High tech eco-car

Oct 23 2009 Alistair Coull & Val Jessop

WITH its third generation Prius 'green' car, Toyota remains convinced that hybrid drive is the core technology for the 21st century.

Use of a combination of petrol engines and electric motor is not new, but the sophistication applied by Toyota to such a concept illustrates just how far engineers have come towards developing a full-blown eco-car.

The latest Prius, with its 1.8-litre petrol engine and electric motor boasts a 134bhp output, while fuel consumption is an amazing 72.4mpg (entry model). CO2 emissions are down to a tax-beating 92g/km, unmatched by any other family car.

Some 90% of the hybrid drive components have been redesigned in the new Prius which has a sharper, sportier image.

A deeper bumper and new headlights give the profile a more modern appearance and the spoiler that splits the glass tailgate completes the sporty look, albeit at some sacrifice to rear vision.

The Prius is bigger and feels roomier than the Mk2 model.

The 112mph hybrid car provides a driving experience which promotes a greater appreciation of how we all should be driving.

Despite the hi-tech, the Prius is a simple vehicle to drive. The switch from electric motor to petrol power and back is seamless and the stop-start system equally smooth and simple.

The silent start and pull away is weird at first, but you get used to this, just as you do when the engine 'cuts out' at traffic lights. .

Select to drive in electric mode only (EV) and stay below 31mph and you could expect to clock up a range of up to 1.6 miles before the battery runs out. Under normal conditions, the car will endeavour to operate in electric mode only anyway, but the second it needs extra energy, the petrol engine delivers extra power. It sounds complicated, but it's not.

The Prius moves well most of the time, but is not good at soaking up road ruts. However, it's comfortable most of the time, though it can suffer from body-roll on winding roads.

This was the top-of-the-range Prius T Spirit auto so official fuel consumption is slightly less at 70.6mpg than that earlier quoted for the entry model.

Steering is light and precise, and the T-Spirit model demonstrated impressive grip and generally held its composure well.

Inside, the 'floating' centre console is impressive and I liked the head-up display with the speed projected onto the windscreen in the line of vision.

The T Spirit is pricey at £21,230, but includes an extensive kit list. Entry models get head-up display, seven airbags, and auto air con. The T Spirit, which Toyota reckon will make up 50% of Prius sales, adds HDD navigation, improved Intelligent Park Assist, rain sensing wipers and 17-inch alloys.

- Val Jessop

WHILE some car companies are still thinking about it, Toyota already has over 30 years experience of hybrid drive development.

During that time the Prius has seen power rise by 35%, fuel consumption reduced by 23% and emissions cut by 25%.

Global sales of the Prius top 1.2 million, over 130,000 in Europe, and while our British reserve has ensured it has taken a little while to catch on, we've come a long way from fighting shy of it to fighting over it.

The new 1,798cc-plus-electric motor Prius comes with a lighter hybrid power-train, meaning CO2 emissions for the tested model, the range-leading T-Spirit, of just 92g/km and an improved average mpg of 70.6mpg .

Those are the best figures around for a five-door family hatchback, so owners will avoid car tax and make fewer trips to the fuel pump.

The controls and information read-outs in the new car are not as confusing as in the earlier model and it is a much more user-friendly package.

The cabin is extremely airy, the park-forward-reverse automatic gear lever couldn't be simpler, and the keyless start-up routine seems less fussy.

And Toyota with a bigger four-cylinder petrol unit of 98bhp and its partner electric motor, together producing 134bhp, has the right kind of performance for a family-sized vehicle designed to pull five adults and a standard 445 litres of luggage.

The top speed is 112mph, with a 0-to-62mph time of 10.4 seconds that is better than the sector average.

Torque is adequate - but ought to be a little better.

The £21,230 top-of-range T-Spirit is a quiet runner.

With its larger 17-inch wheels - shared with the T4, this model gets parking sensors and camera assistance, which is a worthwhile option as rear vision is a little restricted.

Other T-Spirit goodies include automatic headlight levelling, cruise control and a good satnav.

Buyers can add even more high-tech stuff like water-repellent side-window glass, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and dusk-sensing headlights.

The quality fittings, comfort and build excellence of this Toyota does mean it would be worth paying for one other option - leather upholstery.

The Prius has made huge advances from its first 1.5-litre format, but the progress won't stop there.

Trials of a plug-in, all-electric model are scheduled for next year, but for now, there is a long queue of government and official bodies, green-minded firms, and private buyers who want a slice of the eco-friendly Prius action.

- Alistair Coull

FAST FACTS

Toyota Prius 1.8 T-Spirit

Price: £21,230

Mechanical: 134bhp, 1798cc, hybrid engine driving front wheels via automatic gearbox

Max speed: 112mph

0-62mph: 10.4 seconds

Combined mpg: 70.6

Insurance group: 7

CO2 emissions: 92g/km

BIK rating: 15%

Warranty: 3yrs/ 60,000 miles