Even with a spate of new gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles coming onto the market this year, there still is nothing out there that comes close to the fuel economy of the Toyota Prius, the hybrid by which all others are judged.
Toyota introduced the third generation of the Prius earlier this year as a 2010 model, boosting its EPA ratings to 51 mpg city/48 highway versus 48 city/45 highway for the previous model, which went on sale in 2004.
The closest challenger to the Prius is the new, compact Honda Insight. It’s a Prius look-alike with a starting price just below $20,000 – but with fuel-economy ratings of 40 mpg city/43 highway, considerably below those of the Prius.
Also available for 2010 are new hybrid versions of the Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan midsize sedans, which have the same drive system and EPA ratings of 41 city/35 highway, the closest competitors to the Prius when measuring by interior space and fuel economy.
Prius prices, for now, range from $22,400-$27,670 (plus $750 freight), which gives the Toyota a starting price $2,600 higher than that of the Insight, which begins at $19,800 (plus $710 freight) and tops out at $23,100 (including navigation).
Honda does not offer all of the high-tech gadgetry that Toyota added to the newest Prius, but the Insight is very well-equipped even at the under-$20,000 base price.
Toyota plans to offer a $21,000 version of the new Prius, with fewer standard amenities, beginning later this model year. This version will be the most-direct competitor to the Insight.
A five-tiered pricing strategy will be used for the Prius, with the lowest-cost version to be called the Prius I.
Next in line, and already available, are the Prius II, III, IV and V models.
The Prius II comes with the same standard equipment as the 2009 base model, and also has nearly the same price — $22,400.
Prices top out at $27,670 for the Prius V. But its price can be raised an additional $4,500 by the Advanced Technology Package, which brings a navigation system, a parallel-parking assist system, radar cruise control, a pre-collision warning system, and a lane-keep feature.
That would raise the total price of the fully equipped Prius V to $32,920, including freight.
For the least-expensive version that can include a navigation system, there is the Prius III, with a base price of $23,400 and a total price of $25,950 when freight and the $1,800 nav system are added.
A Solar Roof package ($3,600) is available on the II, III and IV models, but not on the most-expensive one, the Prius V. Included in this package are the navigation system, a power tilt/slide moon roof, a remote-control air-conditioning system, and Toyota’s new solar-powered ventilation system.
With the $22,400 Prius II model, you automatically get the new 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle gasoline engine combined with the electric drive motor, 15-inch alloy wheels with all-season tires, a Smart Key system (driver’s door only) with pushbutton start, AM/FM/compact-disc player with auxiliary input jack, cruise control, power windows with auto up/down, color-keyed folding power side mirrors, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio and climate-control buttons, and a multi-informational display that includes an energy monitor and fuel-consumption history.
For $23,400, the Prius III model has all of the Prius II features plus an upgraded JBL audio system with eight speakers and a six-disc CD changer, along with Bluetooth phone connectivity.
Our tester, though, was the Prius IV, which begins at $25,800. It comes with most of the Prius II and III equipment, along with a leather interior, three-door Smart Key system, heated front seats with driver lumbar support, auto-dimming rearview mirror, universal garage opener, and water-repelling driver and front passenger windows.
With the top model, the Prius V, included are the features of the Prius IV along with 17-inch alloy wheels, fog lights, and LED headlights with washers.
Also available is intelligent parking assist, which will parallel-park the vehicle for the driver automatically. This is a system Toyota introduced on its flagship Lexus LS luxury sedan two years ago, but has never offered on a Toyota model.
There is a small size difference between Honda’s Insight, which is a compact hatchback, and the Prius, which is classified as a midsize hatchback. This newest version has three cubic feet more interior space than the previous model. It’s also more than a half-inch longer and three-fourths of an inch wider.
There is more power, as well, provided by the larger four-cylinder gasoline engine and bigger electric drive motor. The 2009 Prius has a 1.5-liter gasoline engine. Even with the extra power, Toyota was able to raise the 2010 model’s fuel economy significantly.
Although it has a new exterior, it’s still a hatchback and is still instantly recognizable as a Prius.
Under the hood is a full-hybrid system, which allows the Prius to run on either the electric motor or the gasoline engine, or a combination of the two. The nickel-metal-hydride battery pack, under the rear seat, recharges while the gasoline engine is running or the car is decelerating.
Available are three driving modes: “EV-Drive” allows the car to go on battery power alone at up to about 25 mph for about a mile; “Power” allows for sportier driving with lower fuel economy; and “Eco” helps achieve the best mileage.
Standard safety features include front and rear side-curtain air bags, driver and passenger front seat-mounted side air bags, and a driver’s knee air bag; active headrests in both front seats; antilock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution and brake assist; and electronic stability control with traction control.
Other available technology will include radar cruise control, lane-departure warning and lane-keep assist, and a pre-collision system that takes over control of the car when a collision is determined to be imminent.
The new model is quieter than either of its predecessors. New steering-wheel touch controls show up on the instrument panel, just below the driver’s natural view of the road ahead, so eyes do not have to be lowered to the steering wheel to see which controls are being pressed.
Also new are an electric water pump and an exhaust-gas recirculation system, which helps boost engine efficiency. The engine requires no drive belt under the hood, allowing for less maintenance while improving fuel economy.
A multi-information display panel on the dash monitors fuel and energy consumption as the vehicle moves, allowing the driver to gauge fuel use and adjust the driving style to improve mileage.
Other changes in the hybrid system include a lighter transaxle, inverter and electric motor, which cut 20 percent of the weight of the three components together, compared with the previous model.
The only option on our Prius IV tester was the solar roof package. With that package and freight, the total sticker price of our vehicle was $30,125.
The automotive columns of G. Chambers Williams III have appeared regularly in the Star-Telegram since 1994. Contact him at 210-250-3236; chambers@star-telegram.com.
2010 Toyota Prius
The package: Midsize, five-door, five-passenger, four-cylinder, gasoline-electric powered, front-wheel-drive hatchback.
Highlights: Toyota’s groundbreaking hybrid enters its third generation for 2010 with more power, a roomier interior and much-better fuel economy – along with a lot of new, mostly optional high-tech gadgetry.
Negatives: Can get quite pricey with options.
Engines: 1.8-liter inline Atkinson cycle four cylinder gasoline engine combined with an electric motor.
Transmission: Continuously variable automatic.
Power: 134 horsepower, combined gasoline/electric.
Length: 175.6 inches.
Curb weight: 3,042 pounds.
Brakes, front/rear: Disc/disc, antilock.
Cargo volume: 21.6 cubic feet.
Side air bags: Front seat-mounted, roof-mounted side-curtain for both rows, standard.
Electronic stability control: Standard, with traction control.
Fuel capacity/type: 11.9 gallons/unleaded regular.
EPA fuel economy: 51 city/48 highway.
Major competitors: Honda Insight, Honda Civic Hybrid, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Mercury Milan Hybrid, Volkswagen Jetta TDI diesel, Lexus HS 250h Hybrid.
Base price range: $22,400-$27,670, plus $750 freight.
Price as tested: $30,150, including freight and options (Prius IV with solar package).
On the Road rating: 9.4 (of a possible 10).
Prices shown are manufacturer’s suggested retail; actual selling price may vary.
