The 2010 Toyota Prius is redesigned, and boasts increased fuel economy and new features.
Press previews for sporty cars often include a timed autocross, where drivers pit their skills against one another on a tight, twisty, cone-lined course laid out on a remote parking lot--the salient word being “timed.” Although it’s a great opportunity to explore a car’s handling limits without the fear of bent sheetmetal or the necessity of posting bail, it’s usually more entertaining than enlightening--and is probably intended as such. Competition is fierce, leaving the victim parking lot tattooed with more black marks than an airport runway. And believe me, you do NOT want to be the next owner of one of those cars.
But this was a competition of a different--and almost opposite--sort, as the vehicle being flogged was Toyota’s latest version of its wildly successful Prius gas/electric hybrid.
How successful? Well, when the first-generation Prius was introduced for 2001, Toyota expected annual U.S. sales of 12,000 units. To date--through nine model years--the total tally for U.S. sales sits at about 700,000 units. You do the math.
Hybrids
While Prius was not the first modern hybrid to be sold in this country--that honor going to the little 2-seat Honda Insight--it was certainly the first to sell in anything that could be considered high volume. One theory behind why the Prius was far more popular than the similarly priced Insight--which got notably better fuel economy--was that Prius came as a proper 4-door sedan rather than a tiny 2-seat hatchback. Significantly, both were “unique” in that they didn’t share their styling with any other cars in their respective corporate lineups.
Toyota redesigned the Prius for 2004 as a 4-door hatchback wearing distinctive, “space-age” styling. Once again, it didn’t look like anything else at Toyota--or like anything else on the road. During its reign, Honda dumped the Insight and replaced it with a hybrid version of its Civic sedan--which was sized, priced, and EPA-rated about the same as the Prius--but that car didn’t come close to the Prius in popularity, either. With that, another hybrid theory was established: People who bought “green” wanted others to know it.
When redesigning the 2010 Toyota Prius, designers kept the lower rear "half window" in the tailgate that improves the view when backing up.
Toyota continues this styling strategy with the redesigned 2010 Prius. Although its appearance has been revised, the two generations look very similar in profile--not surprising, perhaps, as aerodynamics played a big part in both designs, and the wind doesn’t play favorites. (Honda’s revived Insight, also due this spring, carries a nearly identical profile--and for the same reason.) Toyota also completely overhauled the interior and tweaked the drivetrain for both better performance and better economy. Taken together, these changes add up to noticeable improvements--and the Prius was a pretty darned good midsize car to begin with.
Yes, it's a midsize. While a quick scan of midsize-car class rivals reveals that Prius is by far the shortest at 175.6 inches (the Kia Rondo, really a tall compact wagon, stretches to 179 inches, while the nearest true “car” is the Subaru Legacy at 186.2), the Toyota’s interior room places it squarely in the midsize class.
There’s plenty of space in front for taller folks, and shorter ones might appreciate the newly available height-adjustable driver seat. Both extremes could benefit from the telescoping function that has been added to the tilt steering column. Heated front seats are another new feature; they’re standard with the optional leather upholstery.
Although the new Prius pares a significant 2 inches from rear legroom vs. the previous generation, the old version topped the class last year, so even tall adults still have good knee space. Headroom is also fine. Although two adults is the practical limit in back, if a third can squeeze between them, they’ll find ample space for their feet on the flat floor.
Crawling around the Prius’ interior reveals some interesting points. Hard plastic dominates, with very few padded surfaces, including the dash, which was padded in the last-generation Prius. Nonetheless, the first word that pops to mind is “futuristic” rather than “cheap,” as it’s dramatically two-toned with sweeping cut lines, rich-looking graining, and strategically placed faux-aluminum trim; more Starship Enterprise than boring econobox.
The 2010 Toyota Prius' primary audio and climate controls are mounted in a high-set upper console "bridge" that covers a large, open bin underneath.
Toyota positions Prius as a high-tech hybrid, and the dash panel bears this out. As before, there are no gauges--or anything else--behind the small-diameter steering wheel, as the digital speedometer is offset to the driver’s right in a central “eyebrow” panel up near the windshield. Control complexity varies with options--of which there are far more than previously (more on this later)--but primary audio and climate controls are mounted within easy reach in a high-set upper console “bridge” that covers a large, open bin beneath.
Whereas the previous Prius featured a prominent screen at the top of the dash that could display such things as a power-flow diagram--neat, but rather distracting--the new model moves that to the panel near the windshield where it’s closer to the line of sight and considerably smaller. Ordering the optional navigation system puts a screen back in the center of the dash that absorbs the audio controls, which then appear as virtual push buttons on the screen. But, aside from potentially having to switch screens to access some secondary audio functions, it’s not a real hindrance to convenience, as redundant steering-wheel controls for simple audio and climate adjustments are standard. The odd little electronic gearshift flipper returns, but has moved from the dash to a more conventional placement on the console.
Storage
Despite a clean, uncluttered look inside--and compact dimensions outside--Prius is a study in clever packaging. Drivers have access to roomy upper and lower gloveboxes, a useful two-tiered console box, one covered console cupholder and another beneath the console lid, and the aforementioned open console bin that’s big enough for a purse--and is a really handy place to stash the keys, as the Prius now has keyless entry and push-button starting.
What won’t fit in the passenger area might well fit under the hatch lid. Folding the split-rear seatbacks leaves a nearly flat load floor that’s level with the top of the bumper, making it easy to slide large items in or out. With the seatbacks up, parcels in the luggage area can be hidden from view by a cargo cover, which, when removed, can be stored in an under-floor bin that will hold lots of other stuff besides.
Folding the split-rear seatbacks on the 2010 Toyota Prius leaves a nearly flat load floor, making it easy to slide large items in or out.
Prius comes standard with a complete complement of safety equipment, including front side airbags, curtain side airbags, a driver’s knee airbag, ABS, and an antiskid system (previously optional). Due in summer 2009 is Safety Connect, an assistance system similar to GM’s OnStar. All models also include expected convenience features such as air conditioning, automatic transmission (a continuously-variable automatic transmission, or CVT), CD/MP3 player, and power windows and locks, along with the Multi-information Display that shows fuel consumption and the hybrid-system indicator (power flow from engine, battery, and motors). Optional are the expected navigation system with voice activation, wireless cell-phone link, and a rearview camera.
But newly available on the Prius are some features not commonly offered on cars in this price range:
- Ventilated and “pre-cooled” interior. The Solar Roof Package, which includes a power sunroof, allows for a fan-powered system that can vent hot air from the interior on warm days while the car is parked. The package also includes an electric air-conditioning system powered by the hybrid battery that can cool down the interior shortly before the driver gets in.
- Dynamic Cruise Control automatically maintains a driver-adjustable following distance.
- Lane Keep Assist aids in keeping the car in a lane by “nudging” it over and sounding a warning if it drifts too far.
- Intelligent Park Assist automatically steers the car into a parallel parking space; all the driver does is control the car’s speed.
Power and Fuel Economy
While Toyota may strive to make the Prius look different than other cars, much effort for this third generation went into making it drive more similarly. There’s a bit more power than before, thanks in part to a new 1.8-liter engine that replaces a 1.5, and transitions when the gas engine or electric motor cut in feel smoother. Acceleration from a stop is a bit timid at first, but builds quickly and linearly; Toyota claims the 0-60-mph dash now takes 9.8 seconds vs. 10.9, closer to that of a conventional 4-cylinder midsize car.
The Multi-information Display that shows fuel consumption and the hybrid system indicator has been relocated to the top of the dash in the 2010 Toyota Prius.
Now, it's not as though that "oomph" is enough to flatten any eyeballs or snap any necks, but in the cut and thrust of urban traffic, I'll take response over outright power any day. And it can be made even more responsive by punching the PWR MODE button on the console, which increases throttle sensitivity. The difference is really evident on winding roads, where the car just feels as though it has more power coming out of turns. Particularly when combined with the 17-inch tires of the top-line "V" model (15s are standard on the II, III, and IV), it can make the Prius feel--dare I say--sporty.
That's not, however, the impression one might get from other versions, whose "softer" 15-inch tires provide somewhat soggy steering response and less grip in fast turns. They do wonders for the ride quality, however, which can be a bit brittle and even jolting with the 17-inch tires. Electric power steering supplies lots of assist at low speeds, which makes parking a breeze, but there's not much road feel through the wheel. On all models, wind noise is moderate at highway speeds (seemingly a bit better than before), but road noise is noticed and intrudes somewhat more with the 17-inch tires. In these regards, Prius about matches most others in the midsize class. Where it differs from the norm is that there's still plenty of engine noise under even moderate acceleration--the CVT transmission allowing revs to climb quickly into the high-rpm "power" range and then holding them there--but it's not an annoying sound.
To the left of the PWR MODE button on the console are two others. ECO MODE is used for best fuel economy, which for 2010 is rated by the EPA at 51 city and 48 highway (up from 48 and 45 last year). Pressing the EV button prompts the Prius to run on just its electric motors, but requires that the battery be at least halfway charged and limits speed to 25 mph; ask it to go faster, and the gas engine kicks in. How far you can travel in EV Mode depends on the battery’s state of charge (as displayed on a dashboard meter), but we once managed to stretch it to nearly 1.5 miles before the engine automatically fired up--a bit farther than the one mile Toyota quotes. But of course, we were being gentle.
In fact, we were gentle for the entire portion of this particular route. You see, it was part of the aforementioned competition, in which members of the press were challenged to beat the fuel economy achieved by Toyota’s chief of engineering, Akihiko Otsuka. Of course, since our journalistic honor was at stake, we all cheated--driving 40 mph on the highway, 20 on back roads, coasting whenever possible, and accelerating at rates that would make a turtle honk. But, nobody got less than 69 mpg except Otsuka-san, who only managed an embarrassing 62.9, and I’m proud to say my driving partner and I established ourselves as the best cheaters of the bunch by achieving an average of 75.3 mpg. (To be honest, my contribution was primarily flawless navigation and minimal ballast, but it was a team event.) At the evening awards ceremony, the other chea…er…journalists were positively green with envy.
The 2010 Toyota Prius has three buttons that tailor the powertrain's responsiveness for acceleration, fuel economy, or electric-only operation.
04.02.2009
