Compact city car delivers
Talk about hybrid cars and To oyota is never far from the headlines. Its PR RIUS c is a stellar example of eco-friendly mobility.
IT WASN’T that long ago that a driver wanting to save fuel or do his little bit to reduce green house gases had very few options - drive rather slowly and conscientiously or get a smaller car.
Too bad if that translated into a motoring experience that was less than fulfilling but that was the price to be paid.
The advent of petrol-electric hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius, however, have put a different spin on the whole equation.
These cars deliver on the eco friendly front while still serving up an enjoyable driving experience.
Unlike a conventional petrolpowered vehicle which has only an engine, a hybrid car gets an additional electric motor to supplement the engine for additional performance while reducing fuel usage.
The Prius’ powerful electric motor even allows the vehicle to run on full electric power at times, during which there is zero fuel consumption and emissions.
Besides consuming significantly less fuel and producing lower emissions than a petrol-powered vehicle of similar performance, the current third generation Prius with its wedge-shaped design which is designed for optimum aerodynamics, yet also looks sleek and trendy.
Global appeal
First produced for sale only in the Japanese market in 1997, Prius’ benchmark setting frugal fuel consumption and eco-friendliness prompted the demand for the vehicle to be made available for the rest of the world.
It was the world’s first mass produced hybrid car and is also currently the world’s best selling model with some three million units of the Prius put on the road over the last 15 years.
This iconic torchbearer for hybrid cars, now in its 3rd Generation, is sold in 80 countries including Malaysia.
While the Prius starts from RM139,900,00 local Toyota vehicle distributor UMW Toyota Motor Sdn Bhd has made available a compact and more affordable version called the PRIUS c to provide easy entry into the Toyota hybrid ownership.
The “c” in this model means Compact, Clean, Clever and City.
With the full exemption of import and excise duties for hybrid cars below 2,000cc soon to expire in Dec 31 next year, prices of these cars are arguably at their lowest now.
For RM97,000, the smaller PRIUS c loses none of the cuttingedge Hybrid Synergy Drive technology found in the larger Prius model.
It operates on the similar seriesparallel hybrid drive system found in the Prius which has been made more compact.
The 1.5-litre 73PS/111Nm engine coupled with a 61PS/169Nm electric motor propels this city car.
Using both powerful petrol engine and electric motor, Toyota’s “full hybrid” system delivers superior results compared against the “mild hybrid” system in fuel economy, acceleration and as well as lower emissions.
“Mild hybrid” system consists of a powerful engine and a small elecsmall tric motor whose task is to assist the engine during acceleration. This smallelecsmall motor is usually not powerful enough to propel the vehicle alone.
Sporty and frugal
At a glance, the PRIUS c shares many stylish design cues with the bigger Prius except that it is a fivedoor hatchback.
The PRIUS c’s roofline curves gently towards the rear to provide the car with good aerodynamics and a respectable co-efficient of drag (Cd) at 0.28.
A low fuel consumption of 3.9 litres per 100km is the PRIUS c’s area of expertise.
These credentials have enabled this hybrid to be rated among the most fuel efficient compact cars of 2012.
This is achieved from its 1.5-litre engine utilizing the high compression Atkinson cycle with VVT-i and powerful electric motor drawing electricity from a long life nickel metal hydride battery with an output of 19.3kW.
Using a sophisticated energy management system, the Prius c can run on either engine or battery power or a combination of both for the best performance and fuel economy depending on the driving situation.
A 0-100km/h dash in 10.7 seconds reinforces the PRIUS c’s standing as a pretty brisk compact car as well.
Drivers can choose three different drive modes of Normal, ECO or EV (Electric Vehicle).
In Normal mode, the PRIUS c delivers a driving experience with a balance between performance and fuel economy while the ECO mode places more emphasis on fuel savings.
When there is enough charge in the battery, the EVmode allows the PRIUS c to go on full electric power - thereby bringing emissions and fuel consumption to zero.
Everyday usability
Owners do not need to worry about charging the hybrid battery as the unit will be charged up automatically by the PRIUS c’s engine operations, forward motion or through regenerative braking which works by converting energy from braking into electricity and storing it in the battery itself.
As such, driving the PRIUS c is just like any conventional car except its superior fuel economy makes for fewer trips to the petrol stations.
Despite its compact design, the PRIUS c still offers enough space and leg room as a daily car, whether for commuting to the office or heading to the shopping mall.
A contrasting dark and light interior combination gives the car a breezy and youthful interior.
The futuristic theme comes from its dashboard styling with a centre instrument cluster consisting a colour multi-information display and digital gauges and speedometer.
Adding comfort to the driving experience is a smooth electronically controlled continuously variable transmission and electric power steering which makes manoeuvering effortless.
Seven SRS airbags, Vehicle Stability Control, Hill Start Assist, Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and Brake Assist, and three-point seat belts for five occupants sum up the safety features which are impressive for a compact vehicle.
A full colour 3.5” TFT MultiInfo Display, Smart Entry & Start System, Cruise Control and an audio system with AUX/USB/iPod® and Bluetooth® support as well as 15inch alloy wheels add to this car’s array of features.
Offered with a three-year/ 100,000km warranty, available colours are LimeWhite Pearl CS, Silver Metallic, LimeWhite Pearl, Black Mica, Citrus Orange Mica Metallic, Super Red V, Aqua Mica Metallic and Blue Metallic.
There’s more. UMW Toyota Motor will soon be introducing a sportier variant called the PRIUS c TRD Sportivo which comes with an aerokit package consisting of front/ rear bumper spoilers, side skirts and daytime running lights that costs an additional RM7,000.
The colours for this variant are LimeWhite Pearl CS, Silver Metallic, Black Mica and Super Red V.