Road & Track Special Feature: Hybrids: Perception vs. Reality - Two Part Series
02-02-10, 07:53 PM
#19
Lexus Fanatic
02-02-10, 09:24 PM
#20
Lexus Champion
Thread Starter
. You need to get past your preconceptions 
Even on the highway, it's a good chunk better than the TDI and significantly better than the Fiesta.
The new Prius has been designed with America in mind. They know you guys do a lot of highway driving. That's one reason for the extra output (132hp vs. 110hp). It also provides more torque and allows the CVT to let the engine run lazily at highway speeds. I have noticed an improvement in highway mpg over our 2005. I will make a slight correction to Mike's explanation (sorry Mike!). The battery doesn't get used very much on the highway since the engine is in its comfort zone (i.e. cruising at a set speed). So no, they don't get drained. They do get used if you're on the highway and climbing a mountain and the steeper the mountain, the lower the battery charge at the top of the mountain.
Also, the Prius is kinda like the Yaris or the Fit. It's small on the outside and big on the inside. It's about the size of the Corolla but the interior is closer to the Camry (except in width).
If you do sit in one, ask for a test drive & take it out on the highway!
02-03-10, 06:12 AM
#21
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Im wondering when they are going to send us smaller diesels tp reckon with the like of the Prius. That being said, BMW could give us a great small diesel...it would just cost an arm and a leg.
02-03-10, 09:05 AM
#22
Lexus Test Driver
02-03-10, 09:10 AM
#23
Lexus Fanatic
The Prius, despite its electric/hardware complexity, has also been quite reliable (a necessity, of course, with taxicabs), although there have been some issues with headlights.
02-03-10, 09:28 AM
#24
And
I see a trend. You need to get past your preconceptions
Even on the highway, it's a good chunk better than the TDI and significantly better than the Fiesta.
The new Prius has been designed with America in mind. They know you guys do a lot of highway driving. That's one reason for the extra output (132hp vs. 110hp). It also provides more torque and allows the CVT to let the engine run lazily at highway speeds. I have noticed an improvement in highway mpg over our 2005. I will make a slight correction to Mike's explanation (sorry Mike!). The battery doesn't get used very much on the highway since the engine is in its comfort zone (i.e. cruising at a set speed). So no, they don't get drained. They do get used if you're on the highway and climbing a mountain and the steeper the mountain, the lower the battery charge at the top of the mountain.
Also, the Prius is kinda like the Yaris or the Fit. It's small on the outside and big on the inside. It's about the size of the Corolla but the interior is closer to the Camry (except in width).
If you do sit in one, ask for a test drive & take it out on the highway!
I see a trend
. You need to get past your preconceptions Even on the highway, it's a good chunk better than the TDI and significantly better than the Fiesta.
The new Prius has been designed with America in mind. They know you guys do a lot of highway driving. That's one reason for the extra output (132hp vs. 110hp). It also provides more torque and allows the CVT to let the engine run lazily at highway speeds. I have noticed an improvement in highway mpg over our 2005. I will make a slight correction to Mike's explanation (sorry Mike!). The battery doesn't get used very much on the highway since the engine is in its comfort zone (i.e. cruising at a set speed). So no, they don't get drained. They do get used if you're on the highway and climbing a mountain and the steeper the mountain, the lower the battery charge at the top of the mountain.
Also, the Prius is kinda like the Yaris or the Fit. It's small on the outside and big on the inside. It's about the size of the Corolla but the interior is closer to the Camry (except in width).
If you do sit in one, ask for a test drive & take it out on the highway!
A Prius over 10 second 0-60 is a bit of a turnoff for me.Though the Ford isn't a barn burner at 8.7 but it is a noticeable difference.
I'd have to drive both.
02-04-10, 09:04 AM
#26
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The Prius isn't a performance car. It's optimized for fuel economy and not rapid acceleration. I'd say a 10 second 0-60 time is quite respectable for any car, even in this day and age.
The consumer looking at the Prius will also generally not care about acceleration. Their main concern is fuel economy.
02-04-10, 01:28 PM
#27
Lexus Test Driver
02-04-10, 01:47 PM
#28
The Prius isn't a performance car. It's optimized for fuel economy and not rapid acceleration. I'd say a 10 second 0-60 time is quite respectable for any car, even in this day and age.
The consumer looking at the Prius will also generally not care about acceleration. Their main concern is fuel economy.
The consumer looking at the Prius will also generally not care about acceleration. Their main concern is fuel economy.
02-04-10, 01:48 PM
#29