Toyota Prius Part 2 of 3: Interior
A new hybrid aimed squarely at the mass market
The third generation Toyota Prius has some large shoes to fill. Where the original proved the viability of a production hybrid car, and the hugely popular second generation model showed that the public was willing to buy into the hybrid movement en masse, this newest Prius must appeal to an even bigger audience. Especially if Toyota wants to keep its sales numbers climbing from the roughly 1.2 million sold worldwide thus far.No doubt with mass appeal in mind, the latest Prius is offered in a variety of configurations and trim levels to suit nearly any budget.
There are four Prius models: The Prius II, III, IV and V. That's right, 2 through 5, and I know, probably a little confusing. Presumably, Toyota is saving the "I" for a stripper version with fewer frills and a correspondingly lower price.
With a base price of $22,000, the least expensive Prius II is already relatively accessible. But with the nearest rival to the Prius - the Honda Insight - starting at around $2000 fewer dollars, Toyota's decision to leave the Prius I designation open might make sense - although you're left to wonder what could possibly be deleted to make it more affordable. Given that our Prius III test car already features plastics that are harder than Chinese arithmetic, I'm not sure what they'll do to price it more competitively.
While some of the cabin materials couldn't feel less expensive, we should point out that Toyota at least uses carbon-neutral plastics that are very much in keeping with the eco-friendly image of the Prius. So they may feel hard, but they're not... at least not on the environment. Still, on the dash, some of this material quality is acceptable, but in other places not so much.
The worst culprit is this steering wheel, which seems to have been made by Little Tikes for their latest Cozy Coupe. This is possibly the most important point of contact in a car, and this pebble-surfaced, textured plastic just doesn't cut it. Go for the Prius IV or V and you'll get leather for the seats and, most usefully, the steering wheel.
But perhaps Toyota doesn't have to worry about the Honda Insight. After all, the Prius is larger than the Insight, and overall, it feels like an up-market effort relative to the Honda. The technology available in the interior also backs this up, with everything you can think of on offer. Check off the Advanced Technology Package option box and you'll get Intelligent Parking Assist to help you parallel-park. Lane Keep Assist, prevents you from wandering off into the next lane of traffic. Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, maintains a preset distance to the car ahead and there is also a voice-activated DVD-based navigation system. Then there's the solar-powered ventilation system that helps keep the interior cool when the car's sitting in a hot parking lot.
But perhaps the most-clever bit of technology inside the new Prius is the standard Touch Tracer Display, which highlights the steering wheel-mounted controls on the upper dash as your fingers select the various functions, helping keep your eyes on the road ahead. Clever.
Beyond the tech goodies, the design of the Prius interior improves on that of the outgoing model, while maintaining the centralized instruments theme. The shifter is still unconventional, but now sits in the expected location on the center console, which sprouts from the main dash and floats between the seats, creating an open space below. Other improvements include a driver's seat with height adjustment, as well as increased space for rear seat passengers.
Where the original Prius attracted early adopters, and the last model seduced a growing number of eco-conscious buyers, the newest Toyota Prius offers the latest in hybrid technology coupled with high-tech conveniences and safety feature aimed at enticing the world at large.
Toyota Prius
Performance
- Acceleration: Not even remotely quick - CVT keeps the engine crying at its horsepower peak when you're on it - not enough of that electric-car surge
- Handling: Its weakest dynamic element - Prius V model offers firmer suspension... should be standard
- Braking: Regenerative brakes more transparent than previous model - spongy feel is at least consistent with the car's handling
Design
- Exterior: Perhaps its strongest attribute, with excellent aero detailing - the de facto hybrid look - larger wheels fitted to Prius V an absolute must
- Interior: Again, defines the category - excellent overall design, but with cheap looking and feeling materials
Utility
- Comfort: Given its size, excellent for front and rear occupants - strong A/C system, too
- Space: Adequate for its size - aero silhouette costs it some packaging space, but not as much as its main rival, the Honda Insight
Safety
- Dynamics: Ah... no - intrusive stability control system is actually welcomed
- Technology: All the safety technology that a super power like Toyota can muster up
Value
- Price: The biggest disadvantage compared to the Honda Insight - Toyota cleverly left room at the bottom for a Prius I stripper
- Mileage: The King
Emotional Appeal
- Heart thumpin' factor: Only if you can get your thrills from maximizing mileage
- Fun to spank: Simply not applicable
SPECIFICATIONS
Layout: Front engine / Front-wheel drive
Engine: 1.8-liter, Inline-4 / electric motor hybrid
Power (SAE): 134 hp (hybrid system net power)
Gearbox: Constantly Variable (CVT)
Curb Weight: 3042 lbs.
0-60 mph: 9.8 sec.
Top Speed: 112 mph
Mileage: 51 city / 48 highway
Base Price: $22,000
Competitors: Honda Insight, Honda Fit, 10-speed bicycle
