Toyota Prius test drive since 2009 hatchback
Test drive Toyota Prius - a new step in the future
Of course, progressive bells are captured by the spirit when the usual conventures of the sedan inside are open with smooth rounded hemispherical multifunctional forms. The feeling that you are twisted in the Welcome to Prius spacecraft. Outside, aerodynamic body forms are immediately noticeable. The Hybrid Synergy Drive icon immediately reports the combination of a gasoline engine with an electric motor. By the way, the system is intellectual to surprise the driver is not required to strain the brain. The modern full-hydrical system monitors the position of the accelerator pedal to determine: ride electricity, gasoline or both sources of energy, smoothly switching between them.
According to the manufacturer's application, the streamlined body shape was developed using modern airflow modeling, the resistance coefficient is 0.25cd - for those who understand the aerodynamics. I also like the most of all the bodies. By the way, now the prius is equipped with new streamlined LED headlights with autorplulating and headlight cleaners. In addition to energy saving, intelligent illuminators themselves will direct light streams depending on the illumination angle and the necessary height.
Another chip of modernity Smart Key is already known to us in many automotive brands. In Toyota Prius, the door opens with one touch, and the engine starts with one touch. By the way, the motor does not turn off, even if you, holding a smart key in my pocket, go along the way to the store, so that in the cabin, quite, you can leave someone and do not freeze.
And yet three things remained for me incomprehensible. First climate control. Why is it so cold in the cabin? Even heated seats begins to feel when halfway passed. What to say about warm air the power of the electric car is not enough to warm out the cabin at a deep minus outside the window.
Second parking without hands. Despite the presence of a system for switching on the system and the appearance of prompts to control on the monitor display, it did not work out to be parked with the Intelligent Parking Assist system. Perhaps the sensors could not determine the distance and see the markup on the snow-covered Moscow streets and the courtyards.
Third: Alloy wheels of the 15th size seemed to me small for a sedan with a length of 4.46 m and a height of 1.5 m was a feeling that the wheels are not from this car. And although I admit that for funny aerodynamicity, this size is important, in practice the advantages of this I never felt.
But inside me pleased with me. The first ergonomics of the working area. All you need, at hand, nothing superfluous, everything is very intuitive. The second pleasant black and gray plastic, silver inserts and soft leather insanity of the cabin, of course, if the car is already warmed.
About everything in order. On the upper spherical display in the left half of it, a large digit of the speed of the speed bounded by semicircles of the gasoline level pointers and instant fuel consumption is displayed. Near the projection of the drawing of the handle of the automatic transmission. By the way, the projection of the high-speed regime on the windshield turned out to be very and very comfortable thing. No need to be distracted from the road for a second! In addition, some indicators of the navigator are inscribed in this projection, for example, a large green turn arrow appears 400 meters to the point of the maneuver, which also has a beneficial effect on the safety of motion. The second half of the top display takes on the on-board computer with the projections of various systems: you can get great to take yourself on the way, looking at what your car feeds, compare 5 minute fuel consumption, speed on different sections of the path, and much more interesting. The large touchscreen display on the center console displays the intelligent navigation system (in detail in the photo gallery), audio system, telephone and other information. The small display below it shows the temperature and power of the climate control fans. The central console itself has the original form of its top panel raised high, which improves the access of the pilot to the contents. And all the utility devices, the type of box for trifles and the connector for recharging (cigarette lighter) are located in the niche of the central console. The so-called, the glove box is broken into two zones: the shelf for documents and a box for other necessary - conveniently.
By the way, the place in the prison is more than you can assume at first glance, the knees do not rest on anywhere, the distance between the driver and the passenger allows you to properly gesticulate in all directions. Passengers of the rear seats feel comfortable and have the opportunity to pull the legs forward. The baggage compartment in the usual position provides 445 liters of free space. Not the limit, but enough for a couple of spacious suitcases.
But the main advantage of Toyota Prius lies in fuel economy. How do you cost you 5.7 l / 100km in Moscow traffic jams? This is possible at the expense of the intelligent engine on / off at a complete stop and a pulp before the battery power. To control the heart of Toyota Prius on the central console there are 3 buttons: eco-mode (electric motor), hybrid and gasoline drive. True, when you turn on the last fuel consumption increases to the usual sizes. From my practice of taxiing a prius in a hybrid position, on the track, the voraciousness reached the average results of 7.1 l / 100km.
The power of the hybrid motor, as well as its functionality, consists of the summable forces of the motor and the battery. A four-cylinder row engine with a volume of 1.8 liters produces 99 horsepower. Plus 37 horses living in high-voltage nickel-metal hydride battery, and we get the total maximum power of 136 hp Well, for the sports compartment is not enough, and for the urban economy supercar is quite enough.
Conclusion: The new Toyota Prius is very economical in urban conditions, very spacious and universal is beautiful. That's just for the winter conditions of Russian latitudes, it is absolutely not adapted very cold!
Testaled Toyota Prius, engine 1.8l, hybrid drive with electric motor, automatic stepless transmission, Prestige equipment, cost 1,177,000 rubles.
FINAMAUTO thanks Toyota Motor for the car provided for a test drive.
Posted by: Katerina Romanova
Source: Business Autoclub
