Topic: Test Drive: 2015 Toyota Prius

[Autos_Editor]

You're too old, let go. Nobody listens to techno.
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[JohnnyMac]

Tough sell right now with how good fuel economy of normal gas engines are now in cars, add in cheaper gas, and an old design, and you got a recipe for low sales.  That being said the Prius is still a leader in the category, just too bad the category is such a small player.

[Noto]

I should at this point mention that I have all the patience of your average three-week-old kitten. In fact, the very concept of patience is offensive to me.

Your conclusion is interesting...I posted here that in previous reviews, others concluded that the V and C were the odd ducks.  I cannot find the original reviews that I read to support that statement though.

I trust your opinion more, though, given your comment on current sales.  Kudos, Jables!

[Ex-airbalancer]

Never seen mileage that bad in  almost 6 years of owning the same  generation of Prius , that is even with the wife doing most of the driving

[JacobBlack]

Never seen mileage that bad in  almost 6 years of owning the same  generation of Prius , that is even with the wife doing most of the driving

Never seen as bad as 5.9? Even in winter? I call bollocks on that.

[Blueprint]

Never seen mileage that bad in  almost 6 years of owning the same  generation of Prius , that is even with the wife doing most of the driving

Never seen as bad as 5.9? Even in winter? I call bollocks on that.

My average of 6.5 with a press-fleet C-Max makes picking one of these two a no-brainer. The Ford felt much, much more refined, had some scoot, real leather, muted engine sounds and plenty of room. Also did 4.5 on short trips (granted, in the fall, not in the winter coldness of June  - found this one stuck in your outbox, Jacob?)

[Noto]

Never seen mileage that bad in  almost 6 years of owning the same  generation of Prius , that is even with the wife doing most of the driving

Never seen as bad as 5.9? Even in winter? I call bollocks on that.

I think he meant the 10L/100km...

[Ex-airbalancer]

Never seen mileage that bad in  almost 6 years of owning the same  generation of Prius , that is even with the wife doing most of the driving

Never seen as bad as 5.9? Even in winter? I call bollocks on that.

Call it what ever you want, it all depends on the driver,

There is over 130,000 km on the car on our Prius

[Ex-airbalancer]

Never seen mileage that bad in  almost 6 years of owning the same  generation of Prius , that is even with the wife doing most of the driving

Never seen as bad as 5.9? Even in winter? I call bollocks on that.

I think he meant the 10L/100km...

No 5.9 , I do not how you would even get close to 10

[johngenx]

I agree that the "regular" Prius is due to be replaced.  The C is an awesome little car - were it in the showroom when we bought the Corolla, I'm 90% certain we'd have opted for the C.  The V is great with lots of room and I even really like the oddly proportioned clunky-looking hatch shape - it's so odd that it seems to scream "hybrid" even more than the "Prius Classic."  And the price uptick for the V is minimal.  The V just makes much more sense.

Right now Toyota has a great hybrid line up with the superb Camry sedan, a few Lexi, and the C and V.  Not sure what they could replace the standard Prius with - is it even needed now that we have the V?  Maybe a hybrid compact truck?

[Ex-airbalancer]

I agree that the "regular" Prius is due to be replaced.  The C is an awesome little car - were it in the showroom when we bought the Corolla, I'm 90% certain we'd have opted for the C.  The V is great with lots of room and I even really like the oddly proportioned clunky-looking hatch shape - it's so odd that it seems to scream "hybrid" even more than the "Prius Classic."  And the price uptick for the V is minimal.  The V just makes much more sense.

Right now Toyota has a great hybrid line up with the superb Camry sedan, a few Lexi, and the C and V.  Not sure what they could replace the standard Prius with - is it even needed now that we have the V?  Maybe a hybrid compact truck?

In the U.S. In May , Prius sedan sales were still at 44,615, for a 6 year old model is pretty good , the V was at 12,000 and the C at 16,000
The V will take a hit once the Rav 4 hy ride comes out
I could see them  taking the best from Corolla and adding it the Prius sedan

[JohnM]

The worst I've seen on a tank is 6.0 with blizzard and sub 25C temps.   The Prius is plenty fast for passing assuming the battery is up.  From a standstill or up hill, it is no jackrabbit.  I am now getting 4.3 to 4.5 in the summer temps but this involves very little high speed highway driving where it is more like 4.8.

Jackrabbits don't buy these things and the great bonus is the Prius (and probably most hybrids and evs) teaches you to be a more efficient driver.   For $26k is it quite an amazing package but I'd go for the plug-in if I were in the market especially with the provincial rebates.

Cheers,
John M.

[JacobBlack]

I challenge you to do a 4 km trip in stop-start traffic with the heater on and get less that even 9 l/100 km. I guarantee you can't do it. I've had hypermiling experience and training, and I have been as low as 3.3 on some journeys. But after three days of only school run driving in winter, in a real city, economy suffers. Sorry if I didn't make the cause clear enough to you in the article, Airbalancer.

[rrocket]

I challenge you to do a 4 km trip in stop-start traffic with the heater on and get less that even 9 l/100 km. I guarantee you can't do it. I've had hypermiling experience and training, and I have been as low as 3.3 on some journeys. But after three days of only school run driving in winter, in a real city, economy suffers. Sorry if I didn't make the cause clear enough to you in the article, Airbalancer.

I did precisely that in a Lexus HS. I'm sure it could be done in a Prius

BTW...hypermilling training? You couldn't figure it out on your own?

[JacobBlack]

Some people are humble enough to learn more when given the chance. 

[brownb]

Poorly written review (the review, not the car). How unscientific to review anything under extreme conditions...low temperatures, short trips. I own two Prius' right now, a 2004 and 2007. Both routinely get 45mpg in mixed rolling hills and flat terraine. 35mpg around town, which is all up and down. Mileage declines in the winter to 39mpg. Its the physics of the battery, not the car.  The technology to build the car is expensive, but also pioneering. The car is the best of both worlds, mid-sized space, reasonably comfortable, reliable with compact economy. And, mpg estimates for the newer hybrids are bogus, or incrementally poor. Also, drive conservatively and you'll be rewarded with good gas mileage.

[JohnM]

If the car is not warmed up then short 3km trips might well produce ridiculous numbers.  If you do a lot of that kind of thing then the plug-in is the ticket.  A block heater helps a lot as well.

I've only met one person who averaged 7 L/100 km in their Prius.  We talked in a ski parking lot beside his Prius which had many small dents.  He didn't know really why he bought the car and his teenage kids standing with us described him as "a lunatic".

Watch out Jacob, your kids are taking notes!

Cheers,
John M.

[JacobBlack]

You clearly didn't read the whole review. Do you not see where I say I pulled the mileage down? Or where I mention that's the first part of my week only?  Or that I achieved much better scores at other times?

[JacobBlack]

If the car is not warmed up then short 3km trips might well produce ridiculous numbers.  If you do a lot of that kind of thing then the plug-in is the ticket.  A block heater helps a lot as well.

Cheers,
John M.

Thank you! This is exactly the point I was trying to make!

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Poorly written review (the review, not the car). How unscientific to review anything under extreme conditions...low temperatures, short trips. I own two Prius' right now, a 2004 and 2007. Both routinely get 45mpg in mixed rolling hills and flat terraine. 35mpg around town, which is all up and down. Mileage declines in the winter to 39mpg. Its the physics of the battery, not the car.  The technology to build the car is expensive, but also pioneering. The car is the best of both worlds, mid-sized space, reasonably comfortable, reliable with compact economy. And, mpg estimates for the newer hybrids are bogus, or incrementally poor. Also, drive conservatively and you'll be rewarded with good gas mileage.