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Read what other owners have to say about the Toyota Prius hybrid car. Click here to add to the hybrid debate and write your own review.
Name: Chris Location: Australia Date of Review: May 10
I'm not a Prius owner, but had the use of one for work for 2 weeks. In
that time frame you quickly learn what you like and don't like.
Visibility
The rear split window is hopeless, and with a cargo barrier its worse.
Side view is rather poor too. Can't see the front of the car as it
drops away too much (and I'm 6 foot)
Performance/efficiency
Acceleration is ok - but it revs very hard and harshly when climbing a
long hill. I used this for country driving and some city work. In the
city its reasonable and fuel use is good - but after 40000km the engine
cutting in/out is a bit jerky. The battery does not maintain full
charge easily.
In country driving 110km/h the hybrid tech is laughable - it uses the
petrol engine giving about 5.5-6 l/100km - my petrol Mitsubishi AWD SUV
gives that in country use too.
The battery didn't seem to hold charge very well (60%) - but that's a
design feature from what I've read. Handling was ok - held the road ok
at 110km/h and on windy roads. Probably helped by all that weight it
carries low down in batteries.
Controls
To start with, starting and running is not intuitive. Designed by a
committee in my opinion. The key/power on/brake combination to start
is not the norm - this mucking about harks back to the 1920s when every
manufacturer used a different method for accelerator/brake/gear change.
The gear lever thing is a bit like a toy.
The central console display is a bit odd - sure you can control a lot
of things from the steering wheel (which is a plus), but learning the
way is not intuitive either. It's actually information overload - and I
wound up with it off most of the time.
That digital speed/fuel display is a joke (same in the Yaris/Echo).
Dials/gauges are easier to interpret - but you don't have that here!
And when you turn on the lights for country driving you can't read the
display even with the brightness at maximum.
Cruise control is actually ok - at least on flattish roads. It holds
speed fairly tightly. But it can run away a bit down a hill
Comfort
Seating is ok, but in the intermediate version I had the adjustments
were a bit limited. Air-conditioner seems ok but not really tested in
hot weather. Storage is ok.
Overall
A few too many negatives for me. I think turbo diesel is a better
alternative at present. As I mainly do country driving this is not a
good choice. In city use it should be ok - but the downside from my
view are the controls etc. Glad I had the chance to try it.
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