Review: 2010 Toyota Prius a miser with new moves
by Sam Abuelsamid on May 27th 2009 at 11:49AM 
2010 Toyota Prius – Click above for high-res image gallery
When car buyers think of hybrids, the name that most often springs to mind is the Toyota Prius since it was the first really practical hybrid to come to market and has sold more than any other examples. Yes, of course, the original Honda Insight beat the Prius to market in the U.S. by about six months, but the tiny two-seater sold in equally tiny numbers and had limited appeal beyond hard core hyper milers.
In the coming weeks, Toyota dealers will start getting their first allotments of the all-new third-generation Prius, and while we got to spend a few hours with one on the west coast in March, we just spent a whole week with the new version of this iconic Toyota. While the efficiency of the Prius has never been in dispute, like many other cars from Brand T, it's appeal as a driver's car has been, to say the least, limited. For the generation three model, Toyota has not given up on minimizing fuel consumption, but it has sought to make the Prius a bit more appealing on other levels. Read on to find out if the company has succeeded.
Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius
Photos copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Many of the most avid fans of the Prius have been people who view cars as nothing more than a means of conveying occupants to a destination with the least amount of fuss. Minimal fuss often means minimal involvement, as well. That typically means finding the most direct route with the fewest number of directional changes. For those operators (we hesitate to call anyone who prefers to remain uninvolved in the process a driver), the first two generations of the Prius were utterly up to the task.
However, there is a fringe group of us who actually prefer roads with some twists and turns and enjoy the challenge of carrying momentum through corners without scrubbing off speed. Doing that effectively is aided by a car that transmits information about cornering forces back through the steering wheel and doesn't feel like it will scrape its door handles at moderate speeds. This is where the previous Prius was severely lacking and falls far short of other thrifty vehicles like the new Honda Insight and VW Jetta TDI.
Somehow Toyota has managed to muster its prodigious resources over the last several years to create a new model to address both of these extremists. Under the hood, the Prius now includes the latest iteration of Hybrid Synergy Drive, which operates more efficiently than ever. The basic architecture has not changed and includes an electronically variable transmission that acts as the power split device and a pair of electric motor/generators to provide drive torque and kinetic energy recovery.
The internal combustion engine remains a four-cylinder running on the Atkinson cycle to optimize its thermodynamic efficiency. However, the displacement has grown from the previous 1.5 liters to 1.8 liters, which has dual benefits. When the driver actually needs extra power in order to merge onto a freeway or complete a passing maneuver, the propulsive force is now readily available. The extra displacement means that it's available without unduly straining the engine so the impact on fuel consumption is actually reduced.
Inside, the new floating center console features a trio of buttons to help manage the powertrain behavior, one of which was previously available only in overseas markets. For the first time, U.S. Prius buyers now have an EV button available that sometimes allows the driver to force the car into electric drive mode. Since the Prius is designed as a parallel hybrid, the electric drive portion of the vehicle has limited capabilities (although far more than most current hybrids) to drive the vehicle. Therefore, the EV mode only allows the Prius to troll around silently at speeds below 25 mph. Of course, you can get kicked out of EV mode if the battery level is too low or the accelerator is applied with too much verve. With sufficient energy in the battery and an extremely light right foot, we were regularly able to go over a mile without the engine firing up.
To the right of the EV button is the ECO button. Like the similarly labeled switch in the new Insight, this one moderates the driver's commands before sending them to the various powertrain elements. The ECO mode essentially applies a slow filter to everything, smoothing responses to avoid the sort of sudden transient reactions that cause increased fuel consumption. During our time with the Prius, even these slower reactions proved to be sufficient for almost all day-to-day driving needs. For those times when you need just a bit more get up and go such as merging onto a crowded freeway, to the right of the ECO switch sits the Power button.
This one does the opposite of the ECO switch and speeds up throttle responses. While the 134 hp of the new Prius certainly doesn't give it the feel of a sports car, the 24 hp boost over the previous model means that it also never really feels inadequate. The biggest dynamic complaint about the old Prius, however, was the suspension and steering. Our own limited exposure with the prior model demonstrated excessive body lean and steering more in keeping with a video game that uses a none force feedback steering wheel. The steering in the new model no longer feels so over-boosted and has at least a semblance of feedback about the cornering force. It's not great but it no longer qualifies as scary, so that's a good thing.
As for the suspension, it actually has some roll control now, and the whole car feels tighter than ever. In fact, if anything, it might be a bit too tight in terms of damping. Small road inputs (on the rare occasion that you can find such a thing in Michigan) are transmitted a bit too directly to the driver's back side. While the ride and handling balance is certainly more geared to enthusiasts than before, it could still use a bit of tweaking. The Prius still understeers at the limit like most mainstream front-wheel-drive cars, but it never feels out of control.
The interior of the Prius now has a much more modern appearance than before with the high center console sweeping down from the dash between the front seats. The shift lever has the same basic functionality as before: a pull to the left and down engaging drive and left/up bringing on reverse. The shape of the console means all the controls fall readily to hand. Like the previous generation, Toyota has opted to use some unusual textures on the plastics to replace the usual faux leather graining. Since the simulated leather is typically exaggerated anyway and really doesn't fool anyone, that's a good thing in our books.
Much of the center console has a finish that looks something like brushed metal and is actually rather attractive. The leather seats in our level IV trim model have perforations in a sine wave pattern rather than the usual grid that gives it a bit more visual interest. The front seats themselves were reasonably comfortable during our driving time and never exhibited any unusual pressure points. The rear seat was also adequate for two passengers with plenty of leg room and improved head room thanks to the re-profiled roof-line. Behind the seats, the Prius has an ample 21 cubic feet of space available to carry all your stuff.
The Prius, of course, is all about fuel economy, and the new model has received some big numbers from the EPA. With ratings of 51 mpg city, 48 mpg highway and 50 mpg combined, one would expect it to be thrifty in the real world... and it is. During our week, the Prius returned a healthy 47 mpg with a driving style that was modest but could not be described as hyper-miling. It took comparatively little effort to get some very impressive numbers.
While a Prius can be purchased for as little as $21,000 for a stripped down model, our test example came to $30,150 including the leather interior, navigation system and solar roof panel. This pricing strategy will appeal to an even wider range of buyers than before, and the lower base price should attract a few cross shoppers from the less expensive though less frugal Honda Insight.
The new Prius is no longer just an appliance for commuting. It's almost fun to drive. Toyota just needs to apply some more of its Kaizen philosophy of continual improvement to the ride and handling and we can call it good.
Gallery: Review: 2010 Toyota Prius
Photos copyright ©2009 Sam Abuelsamid / Weblogs, Inc.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
required 12:15PM (5/27/2009)
"the original Honda Insight beat the Prius to market..."
The original Prius (non hatchback) did not sell very well in the states. It wasn't until the 2004 model that it really took off.
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Matt 3:48PM (5/27/2009)
Honda played it safe and gave up on the strange looking two seater in favor of the totally normal looking Civic. Problem was, it was too normal. There is a very large group of people that want to be know as eco-friendly, and need something to show for it. There was an article that ran a few weeks ago that said something like "how to get a republican to buy a hybrid". There was a short answer, "They do, it's called a Civic!" Ok, off topic.
Sam, you're my hero. Thank you for fighting the good fight and acknowledging what many of us greenlings have said for years; we want a frugal car that is fun to drive. Cars are for so much more than transportation. Cars a are stress relief and an adrenaline rush, a quiet place and a place to drown your thoughts in the stereo. I'm glad that you wrote your review in this light, and I'm glad to see a Prius with a little fast inside.
LaughingMan 1:09PM (5/27/2009)
"Many of the most avid fans of the Prius have been people who view cars as nothing more than a means of conveying occupants to a destination with the least amount of fuss. Minimal fuss often means minimal involvement, as well. That typically means finding the most direct route with the fewest number of directional changes. For those operators (we hesitate to call anyone who prefers to remain uninvolved in the process a driver), the first two generations of the Prius were utterly up to the task."
I'm a 2nd generation Prius owner, and reading this, I don't appreciate being talked down to like this. I daresay I'm a little bit offended.
It's complete and utter fallacy, and an insult to paint people who own a Prius aren't a "driver" and that we treat our car as a toaster.
I understand your point. That the previous Prius generations had issues with body roll and feedback... You could have simply stated that objectively. You didn't need to demean people who liked the Prius anyway as people who weren't in your "elite driver" category and basically "point A to point B" drivers.
I am NOT one of those people who only think of my car as a toaster. I enjoy driving, I enjoy driving my car on winding roads. I don't like to take my car on a direct shot from point A to point B, especially if there is a more interesting path in between.
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srue 1:27PM (5/27/2009)
LaughingMan, I think you are misinterpreting his statement. He carefully specified the people he was talking about: those who want an appliance and minimal involvement. "Many" fans does not mean he is attacking every Prius owner. It doesn't even mean he is making a statement about the majority!
You are clearly not one of the people he is talking about, and you shouldn't be offended.
LaughingMan 1:40PM (5/27/2009)
Maybe he wasn't talking about me specifically, but he fell into the nasty habit of generalizing and talking down to people who purchased previous incarnations of this car.
In my travels as a Prius owner, I have never met a single owner who wasn't excited about the technology underneath the hood, and enjoyed driving it, faults and all, because of the thrill of the silent drive and the incredible potential. I have never met this mythical driver who is as excited about driving the car as riding the bus... someone wouldn't spend $21000 for a car and then think nothing of it!
I've met plenty of people who, like Sam, accuse me of not being a real "driver" though.
LMBVette 8:11AM (5/28/2009)
Seriously dude, if you were really into "driving" you would never have bought a Prius. It has never been fast, fun or good looking.
If you were into driving you would have bought some sort of car that hit ONE of those categories.
LaughingMan 3:31PM (5/28/2009)
My prius is fun and good looking.
It's all in the eye of the beholder, guys. This is why it bothers me when people like you get up on your car-guy soapboxes and make declarations like it's a universal fact that my car looks like a piece of turd.
krish 1:04PM (5/28/2009)
How about a car for people who want a conveyance that goes from point A to point B and only care about having all the standard safety features. For eg does the prius have electronic stability control. As a car gets more mainstream ironically it seems like they are getting pricier with more bells and whistles rather than reducing price
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MIke!!ekiM 7:31PM (5/28/2009)
One mile in EV mode at or below 25 mph? What happened to the 10 mile range in EV mode up to 40 mph? Wasn't that the claim last year about this car? Or was that for a LI battery version?
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majortom1981 8:22AM (5/28/2009)
How is it that you got a model with the solar panels but did not test them in your review?
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french 8:44AM (5/28/2009)
@Laughingman,
Chill out. The article isn't worded as attacking any specific percentage, "many" could be anywhere from 2-infinity. My mom bought a second gen Prius. She is NOT by any definition a "driver". She bought the Prius b/c she likes the gas milage, and the storage capacity for all of her carting my 3 younger siblings around to activities, and regular 8hr trips to upstate NY from DC. She doesn't care at all about it being "fun" (by the common driving definition of fun). My mom falls into the "many" that Sam talks about, so that category of people does exist. Just b/c you don't like it doesn't make it not true.
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LaughingMan 3:58PM (5/28/2009)
I understand your point, french. I'm glad you made your statement without resorting to belittling or telling me that I made a mistake in my choice if I was really a "driver."
I also appreciate that you mentioned that there is a conventional idea of "fun." I think that is the point that I am trying to make... the Prius is a fun car too, but not in the same way that a Corvette is.
That is why it bothers me when people stand up and make statements like it is the objective Truth that the Prius is boring and ugly. It is not the objective Truth. It is purely subjective and in the eye of the beholder.
What kind of person would consider the Prius fun? Hypermilers for one.
Going back to Sam's review, I think Sam is wrong when he makes the statement, "Many of the most avid fans of the Prius have been people who view cars as nothing more than a means of conveying occupants to a destination with the least amount of fuss. "
He's wrong because I know that the MOST avid fans of the Prius are the hypermilers, and also the ones like me who geek out about the technology, and TRULY think that the car is FUN to drive!
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and what is considered fun is also as well... Be careful not to assume that just because fast cars that are low to the ground are fun that that is a UNIVERSAL appeal.
Turbo'sSuck 6:03PM (5/28/2009)
Let me start by saying I have a Prius. I am also an engineer. I can reflect what some of the guys are saying about it being "fun" to try and get the best mileage as you can and it's certainly challenging. HOWEVER, when it comes to driving dynamics, driving the prius is about as "fun" as driving a microwave. Who else loves it when you are on the interstate and a long hill causes the prius to scream like you're beating it with a stick? Or when a lateral gust of wind blows you into a ditch cuz the steering is so horribly weighted? Moral of the story is that if I'm going to the grocery store, i take the Prius, but if I'm going out to the lake, I take the sports car. end of story.
usbseawolf2000 11:15PM (5/28/2009)
Turbo'sSuck:
Regarding driving dynamics, you are right for the 04-09 Prius. 2010 Prius improved it so go test drive the 2010 Prius with 17" rims.
french 11:29AM (5/29/2009)
"He's wrong because I know that the MOST avid fans of the Prius are the hypermilers, and also the ones like me who geek out about the technology, and TRULY think that the car is FUN to drive!"
Laughingman, you've got an excellent point here. The "most avid fans" are more than likely hypermilers, my mom probably falls into the larger common "avid fan" category. I guess it's how "most" is applied, to the adjective avid or to the noun fans. I'm not an expert at grammar or spelling by any means (we software engineers tend to suck at english) so I could be way off target.
Anyway,
I find the "game" of driving to get the best MPG fun (especially the Prius). I don't find the Gen 2 Prius driving experience fun in an adrenaline sense (what I'd define as fun outside of playing the hypermiling game).
All that being said fun is a subjective term. If you have fun driving the Gen 2 Prius then it looks like the Gen 3 will be even more so!
Lastly, I still think using the solar panels for climate control is stupid and a total waste of money. Park your car in the shade, leave the windows cracked, and/or get those reflective solar shades for your windows. The solar panels on the Prius G3 are in no way eco friendly compared to the alternative.
french 8:45AM (5/28/2009)
Good question... what do the solar panels do exactly? make EV mode last longer?
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Brent 9:52AM (5/28/2009)
French, The solar roof adds power to regulate the tempurature in the sun to a heat you choose, opens a ventilation.
To LMBVette, get off this site, it's auto-blog-GREEN intended for the frugal and conservative not the wastefull motor heads who loving to eat up the future while poisoning the present with cancer.
I pick up my Silver 2010 Prius IV this afternoon, I'm hyped. $29,000, Counting what I will pay in interest on my 20 grand loan, rest is payed.
:)
All smiles.
Note: everyone forgets to meantion the ionizer, there is an air filtration system, keeping the organic matter out of the air, helping with scents and bacteria build up in the car. Also, the water repelant glass(no more icey windows) and the UV glass, keeping skin cancer a bit more distant.
Anyways, :)
LMBVette 12:00PM (5/28/2009)
@Brent
Hey, I can't help it if Autoblog links this post off of their main site. I read about all cars even so-called "green" ones and wanted to see how they improved upon the Prius in this latest itineration.
By the way...I fill up my "cancer causing" Corvette around every two-weeks because I drive a total of 8 miles roundtrip to work. Chances are, I probably consume less fuel in a year than you do even in your 50 mpg Prius.
Also, don't forget that your Prius still uses fuel....which according to you, causes cancer. Funny world...isn't it, that the very same eco-minded car that you drive causes cancer too, eh?
I still stand by my original statement directed at LaughingMan. Look at it this way, if you purchased a Prius to be frugal or to be environmentally-friendly, why would you ever NOT drive it as an A to B appliance? Why would you take the long way via curvy roads when the vehicle is not engineered to do so? It defeats the purpose of buying a high mpg vehicle. If the point is saving fuel and being environmentally responsible (even though you still burn fuel) then why would you not take the shortest path between A and B?
french 12:41PM (5/28/2009)
@Brent,
So the solor roof is for cabin temperature regulation? That seems wasteful.
LaughingMan 3:44PM (5/28/2009)
LMBVette.
You continue to make inaccurate presumptions as to my reasoning in owning this car. I don't judge you for owning a corvette, yet you continue to judge and paint me in a very particular way that is completely incorrect.
You don't understand, and you don't seem to be listening to me.
For one, I bought this car because as an engineer myself, I appreciate the technology under the hood, and the car constantly amazes me as I drive it. The first time the car slipped into silent electric-only coasting mode at 40 MPH for me, my jaw dropped.
As for your presumption that the only logical course of action for me is to go from A to B, that completely mischaracterizes me. Given the choice between a cold lifeless superhighway and a scenic route that offers more interesting driving, I'd pick the scenic route, even though it would take a longer time, and be a slower ride.
You miss the fact that the Prius and other hybrids really begin to shine in the efficiency department not at stop-and-go city speeds, or 65mph+ highway, but at 40-50 mph surface streets with few stops in between.
Those are also the best conditions to hypermile the Prius as well. Personally, I've gotten trips up over 80+ mpg at around 40 to 50 mph on surface streets.
Do not presume that there are only one type of 'driver' out there and that they only want cars that are fast like yours. I am an enthusiast driver, and to me, my car is VERY fun. Hypermiling puts a totally new dimension in driving.