New Prius oddly familiar
I know we like to joke sometimes, but a base-model Prius in white is surely just the taxi-pack, isn’t it?
Well, I know where you’re coming from. But you’re also oh-so-wrong.
While the Prius is indeed popular as a taxi in used-car form, the reality is that sales of the old model slowed to a trickle (fewer than 30 last year) because other, cheaper, more practical Toyotas with the same technology – like the Camry hybrid – have taken over those types of fleet roles.
Not to mention the smaller Prius C, which has found favour with private buyers. There’s also a Corolla hybrid on the way for NZ.
So that leaves Prius in something of an ambassador role. But it’s still the flagship hybrid model for Toyota; the originator if you like.
Which is why even the entrylevel GX is actually quite wellequipped now. You get keyless entry (albeit on the driver’s door only, which seems a bit stingy) a touchscreen information and entertainment system and wireless charging for Qi-format phones.
There’s also a new Toyota Safety Sense (TSS) package of PreCrash technology, Lane Departure Alert with steering assistance, automatic high-beam lighting control, reversing camera and allspeed Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), which is pretty flash. Like a Lexus.
We’ve been hearing a lot about this Prius being better to drive. What’s the verdict?
On paper, things look pretty good: the Prius is the first model based on the all-new Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform.
The 1.8-litre engine has been upgraded with a dual-cooling system and is claimed to lead the world in petrol-powered thermal efficiency (40 per cent), while the continuously variable transmission is 9 per cent more compact and suffers from 20 per cent less friction loss.
The hybrid system is more compact overall, the batteries have been moved under the rear seat for better weight distribution and there’s new double-wishbone suspension at the back.
So Toyota has been pretty busy with Prius.
But on the road, the initial impression is of a car that’s very similar to the one it replaces, despite so much new metal. Sigh.
The hybrid system works in exactly the same way, the brakes are still worryingly light thanks to that regenerative technology (which feeds energy back to the batteries when you’re slowing down) and it’s very easy to feel like you’re stuck in a golf trolley during the daily commute.
Delve a bit deeper and the news is better. You still can’t do much with those brakes, but in more spirited driving it becomes clear that this Prius is much less like an appliance and much more like a car.
The steering is more assured than the previous model, the powertrain doesn’t ‘‘flare’’ up into high engine speeds under load and the chassis actually handles.
It’s still no sports hatch and those with driving pleasure as a high priority will still need to shop for a more conventional family hatchback. But this new-gen Prius has moved ahead in virtually every area of driving dynamics. You no longer finish a journey feeling like you’ve been in a sensory deprivation chamber.
Interesting. But there’s no point if it isn’t super-thrifty. Am I going to be wowed by the fuel-efficiency?
If you get excited by decimal-point improvements in fuel-efficiency (I’m guessing Prius people probably do), then here you go: the Australian Design Rules (ADR) mandated-test average has improved from 3.9 litres per 100km to 3.4.
Either is pretty impressive actually and although you probably won’t match that in the real world without maddening attention to a gentle driving style, I showed the Prius no mercy for a few days and still achieved 4.8 l/100km.
There have been further incremental improvements to the hybrid system.
The car can still only drive about 2km on electric power alone, but in the give-and-take of urban traffic the regenerative powers of coasting can allow a surprising amount of zeroemissions running.
The new model does allow a higher speed in EV running than the old, judging by my experience on test. I was elated at a sustained speed of 58kmh on battery alone during one evening commute home; driving a hybrid can make you tragic like that.
It can be fun trying to be green, but there’s still more than a little eco-nag character in the Prius.
A new feature is the Eco Judge, which gives your driving a score based on how efficient you’ve
Well, it’s no Tesla from what I can see. Where’s the plug again?
Very funny. But you make a good point: one of the most disappointing things about the new Prius as we see it here is that its hybrid technology seems to lag behind the latest plug-in cars. Or even some other hybrids, which have moved to lithium-ion battery battery technology while this car still runs on nickel-metal hydride.
It’s sad for a brand that led the way in alternative-powertrain technology for so long. Especially one that’s now supposed to be a hybrid hero model.
There was a plug-in version of the previous Prius, but that was never made available for sale in NZ (although Toyota NZ is bringing some used-import examples in).
There’s also a plug-in version of this new model, called Prius Prime, which has lithium battery power and can cover 35km in zeroemission mode. It even has a Tesla-style tablet control centre on the dashboard. It’s early days yet so a decision on Kiwi availability is still some time away. Against that backdrop, it’s hard not to be a little disappointed with the cautious evolution of the localmarket Prius.
Those familiar with the previous models will be impressed with the advances in powertrain and chassis performance, not to mention the level of standard equipment. I think it’s fair to say the rest of us were hoping for something more.