Not going to win any beauty contests
You don’t buy the Prius because it’s pretty. Quite frankly, it’s not, unless you have curious standards for automotive beauty.
The Prius Four Touring I tested is an odd little hatchback with a funky-looking rear end and a shape designed for aerodynamics that doesn’t look like anything else on the road.
But the technology inside the Prius, and the ability to travel so far between fill-ups, is far more important than any petty discussion of attractiveness. As you’re saving all that money on gas, you won’t worry what anything thinks of its looks. You’ll appreciate what it’s doing for you.
Power rankings
The Hybrid Synergy Drive system in the Prius features a 1.8-liter, 4-cylinder engine, combined with a pair of electric motors, for a total of a maximum of 121 horsepower reaching the front wheels. Regenerative braking is used in the Prius, so as you are stopping your vehicle, the juice in the vehicle’s battery is being recharged.
Let’s be frank: This is not a fast or powerful vehicle by traditional definitions.
The “Power” mode is actually a little more true to the name than in the past (though 0 to 60 is still about 10 seconds), and the “Normal” and “Eco” modes are progressively less impressive. If you are in strict EV mode, you’re really not going anywhere fast; and I would not recommend using this setting much, if at all.
This is not a car you get into and say, “I can’t wait to drive this thing”. This is a tool to get you where you need to go, with as little pain on the wallet and environment as possible. End of discussion. Driving aficionados stay away, as you’ll likely grow angry behind the wheel of a Prius. This is not the car you’re looking for, says Obi Wan-Kenobi. Go try the latest BMW sports car instead.
The level of quiet in a hybrid like this is pretty stunning at first if you’re not used to it. When you turn on the vehicle, you really can’t even tell it’s on. And outside of the annoying beeping sound that comes on each time you back up, it’s about as quiet a vehicle as you will find, especially when in EV mode.
Be prepared for a shifter knob that’s as funky as the rear end. I got used to it, sort of, but the little knob in the center front is among the oddest shifters you will find in any vehicle and takes some adjustment time when you first drive the vehicle.
Futuristic look
Gauges on the interior of the Prius have a very Star Trek-inspired look. Lots of holographic displays showing you how everything is working in the car and what power is going which direction, etc., when the battery is charging, when regenerative braking is working, etc. … You even get a grade on how efficiently you are driving, and at times I felt like I should be doing better.
The Prius features a 7-inch infotainment display Toyota infotainment system isn’t all that special, needs an upgrade.
The interior of the Prius features a sparse, non-luxurious design without fancy materials (see Lexus hybrids if you want luxury), but the Prius is stacked with technology -- including wireless phone charging.
How far can you go?
Despite all the hybrids out there these days, the Prius has few true competitors, as nobody comes near this level of miles per gallon. It’s almost in a class of its own.
My test Prius averaged close to the listed 52 miles per gallon (50 highway, 54 city); and the tank holds just over 11 gallons. Add that up and you’re pushing 600 miles between fill-ups.
Another variant, the Prius Eco, is a bit lighter and will get 58 mpg in the city/53 highway.In an era where electric vehicles like the Tesla lineup and Chevy Bolt are promising more than 200 miles on a charge, Prius will have to keep growing its numbers to stay relevant, so that’s what they are doing. And Prius can boast that no plugging in is needed, as that’s one of the common complaints about electric-only vehicles.
To put a nice neat bow on it, the high mpg is THE reason to get a Prius, period. With perhaps a twist of environmental friendliness thrown in for good measure.
You’re not buying a Prius because it looks beautiful (it’s not), or has a luxurious interior (it doesn’t), or is full of raw power (it’s not), or features awesome interior design and a roomy interior (the rear is a bit cramped) … those areas are not its forte, but they don’t really matter if fuel mileage is your concern.
Car nuts regularly decry and bash the Prius as the worst thing ever to come out and the antithesis of what a car should be if you actually enjoy driving (and at times while driving it I could see where they are coming from), but at the end of the day the Prius haters will be at the gas station filling up their muscle cars about five times as often as Prius drivers. They may enjoy the ride more, but they’ll end up paying for it. To each their own, as the saying goes. I would personally advocate having a nice eco-friendly ride like the Prius for the daily commute and a fun ride for the weekends when you can really enjoy it.
PRICE, BOTTOM LINE
Thebase Prius model starts about $24K. My test vehicle topped $33K. In an era with higher-end hybrid and electric vehicles with much higher prices, this is very affordable … though the others are starting to lower prices too.
If you want top MPG and decide to get a hybrid, and aren’t quite ready to jump into a full electric vehicle, I’d have a hard time convincing you to buy anything other than a Prius -- It’s the granddaddy in this segment, and nobody has ever really knocked it off its perch despite its old age. Though there’s a ton of other hybrid options out there if you’re more concerned about looks, style, power and other features beyond MPG.
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