Toyota Prius test drive since 2009 hatchback
Toyota Prius test drive: Savings under the blow of the elements
While Petersburg is slowly but surely falling asleep in snow, the Kolesa.ru portal is worried that at this time there is little worrying motorists. About fuel consumption. We took on the test the most economical car in the Russian market - the hybrid Toyota Prius, appreciated how snow and winter influence gluttony. Prius - a toy for adults, and the number of playing in it - judging by cars on the streets - is gradually growing. Pay attention to the Japanese miracle mobile for several reasons.
Firstly, this is the cheapest hybrid in our market. At least for now. Secondly, Toyota Prius is a symbol. He seems to be talking about his owner: he doesn’t care what will happen to the environment. He is against the extermination of the Amur tigers or Karetta turtles ... Thirdly, a hybrid power plant, according to passport data, allows you to spend less than 4 liters of gasoline per 100 km of run, which at the present time of fuel is considered the first point by importance. And if the first two positions do not require evidence, then the third reason to look at Prius we decided to test on our experience, at the same time complicating the Toyota task: the test drive went to the accompaniment of abundantly dropped snow that impedes the movement and raising fuel consumption from cars.
To save on fuel, then you need to pay now. Our Prius is in the top version prestige worth 1,347,500 rubles. This version is more expensive than the basic by 243 500 rubles, and differs, first of all, by LED optics, cruise control, light and rain sensors, a leather salon, heated seats, a rear view camera and a navigation system. The engine, on both versions, one, 1.8-liter gasoline, which the electric motor helps, is placed on both versions, and a stranded variator is responsible for the transmission of torque to the wheels.
I think that it makes no sense to describe what Prius looks like, and to reason what it can like or tear off. In general, the designers of this creation will also have their fans. On the situation inside it is worth stopping in more detail. The salon is insanely spacious, at least, such an impression is left by a rather narrow front panel and a huge area of \u200b\u200bglazing. There is a feeling of spaciousness and the responsibility of a soaring central console, reminiscent of a similar interior detail in the latest Volvo models. It is as if separated from the dashboard and conveniently moved to keep the electronic variator selector at hand of the driver. Yes, a blue handle with RNB and D provisions is non-fixed, and works like a computer joystick. The main thing is not to break from frequent use ...
The driver with a height of 180 cm will not be too convenient; I would like to raise the steering wheel higher and move a little closer. But sitting from behind will notice sufficient scope to the front seats. The only drawback is the passenger of the above growth category, straightening his back, with his head to the ceiling. The entire front panel is dotted with buttons, which at first glance is not easy to figure out. A screen passes along the upper edge of the torpedo, where the parameters of the hybrid drive, fuel consumption and other useful road information are displayed. On the central console there is a color display of a quite qualitatively Russified navigation system, to the left of it - buttons that control the projection display (above the dashboard, the speed of movement and navigation menu are displayed), and below the climate control unit. By the way, the latter can also be controlled from the buttons on the steering wheel, and the sensory ones!
You can move on Prius in different ways: on the central console there are three driving modes. PWR - the full -time regime of engines with the possibility of intensive charging of the electric motor battery; ECO - mode of the most economical movement with alternating electric and gasoline engines; And EV is an algorithm in which only an electric motor is used that can without the participation of a gasoline colleague drag a car at 2 km at a speed of up to 45 km/h. Although in winter, with an incomplete charge of batteries, we could not go faster than 32 km/h.
To check how on the snowy roads of the city of Prius will show his craving for savings, we decided to drive about 20 km along the streets (at the peak hour), and then rush the same amount (or stand - as lucky) at the cad. And at first it did not work out: in the ECO mode, we stood a little in traffic jams, a little was assumed in the covered lanes of the Nevsky district, but the average fuel consumption did not exceed 8.5 liters per 100 km! When we got to the ring road, and two small segments drove in Electric Vehicle (EV), and the rest of the path was recharged by batteries in the PWR algorithm, the final fuel consumption showed a little more than 6 liters per hundred!
Prius on the road leaves conflicting emotions; On the one hand, he reacts responsive to the steering wheel, and it should be logically where they planned to be sent. But to give a positive assessment the excessive tendency of Toyota is prevented from leaving the trajectory, scouring and swimming on snow porridge. Winter friction tires paired with ESP seem to cope, but you need to be careful on the cramped street forced by cars. In addition, on bad roads, shock absorbers are harshly encountered by unevenness, so much so that salon plastic creaks and tapps ... As a result, PRIUS liked at least one of its uniqueness. Who else is like that - with a hybrid and the ability to move with a motor off and more than a million? In addition, only hypertension compacts like Daewoo Matiz or Chevrolet Spark can provide such fuel consumption, infringing on equipment, image, space and trunk (which, by the way, Prius is quite spacious - 445 liters). But why should you pay a million one hundred thousand for protecting nature and fuel and go at the pace of a learning driving? While the question is relevant, the club of the owners of the Pruisov will be very slowly replenished with new members ...
We didn't like Toyota Prius
Unimportant stability on the winter road, crickets in the cabin, high price, acceleration, insufficient space above the head in the back seat ...
We liked Toyota Prius
All the rest
The car was provided by Toyota Nevsky, the official Toyota dealer.
Author: Maxim Shesternin
Photo: Roman Ostanin
Source: Wheel magazine [December 2010]
