileage is the thing. In that case, Toyota better hope tree huggers aren’t technophobes.
Power
To start the Prius, you slot the flat “key” into the dashboard, press the power button (avoiding the windshield wiper stalk), wait for the electronics to spool up, press the electronic parking brake button, release the “normal” parking brake pedal, keep your foot on the brake pedal, select drive with the stubby, dash-mounted joystick and… away you go. And here’s where true believers and driving enthusiasts part company…
The Toyota Prius drives like most low-cost, mass market, front-wheel-drive sedans. Give the gruff-sounding four-cylinder, multi-valve engine a swift kick and The Prius ambles to 60 in 11.3 seconds. It cruises comfortably at 70 and tops out at 104mph. The computer-actuated brakes feel a bit sluggish, graunching as they regenerate battery power, but they’re effective enough. The power steering is as light as a bird’s femur… um… I’m sorry, what was I talking about? Suffice it to say, the gas-electric hybrid’s power and handling are close enough to its petroleum-powered peers to be ignored.
Pressing On
So here’s the deal: no matter how you thrash the Prius - flooring it at every opportunity, braking late and hard - you can’t get the consumption any worse than 27mpg (US). Baby it and the Prius travels at least 40 miles for every gallon of dead dinosaur. It offers maximum fuel efficiency with reasonable real-world performance.
I have no doubt that a version of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive system will someday find its way into every passenger vehicle category: SUV, MPV, CUV, station wagon, sedan and, gulp, sports car. Will hybrid power make the world a safer, greener place? You tell me. Meanwhile, if you’re willing to trade driving pleasure and decent ergonomics for cheap, guilt-free motoring, the Prius is the way to go.
Now, don't hate me, but I drive a nissan primera (thanks to my boss) and average 32mpg whilst spanking it and 42 mpg when I'm driving on my own petrol.
So, it's a dirty great big family car, does 125mph and gives 40+ mpg. I fail to see what's so special about the prius.
Don't get me wrong, though; the sooner we have hydrogen powered buses and lorries the better...
As a principle, fuel-cell vehicles are fine, but they need to be genuinely good - and by that I mean exciting - to drive if the motoring world is going to take them seriously.
Lotus have tried with the E-Auto and Ecos concepts, as well as the CNG-powered Elise, and the AC Green Mamba were all promising, but I get the idea that, like cycling, as soon as the 'environment' is brought into the frame, efforts are made to make the whole thing as miserable and menial as possible.
Psychology seems to be "Dull = Worthy". This is often the case, as with All Bran and brown rice, however it is not always true.
I'd be interested to hear what mpg you can get out of some fire breathing Ducati monster for example.
v8thunder said:
When you start buying cars solely for their mpg, you sell everything motoring stands for down the river.
As a principle, fuel-cell vehicles are fine, but they need to be genuinely good - and by that I mean exciting - to drive if the motoring world is going to take them seriously.
We're all PHers here, so none of us would buy this without some huge threat (amputation...)
But for the other 99.9% of the public who buy cars for all sorts of other reasons, a "green" car may just float their boat.
What does sound better, though, is a hybrid drivetrain in bigger cars. Weight is less of an issue, and you can get better performance and economy. Toyota are doing one in the US Lexus SUV, with the emphasis on performance, not economy
http://evworld.com/archives/conferences/evs14/humvee.html
performance familycar 
So Farrago, I guess it's pretty difficult to find anything close to PH standards over there for a nice review (the Enzo was a joy to read!!!), but please be more carefull next time. Prius must go
>> Edited by Dinkel on Saturday 31st January 16:20
>> Edited by Dinkel on Saturday 31st January 16:21
Electric motors give loads of lovely torque. And when cars like the Prius are better and more effective ( by a factor of 10 ) they might well be Ok to drive. And for city use they are just fine. In fact, if everyone in central Los Angeles or central London drove one those cities would be better places to live.
Out in the country though - a different story ! Cannot imagine going for a blat down a country lane in a Prius somehow !
charlieheard said:
When you start buying cars solely for their mpg, you sell everything motoring stands for down the river.
As a principle, fuel-cell vehicles are fine, but they need to be genuinely good - and by that I mean exciting - to drive if the motoring world is going to take them seriously.
I've always thought alternative fuels would be a great idea in huge luxury saloons like Cadillacs and Rolls Royces - they have gargantuan engines not for performance driving, but to haul that huge car and occupants wherever it's going at a reasonable pace. Also the refinement that gas and the like brings would add to the reputation somewhat.
I also like the idea of 'clean' sports cars, but with a complete lack of noise or 'go' and a slightly inert feel, they'd be onto a loser, IMO.
We're all PHers here, so none of us would buy this without some huge threat (amputation...)
But for the other 99.9% of the public who buy cars for all sorts of other reasons, a "green" car may just float their boat.
What does sound better, though, is a hybrid drivetrain in bigger cars. Weight is less of an issue, and you can get better performance and economy. Toyota are doing one in the US Lexus SUV, with the emphasis on performance, not economy
charlieheard said:
When you start buying cars solely for their mpg, you sell everything motoring stands for down the river.
As a principle, fuel-cell vehicles are fine, but they need to be genuinely good - and by that I mean exciting - to drive if the motoring world is going to take them seriously.
I've always thought alternative fuels would be a great idea in huge luxury saloons like Cadillacs and Rolls Royces - they have gargantuan engines not for performance driving, but to haul that huge car and occupants wherever it's going at a reasonable pace. Also the refinement that gas and the like brings would add to the reputation somewhat.
I also like the idea of 'clean' sports cars, but with a complete lack of noise or 'go' and a slightly inert feel, they'd be onto a loser, IMO.
We're all PHers here, so none of us would buy this without some huge threat (amputation...)
But for the other 99.9% of the public who buy cars for all sorts of other reasons, a "green" car may just float their boat.
What does sound better, though, is a hybrid drivetrain in bigger cars. Weight is less of an issue, and you can get better performance and economy. Toyota are doing one in the US Lexus SUV, with the emphasis on performance, not economy
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