The Province

High-tech ride connects on many levels

2018 Prius Technology blends electronic wizardry with great fuel efficiency and plenty of room

- ANDREW McCREDIE

To say the Toyota Prius ticks all the boxes of what a 21st century automobile should be is a bit of an understate­ment.

It’s extremely fuel efficient. Emission-wise, it’s one of the cleanest vehicles sold in Canada. It’s loaded with the whizbang-tech demanded by the motoring public these days. And it’s priced within reasonable range of middle-class aspiration­s. Throw in it’s a spacious vehicle and, dare I say, fun-to-drive, and you’ve got a winner.

Not surprising­ly, that’s really been the formula that has made the Prius family the dominant hybrid clan. It represents three-fifths of the 10 million or so hybrids Toyota has sold worldwide since 1997. That would be the year the Prius — fittingly ‘first’ in Latin — debuted in Japan, heralding the hybrid era.

That first version was a four-door sedan, followed by a 5-door hatchback eight years later and a 5-door fastback in 2016, which marked the fourth generation of the Prius.

In addition to the Prius, other family members include the compact ‘c’, the extended hatchback ‘v’, and the plug-in hybrid Prime. Each targets a different segment, but at the core they all share, to varying degrees, those strong attributes noted above.

That’s especially true of the 2018 Prius Technology. With a sub-5.0L/100km fuel rating, good space for five adults, a price point just over $30k, and onboard tech to keep occupants connected and safe, this is a vehicle that appeals to many. Auto journalist­s among them, as the Prius is the reigning AJAC Green Car of the Year.

That said, it’s far from perfect. It’s exterior design can be described as polarizing, particular­ly that angular front-end and sculpted hood.

When it debuted in 2016, Prius traditiona­lists decried the look, but with the subsequent rollout of new generation Toyota models, it became clear that the fourth-gen Prius simply fell in line with the automaker’s new and contempora­ry design language. Toyota also claims the aggressive front-end design reduces drag, thus adding to fuel efficiency.

And I thought Toyota’s experiment of arranging the gauges in the centre of the dash (hello Yaris) was viewed as a failed one? Guess the Prius designers work in a different building, as this fourth gen model has loaded up all the gauges, controls etc. in the centre, leaving a yawning space of black dash board in the driver’s front-looking sightline.

But it’s never really been about looks when it comes to the Prius. That first gen model has been described — among other things — as a ‘loaf-ofbread-on-wheels,’ yet it set sales records, and in the process set the standard for what a hybrid vehicle represents.

For 2018, there are three Prius models available in Canada: the Base (starting at $27,480); the Technology ($30,120); and the Touring ($30,720).

There’s a long list of standard features on the Technology trim, chief among them a 7-inch touchscree­n, fabric heated sports seats, a power moonroof, a wireless charging tray for smartphone­s, and a smart key system with push button start.

Our tester came equipped with the optional Advance Package, featuring such tech goodies as blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert, parking assist, a head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear view mirror, and an eight-way power driver’s seat. For less than $3,000, I can’t see why anyone wouldn’t tick this package box on his or her contract.

There are some things about the 2018 Prius I don’t like.

First, that aforementi­oned centre-gauge cluster. As a seasoned driver, my habit is to look for things like road speed and fuel level directly in front of me, not off to the right.

Second, the transmissi­on shifter. Protruding from the lower centre dash, it just feels unsubstant­ial for a gear selector. Likewise the enhanced regenerati­ve braking selection on it would be much better suited as a button on the steering wheel or a paddle shifter, locations used by other automakers in the electrifie­d vehicle space.

And why on earth is the Prius still using an old-school, foot-operated parking brake, located on the left-hand side of the driver footwell? Surely a vehicle that triumphs its technology should have a console-mounted button to engage and disengage the parking brake.

No doubt that ‘fun-to-drive’ mention earlier in this review had a few people chuckling, those of the ‘if-it’s-a-hybridit’s-a-bore’ mentality, but I found the handling and performanc­e of the Prius Technology to be nothing short of impressive. The 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine spirits the five-door around nicely, impressive considerin­g its power output rating is just 121 ponies. The electric steering is fairly precise, and the brakes firm and solid.

The continuous­ly variable transmissi­on provides super smooth accelerati­on, and the regenerati­ve braking selector on the shifter provides those who like some control in terms of downshifti­ng.

There’s an EV mode button for pure electric operation, but this is fairly limited to lowspeed driving and doesn’t last very long. A more useful button is the Drive Mode selector, which allows you to scroll through three distinct settings: Normal, Eco and Power. While not a significan­t difference in performanc­e between the three, fuel saving can be improved in Eco mode, as is brake regenerati­on of the battery pack.

Finally, Toyota announced late last week that Prius models from model years 2016 through 2018 are part of a global recall due to the risk of fire. The company said some 7,200 Prius vehicles in Canada are affected by the recall notice. An engine wire harness connected to the power control unit is at risk of wear over time, potentiall­y leading to a short circuit or even a fire, the company said in a statement. The recall affects every one of the current-generation Prius, including a plug-in variant, and the hybrid version of the C-HR made until May of this year.

 ??  ?? The Toyota Prius is the reigning AJAC Green Car of the Year for good reason, and this Technology trimline makes it all the better. In short, this car ticks all the boxes.
The Toyota Prius is the reigning AJAC Green Car of the Year for good reason, and this Technology trimline makes it all the better. In short, this car ticks all the boxes.
 ??  ?? While spacious and well-appointed, the cabin of the 2018 Prius has a centre gauge layout that some might find difficult to get used to.
While spacious and well-appointed, the cabin of the 2018 Prius has a centre gauge layout that some might find difficult to get used to.
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 ??  ?? The four-cylinder engine produces 121 horsepower, enough to make the Prius a fun car to drive.
The four-cylinder engine produces 121 horsepower, enough to make the Prius a fun car to drive.

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