Toyota Prius : ELECTRIC DREAM?

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Toyota's environmental crusade continues with the third generation Prius. Steve Walker reports.

Back in the late Nineties, global warming still sounded like quite a good idea to a large part of the windswept, rain lashed British population. We were too busy fantasising about future summer holidays relaxing on the palm-lined beaches of Tenby or paddling in the tropical waters off Whitley Bay to worry too much about the greenhouse gases that our cars were pumping into the atmosphere. Back then, the Toyota Prius was viewed as something of a novelty with its petrol/electric powertrain but it wasn't long before hybrid cars and vehicle emissions generally were being taken far more seriously. Now the third generation Prius is here and in every respect, the climate seems more conducive to its success.

The success of the Toyota Prius shouldn't be measured exclusively in sales. Since its launch in 1997, the car has generated a glut of positive PR for Toyota with the Japanese giant now widely viewed as a leading pace setter in the race for cleaner, greener vehicles. The advanced Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain technology behind the Prius has also filtered out into other Toyota and Lexus products, taking the edge off development costs that were rumoured to be on the high side of astronomical. It all serves to make Toyota's bold decision to green light the Prius all the more shrewd and it gives this latest third generation car an invaluable head start on the rivals who are piling into the hybrid marketplace. The Hybrid Synergy Drive was comprehensively re-engineered for inclusion in the latest Prius. Where once there was a 1.5-litre 77bhp petrol engine whirring away behind the scenes, there's now a 98bhp 1.8-litre. Coupled to a more powerful electric motor, this VVT-i variable valve timing engine contributes to a combined power output of 134bhp. That's a fair whack for an environmental special but a key reason for the larger engine was to increase torque, making the car less highly stressed and more economical at motorway speeds. As before, the Prius is a parallel hybrid which means that it's able to run purely on its batteries for a limited period.

"The third generation car finesses the details but the basic recipe remains the same"

The on-board computer adjusts the mix of drive from the petrol and electric motors according to the prevailing conditions but the Prius can also be set to one of three modes. In EV mode, it runs exclusively on battery power, then there's the Eco mode that gives optimum fuel economy and Power mode which sharpens performance. The power is distributed through a CVT automatic gearbox and the Pruis provides detailed information to keep drivers abreast of what the Hybrid Synergy Drive is up to as well as the fuel economy being achieved. The Prius retains the somewhat underwhelming basic shape of its predecessor. This may disappoint buyers wanting a futuristic exterior to underline the high technology beneath but the look is highly recognisable and its lack of drama does fit with the saintly image that the Prius looks to project. It would be far harder for the car to carry the environmental woes of the world on its shoulders if it looked like a Lamborghini. As it is, you've got the trademark arching roofline, slab sides and the double rear screen. On this model though, the high point in the roof has been moved 10cm back to boost rear headroom and a pronounced shoulder line adds interest to those flat flanks. Aerodynamics remain an over riding concern for the car and it achieves a super-low drag coefficient of 0.25Cd. The interior is similarly unadventurous in its design but Toyota's usual high standard of fit and finish is a given. The stubby joystick of a gear lever is a point of interest and the instruments are contained in a wide digital display in the centre of the dash. Lots of attention has gone in to making the Prius an even more viable four-seater with front seats specially designed to increase legroom in the back and a bigger boot. There still isn't a huge range of choice for buyers intent on owning a hybrid car but that is changing. Arch rival Honda is Toyota's biggest competitor in this field with its Insight which has an uncanny resemblance to the latest Prius. If low cost motoring is your priority and you aren't too bothered about the way you achieve it, there are also numerous eco-special cars with aerodynamic modifications and small diesel engines which get similar results to a Prius for considerably less. The Toyota's core market resides across the pond where the American public continues to show a stubborn unwillingness to drive diesel cars. Even in Europe, with asking prices of around £18,000, the Prius should persuade enough customers as to the merits of owning the poster child of environmental motoring. More than simply a Hybrid Synergy Drive on wheels, the Prius takes all manner of other measures to boost economy. The headlights use LEDs when on dipped beam to save power, the air-conditioning system is the first on any car to run exclusively on electric power independently of the engine, the water pump is also electric and exhaust gases are recirculated to help the engine reach optimum operating temperatures more quickly. Buyers can even specify their Prius with a roof covered in solar panels which recharge the nickel-metal hydride batteries while the car is parked. The Toyota Prius might not have been first to the punch in bringing hybrid technology to the UK car market but it has certainly made up for lost time in the intervening years. The car overshadowed its rivals in becoming the best recognised hybrid model and played a major role in establishing its manufacturer as a market leader in environmentally-friendly cars just when such a position was starting to look desirable. The third generation car finesses the details but the basic recipe remains the same. The car might be as attractive for its green image as it is for its fuel economy and emissions figures themselves but if sales are forthcoming, that's unlikely to trouble Toyota.

Facts At A Glance
CAR: Toyota Prius
PRICES: £18,370 - £21,210 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 7E-8E [est]
CO2 EMISSIONS: 99g/km [est]
PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 10.0s / top speed 120mph [est]
FUEL CONSUMPTION: (combined) 72mpg [est]
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side, front and rear curtain airbags / ABS with EBD [est]
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: length/width/height 4450/1725/1490mm [est]