In an
automotive industry where almost all leading manufacturers are putting huge
amounts of research into alternative fuels, the market for hybrid vehicles has
widened. Despite the arrival of many new models falling into this category
causing this particular market of cars to be a competitive one, one model has
and seems like it will continue reigning supreme. It is none other than the car
which started it all, the Toyota Prius. Being
a hybrid, its fuel consumption is incredibly low. 50 miles per gallon is easily
attainable even in everyday driving on any condition. This figure grows the
less you rev the engine and if you manage to maintain that way on a daily
basis, it is safe to say a gallon will get you going further than 60 miles. This
is because at low speeds, the engine is not used and all power is derived from
the surprisingly pushy 67bhp electric motor located at the back of the car. In
the event of this, logic would tell you that the car would be less noisy given
that the engine is not running and the Prius proves it by providing an
astoundingly silent ride during these times. Also, environmentalists will be
happy to know that this hybrid has a carbon dioxide emission rating of a mere
104 g/km.
When
running hand in hand with the 1.5 liter VVT-i engine which churns out 76bhp, a
total amount of 143bhp gets the car running as a result. That is a more than
sufficient amount to power a car of the Prius’ size and weight. This just
proves that a hybrid need not compromise on overall performance to be green. A
clutch-less CVT gearbox is mated to the car to complement the overall good ride
and handling. The only drawbacks in this department are the electric power
steering which some might find a tad too light to the touch and the use of so-called
eco-friendly tires which do not give nearly as much grip as conventional ones.
These are just minor considering the fact that the Prius is great as an overall
package.
Open
the doors and you will find that the Toyota Prius is everything a good family
hatchback should be inside, probably better depending on opinion. It offers a
generous amount of space and seats four adults with total comfort. Five can be
a squeeze in some cases but is easily manageable nonetheless. This, combined
with the generally smooth and quiet nature of the car ensures the cabin of the
Prius to be a really comfortable place to be in. As for the trunk, it is really
large. Both the opening and the inside of the trunk are so large to the extent
that it would be a popular car among the mafia and mobsters should it lose its
green credentials and get painted black. It should be noted that the battery
packs of the electric motor are located near the floor of the trunk but there
are no signs of it intruding into the trunk space. Three thumbs up for
practicality.
The Toyota Prius offers you everything you can possibly ask for in a car; practicality, performance, comfort and most of all great mileage. Unless you are rich enough to have no care for fuel prices at all and consider a roadster practical enough for your needs, the Toyota Prius is one car that requires serious consideration.