Driving Impression

Editor:

New Car Test Drive

Price As Tested:

$24,995

“The king of hybrids retains its crown.”

The 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine used in the Prius generates 98 horsepower. Combined with the electric motors, there's a total of 134 horsepower.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive system, with two compact motor generators within the transaxle, delivers operating voltage of 650 volts. It uses gear drive, allowing the motor to turn 13,500 rpm. The Power Control Unit (inverter) is compact. The Nickel-Metal Hydride battery pack is compact and powerful. The Lithium Ion setup in the Plug-in Hybrid weighs a little more. The air conditioning compressor and water pump are driven electrically, which means the air conditioner works, though not full blast, even with the engine turned off.

There are three driving modes: EV, or all-electric, with a very limited distance at 25 mph or less (if there's enough juice in the battery), most useful for underground parking garages.

That's the advantage of the Prius Plug-in Hybrid. It can run at speeds of up to 62 mph in EV mode for up to 15 miles, great for stop-and-go commuting.

ECO mode minimizes fuel consumption by reducing the throttle opening and restricting the air conditioning. The Power mode is for maximum acceleration performance. The difference between Power and ECO is 4.1 seconds from 50 to 70 mph, versus 5.8 seconds. If you're in ECO and floor it, it will kick itself into Power, which is also the default mode when you start it up. So you have to set ECO mode at every stop, to get the best mileage. But we wonder why anyone would drive around town in Power mode, because ECO feels no slower. The Prius accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds, usually fast enough though slow by modern standards.

When you accelerate hard and it kicks into Power mode, it can be abrupt, like a transmission kick-down. But like all hybrids it uses a CVT, continuously variable transmission, which is technically not an automatic because it doesn't have gears. Most of the time you're not aware the Prius CVT is there, which is how they're supposed to work.

The Prius is EPA-rated at 51 city and 48 highway, for a combined 50 miles per gallon. We got 54 mpg driving gently but still sometimes using Power mode, over 23 miles of city-highway driving; and later 70.5 mpg over a 34-mile street course in a competition with other automotive journalists. We averaged 28 mph, about average for the group.

The winner, a specialist hypermiler, got 94.6 mpg driving by all the tricks. He averaged 19 mph, moving at about 30 mph in the far right emergency lane of the 50-mph highway, showing that it takes travel in an unreal world to achieve those big numbers. That sort of driving affects the driving behavior of others and reduces the fuel efficiency of others. An opposite leadfoot extremist managed to get 26.8 mpg. The other 26 of 28 drivers got between 63.3 and 75.3 mpg.

In an early prototype of the Plug-in Hybrid, we got 41.8 mpg for about 180 miles, 26 of them on full electric, and most of the rest at 65-70 mpg in Power mode.

Ride quality is far from stellar in the Prius Liftback. It's pretty rough over patchy roads, and we noticed a lot of road noise. A test drive in the Prius Plug-in Hybrid, however, felt somewhat smoother. Still, we didn't think it behaved as well as the Ford C-Max plug-in.

We also drove a Prius with the optional 17-inch wheels and 215/45R17 tires, which felt slightly smoother although theoretically they should be firmer; we got better mileage with them, 57.4 mpg, although the Prius chief engineer said the 17s deliver about 5-percent less mileage.

The four-wheel disc brakes are sensitive, and we could hear rubbing at low speeds with ours, partly because there was no engine noise when backing off, and possibly because of the regenerative braking component: the more you use the brakes, the more battery juice you build up, enabling you to use EV mode more. On our 70.5-mpg run, we gently used the brakes a lot in city traffic, so we would get as many blocks as possible out of EV mode.

The handling is light enough around town, but out on the road, if you try to drive it aggressively in corners, it turns heavy and slow. The slower you drive it, the better it is. That said, cornering is much improved over pre-2010 models with the redesigned chassis and suspension.

We also tested the optional Intelligent Parking Assist, which parallel parks the car for you, if the space is big enough. It worked well, the system requires a margin of 7 feet 9 inches, which won't help if you're trying to fit into a tight spot.

Introducing the 2013 Toyota Prius:

Editor:

New Car Test Drive

Price As Tested:

$24,995

“The king of hybrids retains its crown.”

Still one of the most popular hybrid vehicles on the market, the Toyota Prius comes in Prius Liftback hybrid and Prius Plug-in Hybrid versions.

Both the Liftback and the Plug-in use Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain, which pairs a 1.8-liter gasoline engine along with an electric motor. The regular Prius Liftback uses nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries and operates like a traditional hybrid.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid employs newly developed lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries and can be plugged in like an electric car to extend its range. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid will allow true electric-vehicle operation for up to 15 miles at speeds up to 62 mph, according to Toyota, along with quick home charging using a standard AC outlet and 15-amp dedicated circuit. The Plug-in Hybrid comes with an easy-to-use external charging cable, but you'll want an electrician to set up a dedicated fast-charger for the quickest charge times.

Fuel economy is the number one reason to buy a Prius. The Prius Liftback gets an EPA-rated 51/48 mpg City/Highway, and a combined rating of 50 mpg. It runs on Regular gasoline.

The Prius Plug-in Hybrid is rated 51/49 mpg City/Highway, or 50 mpg Combined. Because it also runs on electricity, the Environmental Protection Agency gives it a special rating of 95 miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe). Fuel cost estimates for the plug-in hybrid are about $1,000 a year for the Prius Plug-In, compared to $1,150 for the traditional Prius hybrid.

Now in its third generation, more than 1 million units of the Prius hybrid have been sold in the United States since the first debuted in 2000 as a 2001 model. The Prius was redesigned for 2010, and the plug-in hybrid debuted for the 2012 model year.

New for 2013 is the Prius Persona Series Special Edition. It is available with the traditional Prius Liftback hybrid powertrain and comes with unique charcoal and black SofTex synthetic leather upholstery with red stitching, dark chrome interior accents and 17-inch alloy wheels.

While fuel economy is remarkable, acceleration performance from the Prius is far from it: 0 to 60 mph in an excruciating 9.8 seconds. On the bright side, the continuously variable transmission (CVT), is smooth, a quality not always found in this type of transmission.

Prius comes loaded with technology. The Touch Tracer Display projects information before your eyes, so you can keep them on the road. A solar-powered ventilation system is available, with remote pre-cooling to cool the car down to ambient temperature before you climb in on a hot day. Other features include lane departure warning, radar cruise control and Intelligent Parking Assist, which will automatically parallel park the vehicle.

The Prius is capable of seating five, but the ride will be most comfortable with only four. Front seats are roomy, though some may find the upright seating position a bit uncomfortable. In the back, there's am adequate 36 inches of legroom. The EPA classifies these cars as midsize, but we see them as large compacts.

Cargo space is generous with nearly 40 cubic feet of capacity when the back seats are dropped flat, and the big liftgate makes loading easy.

While the Prius used to dominate the hybrid market, other alternative fuel vehicles have sprung up in recent years to give Toyota's darling a run for its money. The new Ford C-Max, available as both a hybrid and a plug-in, boasts a fresher design and sharper driving dynamics. The Chevrolet Volt plug-in feels more sophisticated and more upscale than the Prius does. Shoppers might also consider the sleek Ford Fusion hybrid and plug-in sedans, as well as the Toyota Camry hybrid. Note: Prius c and Prius v are reviewed separately.

Walk Around

Editor:

New Car Test Drive

Price As Tested:

$24,995

“The king of hybrids retains its crown.”

Love it or hate it, the tall, wedge shape of the Prius has made it one of the most distinguishable cars on the road. The blue-tinted headlights are elegant wraparound trapezoids, with optional LED lenses consuming 17-percent less battery power. There's a styling tweak, like a wave or a lip or, with a stretch of the imagination, a lightning bolt at the top, and it works, to deliver distinction. The taillights are standard LED, reducing power draw by 88 percent.

The rear wiper is huge, and effective in keeping rain off all that glass back there. The matt black trim around the windows on the Prius Two and Three trim levels doesn't do much to complement the car; the satin black finish on the Prius Four and Five is nicer.

Interior Overview

Editor:

New Car Test Drive

Price As Tested:

$24,995

“The king of hybrids retains its crown.”

The Prius interior has a nice cozy cockpit feeling in the driver's seat, nestled by a stylish center console that runs from dashboard to between the seats at a gentle slope. Still, the quality and finish of some interior materials don't quite measure up. Prius uses a floating console design, which looks awkward to some but makes it ergonomically friendly. Inconveniently, the seat-heater button is located on the floor under the console.

The front seats are comfortable with good bolstering and adjustability. The trim is made of plant-derived resin, which, Toyota says, is highly recyclable. The upper and lower gloveboxes hold a magnificent 12 liters.

The rear seats offer 36 inches of legroom, which is adequate for this size of a vehicle. The rear seats have a folding center armrest with two cupholders.

When the rear seats, split 60/40, are dropped flat, there's 39.6 cubic feet of cargo volume, easily accessible through the big liftgate. We hauled seven 16-inch wheels shod with Dunlop racing tires in the back. The eighth had to ride in the front seat, but we were impressed with the cargo capacity.

There's another 2 cubic feet of space in a tray under the floor of the cargo area for tools and laptops. The compact spare, which is a rarity on any car these days, is another level down.

There's good forward visibility even over the long dashboard, stretched by the steeply sloped windshield, although you can't see the front corners of the car. Visibility is hindered elsewhere due to large A-pillars and C-pillars, along with the Pruis's aerodynamically sloped roofline and the bar that separates the two pieces of glass.

The four-spoke steering wheel has buttons to access many of the car's functions, including the climate control system. The 5-inch screen in front of the driver displays many graphs and images related to driving efficiency, as well as an Energy Monitor that displays the battery charge in real time. The Touch Tracer display projects steering-wheel-control information upward so you can keep your eyes on the road.

Model Lineup

Editor:

New Car Test Drive

Price As Tested:

$24,995

“The king of hybrids retains its crown.”

The 2013 Toyota Prius and Prius Plug-in Hybrid come in a range of trim levels.

Prius Two ($24,200) comes standard with automatic climate control with air filter, dust and pollen filtration mode (and electric compressor, humidity sensor and push-button contols), fabric-trimmed front seats with seatback pockets, six-way driver's seat, four-way front-passenger seat, 60/40-split fold-down rear seats with adjustable headrests, cruise control, tilt/telescoping steering wheel with controls for audio, climate and phone, multi-information displaywith trip computer and Hybrid System Indicator, plus the Touch Tracer display, remote keyless system plus Smart Key System on driver's door with push-button start and remote illuminated entry, Display Audio, six-speaker AM/FM/CD with MP3/WMA, USB port with iPod connectivity, and Bluetooth wireless technology, dual sun visors, two 12-volt power outlets, cargo tonneau cover, power windows with auto up/down and jam protection in all positions, retained-power features, Hill Start Assistance Control.

Prius Three ($25,765) upgrades with Navigation and Entune, a 6.1-inch touchscreen with integrated rearview camera, enhanced Smart Key for three doors, voice-command controls on steering wheel. The optional Solar Roof Package features a solar powered ventilation system.

Prius Persona Series Special Edition ($27,130) is equipped similarly to the Prius Three plus unique charcoal and black SofTex synthetic leather upholstery with red stitching, dark chrome interior accents and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Prius Four ($28,435) upgrades further with SofTex-trimmed seats and steering wheel, eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar support, JBL GreenEdge speakers with amplifier, HomeLink, auto-dimming rearview mirror, projector beam headlights with auto on/off feature. Options include Deluxe Solar Roof Package with HDD Premium Navigation with Entune and Head Up Display.

Prius Five ($30,005) upgrades to 17-inch alloy wheels with P214/45R17 tires, LED headlights with headlight cleaners, and integrated fog lights. An Advanced Technology Package includes HDD Premium Navigation with Entune and Head Up Display.

Prius Plug-in Hybrid ($39,525) is equipped like Prius Two with its fabric-trimmed front seats, but comes standard with Navigation and Entune. The Prius Plug-in Hybrid uses 15-inch tires and alloy wheels.

Prius Plug-in Hybrid Advanced ($39,525) upgrades with the SofTex upholstery, Premium HDD Navigation, HomeLink, Head Up Display, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, LED headlights, integrated fog lights.

Safety equipment standard on all models includes dual-stage front airbags, side airbags in front, airbag curtains for front and rear seats, and driver's knee airbag; active headrests; LATCH anchors for child-safety seats, child-protector rear door locks, front seatbelts with pretensioners and force limiters (the most important piece of equipment so be sure to wear them), ALR/ELR; federally mandated tire pressure monitor with warning light; anti-lock brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake-force Distribution; Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, traction control, Smart Stop Technology. Optional safety equipment includes Pre-Collision System that uses the same radar antenna as the radar cruise control. It applies the brakes harder than the driver does if a collision is imminent and applies them even if the driver doesn't, to reduce collision impact. Optional Safety Connect inclues Automatic Collision Notification (calls the medics if you crash), Emergency Assistance, Stolen Vehicle Locator, Roadside Assistance. Lane Keep Assist is available for Prius Five.

Summary

Editor:

New Car Test Drive

Price As Tested:

$24,995

“The king of hybrids retains its crown.”

The Toyota Prius is practical and efficient with plenty of cargo space, but newer competitors are nipping at the heels of this perennial favorite.

Sam Moses, Mitch McCullough and Laura Burstein contributed to this report.