Price: From R332 700
Much like the aforementioned Honda Insight, the Prius is not the prettiest car on our roads. But you don’t buy it for its looks; motorists buy it because they want to save the planet and also because they have faith in the Toyota brand (otherwise they would opt for a cheaper Honda greenie). Its green credentials are certainly faultless -“ its CO2 emissions rating is only 94 g/km, which is utterly superb. We also like its funky interior, which happens to be exceptionally spacious and comfortable too.
Now that the public is becoming increasingly open-minded about environmentally-friendlier forms of transport, Toyota SA couldn’t have timed the arrival of the next generation Prius any better. But, as opposed to the original concept, the newcomer has now been refined to appeal to a broader audience; especially the younger generation.
When the previous-generation Prius was introduced in 2004 it immediately went on to win the prestigious International Engine of the Year award, and won five consecutive green engine awards for the past five years. Even so, Toyota have redesigned 90 per cent of its engine components; resulting in a lighter, more powerful and more efficient system. The old 1,5-litre engine is now replaced by a 20 per cent more powerful 1,8-litre engine that fights clean with 14 per cent less Co2 emissions. The new power plant produces 72 kW of power at 5200 r/min and 142 N.m of torque. Higher torque at lower revs equates to quieter high-speed runs and an impressive 10 per cent improvement in fuel consumption over long distance hauls.
Improvements have also been made to the electric motor and battery. The new Prius features a 60 kW electric motor that produces 20 per cent more power than that of the previous model. As before, this electric powerplant works in tandem with the petrol engine, but in the new car it is now capable of sending power to the front wheels at speeds of up to 50 km/h. The new electric motor also acts as a high-output generator which, during acceleration or under braking, produces electrical energy that can be stored in the car’s on-board battery. As a result, the Prius never has to be plugged-in to recharge.
In addition, the new nickel-metal hydride battery generates 27 kW more than before and has been repositioned in such a way that it does not impact on cabin space.
Besides some small exterior modifications to improve aerodynamics the new Prius is now 20 mm wider and 15 mm longer, the roof apex has also been moved backwards by 100 mm to improve rear passenger headroom. All of these minor adjustments may seem insignificant, but Toyota is confident that they go a long way to significantly improving interior space.
The interface in the new Prius allows the driver to choose between three preset driving modes: EV, ECO and POWER. From rest, and at speeds below 70 km/h, the new Prius automatically selects EV mode, which runs the car solely on electrical power. This mode can be overridden by the driver and, when there is sufficient battery power, remain in electric mode for around 2 km – with zero CO2 and Nitrous Oxide emissions.
ECO mode reduces throttle response and adjusts the air-conditioning unit to improve economy by 10 to 15 per cent.
POWER mode increases throttle response by 25 per cent, with maximum performance for times when a little oomph is required. The Prius completes the 0-100km/h sprint in a claimed 10,2 seconds and achieves a top speed of 180 km/h – performance figures similar to a standard 2,0-litre family saloon.
New technological improvements to the Prius include an eco drive monitor which provides the driver with real time feedback on how the hybrid system is operating as well as the level of efficiency. An appealing new standard feature is a head-up display system that projects information onto the windscreen, so your eyes never have to wander too far from the road. The information can be regulated by a new innovation called Touch-Tracer, which utilises similar technology to that found on the iPod. Touch sensitive controls on the steering wheel allow you to select a variety of option without ever having to take your hands off the steering wheel.
Included in the list of new features is an energy monitor that shows current operating mode and the flow of electric power, a hybrid system indicator which displays real-time accelerator use and a consumption monitor indicates fuel consumption and energy recovery levels at one- and five-minute intervals.
The South African market can expect to choose from two specification levels, namely advanced or exclusive (Prices are still to be confirmed). Local cars will also be backed by a very comprehensive maintenance plan and will only require servicing every 12 months or 15 000 km.
You can Read more in our special report of the Prius in the September issue of CAR magazine.
