Toyota’s Prius is still planet’s best-selling hybrid

BY IRA SIEGEL For Sun-Times Media October 3, 2011 11:18AM

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2011 TOYOTA PRIUS FOUR

ENGINE: 98-horsepower 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder

ELECTRIC MOTOR: 80-horsepower 60 kW

TRANSMISSION: continuously variable

DRIVETRAIN: front-wheel drive

FUEL ECONOMY: 51 city/48 highway

BASE PRICE: $26,850

AS TESTED: $30,259 (includes $760 for destination)

WEBSITE: toyota.com

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Updated: October 5, 2011 9:49AM



Having driven a number of hybrids over the years, the Toyota Prius stands out in this segment. Take one for a drive and it’s easy to see why Prius is the best-selling hybrid on the planet.

The Prius is nicely styled, has an affordable price tag, features a spacious interior, provides awesome fuel economy and delivers an agreeable ride with ultra-smooth transitions between electric operation and gasoline-powered engine assistance.

For those reasons, the Prius continues to be popular, even though the 2011 model is a “tweener.” That’s not a bad thing. It’s just that the Prius was totally redesigned for 2010 and the 2011 model is basically a carryover.

For 2012, though, Toyota will roll out several new Prius models, including a plug-in model to compete with the Chevy Volt.

Still, anyone considering a fuel-efficient car will appreciate that the current Prius is rated to deliver 51 mpg city and 48 mpg highway.

The better city mileage is due to the fact that the gasoline engine in the Prius isn’t used as much during city driving and it frequently shuts off when coming to a stop. Heck, the gas engine typically remains off while accelerating up to about 20 mph.

The 2011 Toyota Prius offers four driving modes: normal, power, eco and EV. While power mode increases sensitivity to throttle input for a sportier feel, eco mode does the opposite to help the driver achieve the best mileage.

The EV mode allows driving on battery power alone at low speeds for about a mile, if conditions permit.

The once choppy transitions between electric motor and gasoline assistance are now much less perceptible and smooth thanks to Toyota’s finely tweaked Hybrid Synergy Drive system.

The 98-horsepower 1.8-liter engine and 80-horsepower 60 kW electric motor combine for 134 net horsepower. While it’s not neck-snapping power, it’s more than enough juice to keep up with traffic and merge onto a crowded interstate.

As you may know, letting off the accelerator and stepping on the brake pedal causes the electric motor to be turned into a generator to help slow the car down and recharge the battery pack.

Brake feel is obviously different, but not in a negative way. Overall, the Prius delivers a pleasing ride, especially when you notice the miles traveled without stopping for gas.

There’s a multi-information display panel that monitors fuel and energy consumption. It provides feedback that can help drivers adopt more economical driving habits. For me, it’s like a video game in which you’re trying to get the highest score.

Games aside, the cabin in this third-generation Prius is comfortable and spacious for four tall adults or a family of five. I had plenty of room for my 6-foot 3-inch frame and there was still enough legroom in the rear for tall passengers.

There’s a bit of cheap-looking plastic inside the Prius but the cabin remains quiet, even at highway speeds. That’s due to the fact that there’s a significant amount of sound insulation. Many hours of wind tunnel testing provided Prius with a slick aerodynamic profile.

For 2011, the Prius is offered in one model grade with five different equipment packages designated one, two, three, four and five.

Pricing for the 2011 Toyota Prius starts at about $22,000 and that includes full power accessories, automatic climate control with air filter, a four-speaker audio system with CD player and much more.

Those desiring more goodies have plenty of extras to choose from, including the advance technology package (available in Prius five). This package includes a voice-activated navigation system, JBL sound system, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision alert system, lane departure warning system and automated self-parking system.

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