Test Drive: 2009 Toyota Prius
Good on More Than Just Gas
| Vehicle Tested: | 2009 Toyota Prius Base |
|---|---|
| Pros: | Most fuel-efficient car on the market for 2009, versatile hatchback design, roomy rear seat, compliant ride. |
| Cons: | Forgettable acceleration, steering wheel doesn't telescope, roly-poly handling. |
Thanks to the no-frills econoboxes of the 1980s and '90s, it's commonly assumed that maximum fuel-efficiency entails minimal comfort and versatility. If you want a genuinely accommodating cabin and ample cargo capacity, the reasoning goes, you'll have to pay for it at the pump. Well, don't tell that to the 2009 Toyota Prius. It's a roomy midsize hatchback that can transport four full-size adults or a hefty haul from Ikea with equal ease — and it also happens to be the most fuel-efficient car you can buy for the 2009 model year.
Of course, the Prius has its limitations. Does it go around corners? Yes. Does it accelerate from zero to 60 mph? Yes. Does it do either of the above with the slightest bit of enthusiasm? If you have to ask, then don't buy one. The only fun you'll have in a Prius is when you're playing the "maximize my MPG" game with the dash-mounted energy monitor. But if you're like the hundreds of thousands of Prius buyers who have made it Toyota's third most popular model behind camry and corolla, that probably suits you just fine.
In most other respects, the 2009 Toyota Prius is pleasant. It's stable and quiet on the highway, it floats serenely over rough pavement and its hatchback body style makes it one of the most practical midsize cars on the road. Indeed, we'd recommend the Prius not only to fuel-economy junkies, but also to midsize-sedan shoppers who like the idea of being able to carry considerably more stuff without sacrificing refinement or passenger space. Unless you're put off by the Prius' greener-than-thou image or duller-than-everything driving experience, it's a uniquely appealing package.
The 2009 Toyota Prius is motivated by a hybrid power plant consisting of a 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and two electric motors — one to drive the front wheels, the other to recharge the nickel-metal hydride battery pack. Depending on the situation, the engine and motors work separately or in tandem. The gas engine remains off by default, and if you accelerate gingerly from a stop, the Prius can run solely on electric power up to about 30 mph. If you need to keep up with traffic, a little more throttle will rouse the gas engine with a perceptible shudder; once you lift off the throttle, the gas engine seamlessly goes back to sleep.
The conductor of this propulsive symphony is Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive, and specifically its complex variant of a continuously variable transmission. It commands up to 76 horsepower and 82 pound-feet of torque from the gas engine, while the electric motor kicks in 67 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Due to varying peak outputs, maximum combined hp is 110. During performance testing, our 2009 Prius test car cantered from zero to 60 mph in 10.3 seconds. That's about a second slower than the typical four-cylinder family sedan's performance, but it's downright quick compared with the Honda Civic Hibrid's 13.5-second stroll.
From behind the wheel, the 2009 Toyota Prius feels like a really well-insulated golf cart. Actually, a golf cart probably handles better, or at least more entertainingly. Otherwise, though, the Prius excels at whisking you from Point A to Point B. There's no steering feel to speak of, as the electric power steering system is number than practically anything on the market, but the car goes where you point it. There's no passing power to speak of, but keeping up with traffic usually isn't an issue. Impressively, high-speed cruising is a strong suit — the Prius remains quiet and composed at extralegal velocities. Braking, however, is adequate at best, as our test car recorded an indifferent 131-foot stop from 60 to zero mph.
Fuel economy is likely foremost in the mind of the typical Prius buyer, and rightfully so. Cars simply do not get more fuel-efficient than the Prius for model-year 2009. With EPA ratings of 48 mpg city/45 highway and 46 combined, the Prius trounces the runner-up in the fuel-economy race, Honda's Civic Hybrid, which registers a mere 40 mpg city/45 highway and 42 combined. We recorded a slightly disappointing 39.5 mpg in this particular Prius, but we got 43.8 mpg earlier this year in a 2008 model, so our feet must have been particularly leaden this time around. Furthermore, in our fuel sippersmack down comparison, an identically equipped Prius achieved 52.4 mpg in a dedicated city driving loop.
Comfort
Passenger space is one of the Prius' strong points. There's plenty of headroom for everyone, and rear-seat riders enjoy as much legroom as they'd have in a typical family sedan. The seats themselves are forgettable, however, with flat cushions and (in our optioned-out tester) slippery leather upholstery. The driver seat is particularly objectionable, as it lacks both height and lumbar adjustments, two features we've come to expect at this price point. Furthermore, thanks to the conspicuous absence of a telescoping steering column, our longer-legged editors were unable to reach the steering wheel without virtually locking their elbows. Once under way, though, the Prius rides tranquilly, with a pillow-soft suspension and good sound insulation.
Function
Our 2009 Toyota Prius was equipped with the optional navigation system, which works well and includes a handy back-up camera. Toyota's integration of most functions into a touchscreen interface can be rather annoying, however — a task as mundane as adjusting the climate control system's fan speed requires that you first call up the relevant screen by pressing the "climate" button, as opposed to simply rotating a knob. The button-happy steering wheel simplifies matters somewhat by providing redundant audio, Bluetooth, navigation and climate controls (excluding fan speed and directional flow).
Another feature that could use some simplification is the stubby dash-mounted gear selector, which inexplicably farms out the Park function to a separate "P" button located above the lever. On the bright side, the optional nine-speaker JBL stereo provides satisfying sound, delivering rich bass response and no audible distortion at reasonable decibel levels.
In our real-world usability tests, we found it a breeze to install our rear-facing child safety seat in the Prius' spacious rear quarters, while the 14.4-cubic-foot space behind the rear seats easily swallowed our standard golf bag and suitcase. Toyota doesn't specify a maximum cargo volume for the Prius, but with the 60/40-split rear seatbacks folded flat, one of our editors managed to squeeze in a dining table, two wooden chairs, two plastic chairs and a couple good-sized boxes — and there was still room to spare.
Design/Fit and Finish
Outside, the Prius' teardrop shape is a triumph of aerodynamics over aesthetics. It's not ugly, but it's not exactly the stuff automotive dreams are made of, either. Inside, the expansive dashboard, joysticklike shift lever and radically angled windshield imbue the 2009 Toyota Prius with a futuristic feel. Materials are generally high quality, especially the distinctively grained pliable material covering the dash. Fit and finish was uniformly good on our tester.
Who Should Buy This Vehicle
Consumers drawn to the Prius' killer combination of fuel-efficiency and versatility, as well as those who just won't be satisfied with anything less than the most fuel-efficient car on the road. Note, however, that the2010Honda insight Hybrid may give the Prius a run for its money when it's released in spring 2009.
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source:edmund.com
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