2011 Toyota Prius
The Prius hybrid inspires a cult-like devotion from its drivers, evidenced by the muted reaction from owners after Toyota recalled the Prius in March 2010 for a potential problem with uneven braking. The reaction was similar when media frenzy developed a few weeks later after a San Diego man claimed his 2008 Prius sped out of control on California’s Interstate 8. As cooler heads prevailed, the consensus was that “unintended acceleration” was driver error, not a defect.
For the 2011 model year, which began arriving at dealers in late September, there are no significant changes to the car. This third edition of the Prius is bigger and more powerful than the model it replaced. The four-cylinder engine grew in displacement from 1.5 liters to 1.8 liters and, combined with a 36Kw electric motor, boosts horsepower from 110 to 134. The result is a reduction in zero-to-60 time by a full second.
Additionally, the body is about four inches longer and about an inch wider. Despite the added power and size, the 2011 Toyota Prius is the only vehicle available today to offer 50 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving.
Toyota achieved this level of fuel efficiency by keeping the vehicle’s weight down, maintaining the best aerodynamics of any production vehicle in the world, and re-engineering the powertrain to extend the range of all-electric gas-free driving. Clever high-efficiency tricks include an electric water pump, exhaust gas recovery and an optimized regenerative brake system. Underbody covers with splitters aids the aerodynamic efficiency.
Prius Exterior
Compared to the previous model, the 2011 Prius has slightly sportier feel and more aggressive stance—perhaps to disarm criticism that the Prius looks like a corrective appliance on wheels. The logo has been moved from the hood to the top of the point of the grille. The crease in the doors has shifted lower, but a more pronounced angle is added above the door handles. The overall effect is the 2011 Prius stands taller—not as rounded and squat—as its predecessor.The distinct space-age shape of the Prius is still apparent: a deliberate effort by Toyota to maintain the Prius’s essential and iconic appearance. Its large, diamond-cut headlamps and snub-nose front-end are the starting point for the Prius’s quasi-flying saucer appearance. The angled hood seamlessly flows into the windshield, then to a flowing roofline that is sleek and low. Short overhangs and a sawed-off rear section finish off the hybrid’s futuristic hatchback character.
Of course, beauty is subjective, so the Prius continues to receive mixed reviews on outward show. There are many who think the Prius looks gimmicky, if not entirely ugly. But for many hybrid owners, the distinctive look of the Prius sends a message, which declares that we must take steps to reduce our voracious thirst for oil—with all its negative consequences in terms of the environment and geopolitics. For this camp, the Prius is like a middle-finger-on-wheels aimed at Suburbans, Escalades, and the like.
Bells and Whistles
The second generation Prius had loads of gizmos—including keyless entry, joystick shifter, high-tech energy monitor, and a rearview camera system. The 2011 model has even more technology.Absent in previous years, the Prius offers heated seats and a moon roof. The sliding glass moonroof, packaged with a slick-looking solar panel, provides power to a new ventilation system that doesn’t require help from the gas engine. Not only does the AC system keep the interior air temperature from heating up when the vehicle is parked (thus reducing the time/energy needed to cool things down), the system can be operated remotely to heat or cool the cabin before getting into the car. (That’s a neat trick even if the rooftop solar panels don’t produce enough energy to power the wheels.)
Three driving modes are available to the driver: Power, Economy and EV. Power improves throttle response; economy reduces throttle response for better gas mileage; and with a flip of the dashboard EV button, the car can go about one mile at low speeds without using any gasoline.
An optional radar system using advanced millimeter waves enables “Lane Keep Assist” to help the driver stay safely within the lane, and the “Pre-Collision System” retracts seatbelts and applies the brakes in certain conditions when a crash is unavoidable. Intelligent parking offers settings to help guide the Prius into parking spaces. A backup monitor, which provides a view of rear obstacles when reverse is engaged, is available with an optional voice-activated navigation system.
Touch Tracer, a touch sensor system on the steering wheel, helps keep the driver’s eyes on the road. Images of the switches and their positions are shown on the instrument panel directly in front.
Prius Interior
The past success of the Toyota Prius has been its ability to combine great fuel efficiency and utter practicality. Five adults can fit comfortably, with more than 16 cubic feet of cargo room left over in back. The 60/40 split rear seats also can be folded flat, creating a surprisingly large cargo space for hauling groceries, strollers, large boxes, and gardening supplies—all at the same time.Short and tall drivers should feel equally comfortable behind the wheel. The back seat is roomy, beating the Toyota Camry by a few inches and providing a little more legroom than the Civic Hybrid—and a lot more than found in the Honda Insight. The Honda hybrids are cheaper by a few, to a few thousand dollars.
Interior storage spaces are abundant and flexible. The sound system is adequate, but not ground breaking compared to other cars in this class. The stereo’s most-used functions are easy to see, read and use. Many of the Prius’s standard features are either optional or unavailable on comparably priced competitive vehicles.
Modest Price Increases
For 2011, Toyota has dropped the least expensive Prius I trim and added a modest $250 price increase across the lineup. The least expensive is the Prius II with a base price of $22,800 and includes keyless entry, cruise control, dashboard multi-information display and Touch Tracer controls. The Prius III, the most popular 2010 model, starts at $23,800 and adds an AM/FM/CD changer with satellite radio, an eight speaker sound system and Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone system.The Prius IV with leather trim, heated front seats, auto-dimming mirror, and various lighting and trim upgrades makes a considerable jump to $26,600. The most expensive Prius V, which includes light-emitting diode (LED) headlamps and foglamps and 17-inch alloy wheels starts at $28,070. Additional options for most trim levels include navigation and an advanced technology package.
The 2011 Ford Fusion Hybrid challenges the Prius on refinement, and according to some reviewers, offers a better driving experience. Some Prius drivers complain that the hatchback design limits the visibility through the rear window. They refer to this drawback as the “Prius blind spot.”
You have to take a test drive to see how it feels to you. The new generation's rear view has improved a bit, even if the backseat headrests and spoiler continue to partially obstruct the view. Hatchback visibility makes some people crazy and is a non-issue for others. Take a test drive to see what you think.
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