Vehicle Tested
| 2011 Toyota Prius IV
Base Price: $26,850
At-Tested Price: $30,259
Built in Japan.
Options
Navigation Package
Floormats
Engine: 1.8-liter I4 / Electric
Transmission: CVT Automatic
Drive Wheels: Front-Wheel Drive
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At the 2011 Chicago Auto Show, Toyota announced the plural of Prius, Prii. Why is that important? Well, Toyota needed to come up with the prural of a made up name because next year at this time the Prius family will grow threefold. There will be a larger Prius v and a smaller Prius c. Toyota is also making available nationwide the Prius Plug-In, a model that bends the barrier between hybrid and electric vehicle.
That said, the mainstay of the Prius line continues to be the namesake model, which was redesigned last year and continues unchanged for 2011. Prius remains a five-passenger four-door hatchback and still rides the same 106.3-inch wheelbase as its predecessor. It's sized slightly smaller than traditional midsize cars, on par with vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Fusion and Volkswagen Passat. Highlights of the 2010 Toyota Prius included new exterior styling, a redesigned interior, a more powerful hybrid system, and better EPA fuel-economy ratings.
The heart of every Prius is its hybrid gas-electric drivetrain. Using a system proprietary to Toyota and Lexus products called Hybrid Synergy Drive, the Prius utilizes a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine (up from the 1.5-liter unit last year) and two electric motors to drive the front wheels. All three are connected to a continuously variable transmission and can produce roughly 134 horsepower when the batteries are fully charged. The electric motors are powered by a nickel-metal hydride battery pack and allow the Prius to operate in electric-only mode in low-speed driving. When coasting and cruising, the electric motors charge the batteries, so there is no need to plug Prius in an electric outlet.
Four Prius models are offered: II, III, IV and V--a base Prius I had been offered for 2010. All include antilock four-wheel disc brakes with brake assist, stability control, front-seat active head restraints, tire-pressure monitor, and dual-front, front-side, curtain-side, and driver-knee airbags. A rear-view camera is part of the optional navigation system that's offered on Prius III, IV, and V. Optional on Prius V are a pre-collision system, lane-departure warning, and lane-departure prevention.
The Prius II lists for $23,050 and includes air conditioning with automatic climate control, tilt-telescope steering wheel with radio and climate controls, cruise control, height-adjustable driver seat, center console, split-folding rear seat, heated power mirrors, power windows, power door locks, keyless entry, keyless access and starting, AM/FM/CD/MP3 player with digital-media player connection, trip computer, variable-intermittent wipers, illuminated visor mirrors, cargo cover, rear defogger, intermittent rear wiper, automatic-off headlights, theft-deterrent system, rear spoiler, 195/65R15 tires and alloy wheels.
The $24,050 Prius III adds to Prius II driver-seat lumbar adjustment, JBL AM/FM radio with in-dash six-disc CD/MP3 changer, satellite radio and Bluetooth cell-phone connection. The $26,850 Prius IV adds to Prius III leather upholstery, heated front seats, automatic day/night rearview mirror and universal garage door opener. The line-topping Prius V (not to be confused with the larger Prius v) lists for $28,320 and adds to the IV LED headlights w/washers, fog lights and 215/45R17 tires.
Options include a navigation system package that features voice recognition, real-time traffic information, satellite radio, and rearview camera. Also available are sunroof with solar-powered ventilation, hands-free parallel parking, and adaptive cruise control. All Prii are build in Japan and carry a $760 destination charge.
Get Up and Go Driver's can choose between ECO and PWR modes via center-console-mounted buttons. In ECO mode the throttle response is blunted, requiring a harder stab at the gas pedal for acceleration. In PWR mode, the Prius seems to come more alive at low speeds, but this is at the expense of fuel economy. Toyota claims that the 0-60 mph time is 9.8 seconds.
Though this performance is adequate, when matched up against other four-cylinder midsize sedans, the Prius feels pokey, almost a little lethargic. This is most obvious when selecting ECO mode.
Prius also features an EV mode that keeps the vehicle in electric mode when driving at slow speeds. This is most useful when driving in parking lots and in highly congested stop-and-go traffic. It automatically deactivates if the battery charge is too low or the vehicle speed is too great.
Driving a Prius is a simple as figuring out the alarmingly different shift lever and stepping on the gas. True hypermilers will note that there are plenty of tricks that must be employed to get the best fuel economy. None of the tricks are too earth shattering, but they do relegate Prius to the slow lane most of the time.
EPA fuel economy numbers of 51 mpg city and 48 mpg highway are impressive and make Prius one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. In reality, mileage numbers are dependent on two factors: Your driving style and the environment. Given a light throttle foot, proper hypermiling techniques and a temperate climate, it's easy to exceed the EPA estimated numbers, perhaps hitting 55 mpg. However, lead-footed drivers or extreme hot or cold temperatures are likely to drop the average fuel economy numbers to well below the advertised ratings. Still, the Prius easily out-economies all competitors except for the Ford Fusion Hybrid which still likely averages about 10 mpg less, depending on driving style.
On the Road Prius doesn't ride like your typical midsize car. The ride is quite firm and there's scant impact absorption from the suspension and tires. This is exacerbated by the V model's 17-inch tires, but even base models ride with an unexpected firmness. Though the ride isn't sports-car hard, it's annoying enough for back-seat passengers to complain on long highway jaunts.
Conversely, the skinny tires don't offer a lot of dry-road grip and there's a fair amount of body lean in quick maneuvers. While not unexpected, the Prius isn't as competent as most mainstream compact-to-midsize sedans. If you are looking for the best handling, stick with the V model as it has the largest wheels and tires. Thankfully the steering is accurate and nicely weighted and the brakes don't have any of the touchiness so common in hybrid vehicles.
Road and wind noise are not as well isolated as in more conventional models. That's likely because Prius has high-efficiency tires tuned more for gas mileage than for quietness. The V model's 17s exacerbate the problem somewhat. The engine sounds a bit gruff in hard acceleration, but it cruises quietly and doesn't surge and bog when traversing hilly terrain.
Behind the Wheel The interior of the Prius is an exercise in minimalist design. The speedometer and fuel gauge are located in a pod at the center of the dashboard that's both hard to read at a glance and incongruous with limiting driver distraction. Models without the optional navigation system get a simple set of controls for the radio and climate control system. Navi models have somewhat jumbled controls that can take a while to learn.
The gear shift flipper is located to the right of the steering wheel. It takes some getting used to and isn't at all intuitive. Toyota has toned down some of the techno displays for the hybrid systems operating status, but the readouts pale in comparison to the artistic design found in the Ford Fusion Hybrid.
Despite its compact dimensions, the Prius is quite roomy on the inside. Front-seat passengers are treated to generous head and leg room. New for 2010 is a tilt and telescope steering wheel that makes it easy to find a comfortable driving position. The seats are soft, but comfortable. The leather seats offered in IV and V models are firmer and more form fitting. Outward visibility is OK, but hampered by thick rear pillars and the twin rear-window setup.
There's ample room for two adults in the rear. Though the seat isn't wide enough for three across, the floor is flat, giving ample foot room. Seats are firmer than expected but still quite comfortable.
Cargo space is quite good, if you don't mind the hatchback design. The rear seats fold 60/40 and there's an underfloor bin for securing items out of site. Interior storage is plentiful, highlighted by twin gloveboxes and a two-compartment center-console box. Unfortunately, there are no door map pockets.
Bottom Line With gas prices making their annual summer march toward the $4 mark and getting a little shove from the recent Mideast unrest, consumers are again asking the question? Is a fuel-sipping hybrid worth the extra cost?
That's a great question. No doubt Prius costs more than a conventional vehicle of similar size. Some of that savings can be made up through savings at the pump and that savings grows each time gas prices go up. Still, it's likely several years before you will make up the difference in initial cost with gas savings.
Specifications 2011 Toyota Prius IV
| Dimensions
| 4-door hatchback
| Engine
| DOHC I4 / Electric | Wheelbase, in.
| 106.3
| Size, liters/cu. in.
| 1.8 / 110
| Length, in.
| 175.6 | Horsepower @ rpm
| 134 @ 5200
| Width, in.
| 68.7
| Torque (lb.-ft.) @ rpm
| 105 @ 4000
| Height, in.
| 58.7
| Transmission
| CVT Automatic
| Weight, lbs.
| 3042
| EPA Estimates, mpg
| 51 city / 48 highway
| Cargo Capacity, cu. ft.
| 21.6 |
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| Fuel Capacity, gals.
| 11.9
| Manufacturer's Warranty
| Seating Capacity
| 5
| Bumper-to-Bumper
| 3 years / 36,000 miles
| Front Head Room, in.
| 38.3
| Powertrain
| 5 years / 60,000 miles
| Front Leg Room, in.
| 42.5
| Corrosion
| 5 years / Unlimited miles
| Second-Row Head Room, in.
| 37.6
| Free Roadside Assistance
| None | Second-Row Leg Room, in.
| 36.0
| Free Scheduled Maintenance
| None
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