Impressions on a long-running hybrid

THE PRIUS C is easier to park than its bigger counterpart, and there is no irritating glare of sunlight that hounded rear passengers of the original Prius.

First-time hybrid users will still need to orient themselves a bit on some of the exclusive-to-hybrid drive controls, such as the engaging energy monitors on the dashboard, and that unnerving “no vibration” (“Is the car dead?”), and noise-free cabin when only the electric engine is working.

You have to also remove your pets in the garage who have the habit of sleeping under the cars before deciding to drive out.

Some nifty features are present, such as the keyless entry and start/stop ignition button.

The Prius powerplant sets the hybrid apart from the conventional. The Prius and the Prius C wouldn’t have earned their legendary status if not for the Hybrid Synergy Drive technology.

The Prius C is powered by the old reliable 1.5-liter, four-cylinder 1NZ-FXE VVT-i Atkinson cycle engine that complies with standard regulations of Euro V emissions.

On economy mode, I was able to squeeze out a 31.4 km/liter fuel efficiency reading on combined highway, city and country driving.

There’s more than meets the eye, as far as the Prius’ eco-friendliness is concerned.

In building the Prius, Toyota used a new range of plant-derived ecological bioplastics made of cellulose derived from wood or grass, instead of petroleum.

The development of the Prius and its Hybrid Synergy system took over four decades, harking back to the shock of the 1970s oil crisis that prompted Toyota to begin R&D on a combined gasoline engine and electric motor.