Let’s get one thing straight: There are very few inanimate objects which inspire my personal appreciation, respect, and interest as much as the 2010 Toyota Prius does. It’s a happy-faced, slick, aerodynamically-optimized, practical, comfortable and dead-reliable vehicle which exists for the sole purpose of letting concerned Americans feel like they are making a small but genuine difference in their efforts to reduce their consumption of the world’s finite resources.
I will go to my grave believing that Toyota made an incredible corporate gamble to spend a billion of their hard-earned dollars against all odds to commit to the development and production of the Prius in the mid-nineties right during a period of historic low oil prices for the sole purpose of arming Toyota with the advanced technology for a global future of ever-scarcer oil, and 
that the Prius began to make a profit years sooner than is often rumored, in a way that no automotive nameplate that does not begin with “Toyota” would consider even vaguely possible. Over time, the Prius has opened the eyes and minds of many of its most ardent detractors. In my perfect world, it would extend the same service to the few remaining narrow-minded, mouth-breathing, blinders-wearing, right-shoulder-passing mullet-mobile owners.
A little harsh and yet strangely familiar? My rant is a mirror image of an anti-Prius diatribe heard here recently. Well, the Prius does tend to generate highly polarizing points of view. Which evoke less-than stellar memories of my high-school hallways and the Vietnam War era. Back then, the rant was “America, love it or leave it”. And now we’re wishing death to . . . owners of a certain car?
But Jack Baruth’s editorial moves on to the more mundane question of how we at TTAC should rate cars (in the number of stars sense). Your vote in the poll is overwhelmingly clear: 86% prefer Option #1 — Rate the car in accordance with how well it performs its particular intended mission. I hear you, and Jack and I actually agree on something.
From the beginning, the Prius was conceived of and designed to be one thing only: an ultra-efficient, economical and practical compact car (here’s an interesting story on its origins). So I’ll leave the critique of the Prius’ Corolla-like interior appointments, steering feel and handling and the Prius’ limitations in flying up long mountain grades to others. Anyway, my feelings about the Corolla have been made quite clear here. And the 2010 Prius and current Corolla are more alike then ever, both having been “rationalized” (rationed?) by Toyota in the pursuit of cost control and higher profits.
I tested a stripper 2010 Prius II with a price of $22,000 (plus $750 delivery) bought by my neighbor. A comparably equipped Corolla 
XLE lists for $19,489. The “hybrid premium” amounts to $3261. Ownership costs for both vehicles are very similar except for fuel. At $3 gas, and 15k miles annually, the Prius saves $652/year; at $5 gas, it’s $1100/year thriftier.
My neighbor is replacing a Corolla she bought new twenty years ago (and still looks great). She expects to keep the Prius equally long. Given the likely twenty-year trend of gas prices, she’s going to come out way ahead with the Prius. In fact, if gas averages only $5, the Prius will repay its entire purchase cost in fuel cost savings. Pious or practical?
I took the Prius on a sixty-mile drive of back roads with winding and hilly sections as well as long straights and returned via the freeway. It did not come as a big surprise to me that response was quicker in the Power mode than in the Eco mode. And the “OM” emitted by the engine on acceleration and hills would be highly appreciated by certain meditative sects. They would also undoubtedly rate the Prius’ serene highway manners highly for Zen Driving Meditation.
I’m not a practiced Prius hypermiler, but with a little sensitivity to the pedal formerly known as the throttle, I found myself in pure EV-only operation for some extended periods on winding, undulating stretches at around 40-45 mph. The Prius felt like it was coasting with the engine off . . . even uphill. A new challenge for engaging driving that doesn’t shred tires.
But no test of the Prius is complete without some freeway shenanigans. No attempts to break the 300km/h barrier here. But drafting behind a semi at 61 mph shot the economy meter into the 100+ mpg range (see photo for proof). And then the 
ultimate Prius test: holding up traffic in the right lane. On a thirty-mile level stretch in the valley, cruise-controlled 65mph yielded 55+ mpg. Being even more obnoxious, at 60mph the meter was well over 60 mpg. Unfortunately, traffic was so light that I couldn’t really create a traffic jam or inspire right-shoulder passing, despite my best efforts. My trip total was just a tick over 50 mpg, despite forcing the Prius to chant lots of OMs.
On the way back through town, I made good use of the 2010 Prius’ most significant new feature, the EV Mode. It allows speeds up to about 15mph for as long as a mile, absolutely perfect for sneaking up on and scaring unsuspecting pedestrians and bikers.
Cars are kind of like people: they’re happier when they stick to their intended life mission and are judged accordingly. The Prius knows its mission and carries it out well. It has earned a bit of smugness along with its five stars.
109 Comments on “Review: 2010 Toyota Prius, Take Two...”
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Agreed its a great Car and well designed, the only flaw I note is the CVT Transmission! They are un repairable, they have to be replaced at a High Cost, its the same problem currently with the Mini, recently in the local Ontario press there are a few clips of people having to replace there Transmissions on Mini? BMW is quoting over $10,000 dollars for such replacement, in one case they offered to pay 50%, the owner rejected it, and so it goes.
2010 Toyota Prius – std equipment: smug
this is a car for grandstanders and posers but little else
Critics of TTAC often assume that every opinion expressed on this site is shared by everyone who writes for it. In fact, this site encourages writers to express a diversity of opinions. This review can serve as Exhibit A.
I haven’t been able to drive the new Prius yet. The styling is certainly an improvement, and the interior is much roomier and better finished than that in the competing Insight.
TrueDelta will have reliability stats for the 2010 Prius as soon as possible. The previous generation car has been very reliable. We also provide real-world fuel economy information on the car.
http://www.truedelta.com/models/Prius.php
I echo the praise not just for the car, but for more reviews by different columnists here of the same vehicles. Exactly what I was hoping for from TTAC.
I still have to agree that this is a car for people that hate cars. Personally I don’t hate the Prius. It is still an ugly car, but those “finite resources” (lol) that it’s saving is what my Jeep is using. ;)
For me, the first time I drove a 2nd Gen Prius was a geeky joy ride. Great size inside, got you where you wanted to go and had fun buttons and screens. This one ups the ante by being a road going spaceship in looks and gadgetry and for that I love it. Looks depend strongly on color, though.
I love my planet, but I’m not duped into thinking this car is going to save anything. Ride a bike instead and let those of us who like pretty buttons and whiz-bang technology “om” ourselves along pretending we’re Buck Rogers.
If you keep a car for a long time, this car is worth the extra money vs. a Corolla. If you need to drive BIG ENGINE Monsters, then this isn’t for you.
The whole “smug” thing is as much BS (the bull kind, not the Bertel kind) as any other stereotype. See it repeated often enough, and it must be true, right?
TrueDelta has hundreds of Prius owners participating in its research, and I hear from them often. They are often proud of the fuel economy of their cars, much as TDI owners are. In neither case do owners write as if this makes them better than other car owners. If anything, I find them much more helpful than the typical car owner.
Oddly enough (or not), it’s people who have the attitude that “no one else is going to tell me what to buy” who suggest that Prius owners are smug and should be buying something else.
As for the CVT, that used in the Prius and other Toyota hybrids is a totally different type than that used with conventional powertrains. The Prius CVT is not based on belts and pulleys, but on planetary gearsets. No where else you can find planetary gearsets? In conventional automatics.
Concerning the interior of this car, there’s a lot of the little things that imports seem to always do better than the domestics in this. Like the space found under the center-console. That’s ingenious!
Toyota did a fine job of making this car very livable and utilitarian for what it is. I would never own one, however, just not me. Though I do envy the all-electric quietness of that mode.
As I’ve said before, I prefer my internal combustion straight, like my bourbon. But I’m very happy that a lot of other people are driving the Prius, and other gas saving cars, since it extends world supplies of the magic hydrocarbon that much further, and reduces ghg emissions.
Terrific review, made me smile in spots. Very glad TTAC saw fit to get another perspective on this car. Thanks!
“My neighbor is replacing a Corolla she bought new twenty years ago (and still looks great). She expects to keep the Prius equally long.”
Cost of replacement batteries? I don’t know if this is truth or rumor, but I’ve heard that the gas mileage of the Prius decreases steadily over the course of ownership as its batteries age?
Two things have always bothered with with respect to the Prius.
1. Was this car meant for the US or for Japan? Building a hybrid for Japan always made a certain amount of sense with higher gas taxes there. They’ve been living with $5 gas (100% imported) for years. But I sense the Prius was designed more for the US market, which is a gamble.
2. For three years, I’ve been arguing that the feds should mandate MPG readouts (and other pollution displays) in all new cars. The pollution displays are just guilt porn: if you emissions system is faulty a CEL will pop up anyway. But if you really make it easy for drivers to understand how much gas they are using at any one time you can see savings en masse. I know. Carteresque. But what all prius owners rave about is their MPG display, which I’ve had in a SAAB since the late 90s.
(I read the link, which was helpful, but it does sound as if Toyota envisioned this as a global engine and then tailored it to the US as it became a success)
I think the exterior looks pretty nice. If the interior was not so poisonous to my eyes, I’d consider owning one.
Well, maybe not, hybrids don’t seem to do well in Canada because of cold weather battery performance, but I don’t have a hate-on for the car like some others.
I don’t get the oft-repeated idea that “the Prius is for people who hate cars.” I don’t drive a Prius, and probably never will. My current car is a Saab with a 5 speed manual, and I enjoy the whistle, honk and pish of the turbo, thankyouverymuch. I have always prioritized driving enjoyment and involvement above all else.
Still, how can you call yourself a car enthusiast and not appreciate the Prius? It is a technical tour de force, a car you can buy today that remains a fantasy proposition for most carmakers. It is, by all accounts, well-built, reliable and a true performance car relative to its chief mission – efficiency. Others can debate whether the cost equation makes sense, the styling, driving dynamics, etc., but Toyota has hit one out of the park in my opinion.
This review, in contrast to the earlier poor review of the Prius, does tell more of the story. I took issue with the earlier review because it basically trashed the car by not taking its intended purpose into context. Between the two contrasting reviews I can now find some inner peace. Thanks.
Why can’t this car be just for people who want to save gas and drive around in a decent car?
It’s like people who drive big trucks. It ain’t because they have a small dick, they might have to tow something and like going offroad, or just like the space. Don’t assume the person has issues or is trying to smother people with environmentalism ideals.
I don’t understand why the 2010 Prius should get a pass for it’s Dodge Durango steering feel, bad handling, and an interior that looks worse and seems less ergonomic than the 2004-2009 version just because it does a good job with its high MPG mission. IMO, the loss of the popular readout screen alone would have kept it away from 5 stars.
This is an odd comparison, but if a Challenger SRT8 was reviewed wouldn’t it get criticized for its handling and interior shortcomings despite it looking, sounding, and going like the throwback muscle car it intends to be?
I’m not asking for the Prius to be a GTI here, but would giving the Prius (at least optionally) some sharper Civic-type dynamics really be a major problem?
One thing that isn’t mentioned is all the technology in the Prius that will hopefully filter down to other cars. For example: the Prius has no belts. The power steering, AC, fan, etc. are all electric. This provides not only better gas mileage but it’s more durable, reliable, and it requires less maintenance.
The first-generation Prius was developed for Japan. My understanding is that after that they’ve been designed with the U.S. also in mind–hence the increasing engine size and interior space.
A terrific review that made a totally convincing argument. The only problem I had is that since my attention span is usually no longer than 15 seconds, I couldn’t find the end of the first sentence of the second paragraph.
On another note. Sometimes when reading a car review, I have to think: what would Setright say? In the case of the Prius, I’m stumped. On the one hand, he appreciated sophistication (and was always quick to criticize American cars as hopelessly vulgar and meanly engineered). And he loved Hondas for their intelligence and thoroughness. On the other hand, he hated Toyota’s cynical disregard to driving enjoyment. I think Setright would laud Toyota for this technical tour de force, and yet he’d complain that the Prius’s pleasures are needlessly intellectual and stingy.
«The “hybrid premium” amounts to $3261. At $3 gas, and 15k miles annually, the Prius saves $652/year; at $5 gas, it’s $1100/year thriftier»
At 5% interest rate, it takes 5 years, 8 months to just amortize on the $3621 extra @ $3/gallon.
At 5% interest , it takes 3 years, 4 months just to get amortize on the #3621 extra @ $5/gallon.
This car only makes financial sense if you plan to keep it for at least four years. If you plan to keep it for say, ten years, are you sure its maintenance costs will be the same as those of the Corolla?
Paul, nice review. I rented one recently in SoCal and found the car completely adequate for it’s job as an ultra-efficient transportation pod. Was it invigorating? Nope. Gratifying? Maybe. I certainly chuckled when I returned the rental Prius without filling the tank up after a 60-mile trip.
I live in (arguably) the Prius capital of the US, Berkeley, CA. It seems like one in twenty cars is a Prius, and rightly so as speed limits in town are 30mph or less with tons of stop lights. This is a perfect environment for a Prius. If I needed a new car, I would consider a Prius because my driving is all within 5 miles of home with 90% urban driving. Use the right tool for the job, right? If I had a long highway commute I would look at a VW Jetta TDI…If I had more $$ and could do some track racing perhaps a Exige S…
As for the smugness, there are so many hybrids around here they just blend into the autoscape. I laughed out loud at Mr. Baruth’s editorial, particularly the line about the “smug, open-mouthed, emo-glasses-wearing, lane-blocking owners.” It’s true, there are some smug hybrid @$$holes but smug peeps also drive SUVs and sports cars (and shopping carts, this IS Berkeley after all). Can Prius haters get over their inadequacies and just buy other cars? To each their own. If I had a Prius I would just feel good that I was saving money on gas and hopefully making a difference in greenhouse gas emissions. No smugness there.
Last story: Once, as a pedestrian, at a four-way stop I saw four Prius each silently idling, waiting their turn. Weird.
Your friend who might keep it 20 years will likely have to replace the batteries twice. This is a big-ticket item. If she re-sells after more than just a few years, the next buyer will deduct the battery replacement cost from the price.
Environmentally-aware buyers need to take into account the contaminants created by the battery manufacturing process. Of course, these prigs can rest secure in the knowledge that the neighbors admiring their greenness will never ask. That would be as un-eco as questoning the ethanol boondoggle, or global warming junk science.
Well I have owned a 2004 Prius and think it is the best car in the world.. bar none. But since I have had knee surgery and will need another one in the future, I don’t know how much longer I will be driving the Prius. My only complaint is the tight fit for such a big guy as I am. The larger doors of the Sienna and the Avalon have started to get my attention and I will most likely trade up to one of these in the near future. I just wished they made a larger PRius type car that had the easier access of the larger vehicles. I will keep hoping for such an option.
Critics of TTAC often assume that every opinion expressed on this site is shared by everyone who writes for it. In fact, this site encourages writers to express a diversity of opinions. This review can serve as Exhibit A.
There’s nothing wrong with editorials that some of us disagree with… it’s the ones that insult a segment of the readership that might be a problem.
While this readership sometimes expresses odd opinions, none are odder than the extremely perjorative ones directed at the Prius. Good grief, can’t some folks just let it go? Nobody is forced to buy one. I certainly don’t intend to. This reminds me somewhat of when Bush’s father opined that he didn’t like broccoli. Like the world really cared, right? I’m guessing that at least he tried it, though.
OK, I’m digging the diversity of opinions stuff but I’m still waiting for a review of a domestic that says it sucks followed by a review of the same car saying no it’s good and then a review of an import that says it’s good followed by a review of the same car saying no it sucks.
“Cars are kind of like people: they’re happier when they stick to their intended life mission, and are judged accordingly.”
And this is why I find lots cars that are often talked down by sites such as this to be quite good cars despite the flack (that’s not a cut at TTAC, print rags are far worse about thinking only a BMW & Porche produce cars with round tires).
Lots of “car guys” are in fact not at all “car guys” because they don’t get this. In truth, they are “a-particular-type-of-car guys” with narrow focus. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Some of us have just found appealing any car that can do what it was designed to do exceptionally well. Judging a Prius for its cornering ability and 0-60 times misses the point terribly.
windswords : OK, I’m digging the diversity of opinions stuff but I’m still waiting for a review of a domestic that says it sucks followed by a review of the same car saying no it’s good and then a review of an import that says it’s good followed by a review of the same car saying no it sucks.
Already been done. Sort of: I reviewed the Town Car, overall it was positive. Alex Dykes did the same, hated it. Then I also drove a Camry LE (sucked) and a Camry SE (kinda nice)…
While there is no point to what I said, this is where I compliment Paul for his perspective on the Prius. Most every car has a mission, and its our job to explain that mission and why the car is good/bad at it.
Michael Karesh I agree about the whole “smug” thing (damn you South Park!)
For thier own reasons an owner of any vehicle type can be smug. Such as, “I drive a three ton SUV, if I get in a wreck your lesser vehicle, you get killed and I walk away unhurt”
There is even a certain smugness in labelling someone else smug. :)
Cost of replacement batteries? I don’t know if this is truth or rumor, but I’ve heard that the gas mileage of the Prius decreases steadily over the course of ownership as its batteries age?
Yes, but not so much as you’d think. The Prius’ battery management software is very good at preventing the kind of deep charge/discharge cycles that prevent battery rot. This is one huge advantage Toyota has over, say, Honda. Many original, high-mileage Priuses (fleet units) have not seen performance decay while many Insights and Civic Hybrids do.
Basically, you’ve got eight years of warranty. There are many, many cars that won’t get that kind of usage out of their head gasket or automatic transmission, both of which cost as much as the Prius’ battery pack.
“My neighbor is replacing a Corolla she bought new twenty years ago (and still looks great). She expects to keep the Prius equally long. Given the likely twenty-year trend of gas prices, she’s going to come out way ahead with the Prius.”
…assuming nothing goes wrong with it. I’m sure the Prius is a well-engineering vehicle, but there’s still a lot of new tech. No one owns a twenty-year-old hybrid. If it turns out the batteries don’t last twenty years and you have to replace them, your math might not work. You’re taking a gamble on the long-term costs of maintaining tech that doesn’t have much of a track record yet.
“In fact, if gas averages only $5, the Prius will repay its entire purchase cost in fuel cost savings.”
These sort of calculations are fine, but they ignore the opportunity cost of the money. When you factor that in (what if you’re taken the $3200 hybrid premium and invested it?) does the math still work?
I’m not saying the Prius is perhaps not a good car, the right car for your neighbor, etc. But there seems to be a need for owners to justify their ownership based solely on the gas savings. It’s like there is some inferiority complex – “well, it is an ugly, utilitarian car, but LOOK at the savings!”
This car only makes financial sense if you plan to keep it for at least four years. If you plan to keep it for say, ten years, are you sure its maintenance costs will be the same as those of the Corolla?
It’s probably marginally better to compare the Prius to the Matrix, Camry or Venza, size-wize, as it’s more accommodating than the Corolla by a good margin. As for the maintenance costs, well, it’ll likely be close even older Priuses are proving to be thoroughly reliable.
I’m really glad to see a review of the base Prius instead of the loaded trim levels. This is the car I think more people will buy, and it makes much more sense as it comes with all of what you’d need in a car. A lot of the criticisms in many reviews have cited the easily-over-35K price tag of the top-trim model. This one, starting at just slightly more than a comparable Matrix, is very palatable.
“are you sure its maintenance costs will be the same as those of the Corolla?”
I’m willing to bet the costs will be lower. The engineers at Toyota had more leeway in ordering the best parts for the Prius. Toyota was afraid of hybrid technology having a bad reputation for unreliability so they went all out with the quality.
Corolla engines on the other hand presumably were told to build to a price rather than a standard.
A friend of mine bought a first gen of these years ago. He knew nothing about cars, still does not. I drove it a few times, other than heavy steering and some brake weirdness, it seemed OK as transportation. Suprisingly big and comfortable tho.
It takes a little to get used to the engine shutting down instead of ideling, but it really makes sense to provide that feature, even in cars that are not hybrids. Why waste gas and spew unnecessary fumes. Especially in cities, that is so appreciated.
Another friends Honda Civic hybrid is a little different, you cannot run it on electric only. The electric motor acts as sort of a supercharger, it works flawlessly, seamlessly.
Again, heavy steering and weird braking are the only things I noticed.
Both these vehicled return amazing fuel comsumption numbers. My VW returns returns 32 mpg in mixed traffic, less on hooning days. Both the hybrids do way better.
As for hooning, thats not what these cars are about. You would not buy a Buick LeSabre if you wanted to carve corners. Same here. One does not buy these cars to drive for fun. These cars, like the majority of cars out there, provide simple transportation, in varying levels of comfort.
My VW can be tossed easily, putting a smile on my face and panic on my passengers face. I like that. No one would use these hybrids for that.
I hope someone makes a hybrid car thats fun to drive. I would love to dance by gas stations on my flings into the woods. So far no good. There are however a few deisels that are fun to drive and have high milage numbers. I would love to see the Golf GTD varient sold here in the states.
Why is it ok to be smug about a fast car, old car, rebuilt car, modified car, first car, and all other forms of car, but it is not ok to be smug about an eco car?
Honest, who is the bigger bore, the know-nothing rich guy who buys a car because of its prestige value, or the tree-hugger who is trying to “better the environment”? Both of these people are trying to say something about their values, but we figure that one is acceptable while the other needs to be called out? We all try to say something about who we are with our possessions: our SUV tells other suburbanites that we are really tough outdoorsmen/women; our Volvos tell others that we are safety freaks; our minivans tell others that we have given up and are waiting for the cold embrace of death. And, with some exceptions, people feel smug about their cars.
Let’s just accept that not everyone wants to go fast, and that does not make them losers.
When I try hyper miling in my E34, I get about 26mpg average, maybe. I miss getting better mileage, but I decided it was not worth driving FWD or irritating cars.
I hope someone makes a hybrid car thats fun to drive.
There’s the defunct Honda Accord hybrid, as well as the Lexus GS400h. I don’t think that’s what you meant, though.**
The problem is that sporty hybrids face the same issues as GM’s hybrid half-ton trucks: the intersection between “hybrid” and “sporty” is very slim and, commercially, not worth catering to at this time.
** though if I ever win the lottery, I’m signing the papers on a GS400h the same day.
I don’t like the 2010 as well as the 2009. It seems like the cheapness of the new one (which was actually well-stated in the earlier review) is not going to win over many owners of the previous model. Of particular note is the complete elimination of the Multi-Function Display (MFD). Among other things, it means that, unlike the earlier car, the back-up camera is not available on non-Nav equipped cars.
OTOH, for those who aren’t Prius-savvy, this review isn’t really far off the mark, either, and for those buyers, the 2010 will probably be just fine. I would anticipate Prius sales to continue their steady, upward trajectory.
“My neighbor is replacing a Corolla she bought new twenty years ago (and still looks great)…”
Ummm, is there any chance that she is selling the car? Hmmm, please?
Who wouldn’t want to buy that from her? It’s probably been babied, been regularly serviced, washed, vacuumed and waxed, and I bet it doesn’t yet burn oil.
This is why Toyota is at the top.
Twenty years ago they built a car, that if you did basic maintenance to, would last twenty-five years or more. If it still doesn’t have any rust, it’s porbably going to outlast me.
ajla nailed it.
There’s no reason the Prius shouldn’t have engaging dynamics –but that would probably not be the Toyota way– which is why I still believe the star rating is more appropriately valued by a car’s aspects that transcend its intended mission in life and enable it to do other things well.
“There’s no reason the Prius shouldn’t have engaging dynamics ”
Yes there is. A firmer suspension would lead to a harsher ride. To get decent ride quality and a firm suspension you need a more sophisticated and expensive suspension setup. If money went into the suspension it would have to come at the expense of something else: reliablity, durablity, efficiency, etc.
Monty, It’s for sale, an automatic wagon, 200k miles, runs like a top; she’s asking something like $1750.
Martin Schwoerer, Don’t blame me for the long run-on sentence; I just copied Jack Baruth’s rant and changed some of the words – mirror image, as I said. Did you read it?
There’s no reason the Prius shouldn’t have engaging dynamics
Well, actually there are several.
Good tires go a long way to bettering handling, but murder fuel economy over the eco donuts the Prius uses now. Increasing wheel size also increases unsprung weight, which further penalizes fuel economy.
Next up, engineering the likes of Mazda or Honda’s independent suspension in lieu of the rear beam eats into trunk and battery space and adds cost and complexity to the whole car. A more taught suspension also adds harshness and noise, which requires noise-dampening material (which weighs more) to compensate.
I’m sure that, if Toyota could make it work, they’d have blessed the car with a 3-Series’ (or at least a Mazda6’s) suspension, but that would have entailed compromises elsewhere, in price or in packaging. Note that Mazda, who has access to Ford’s hybrid technology, does not seem to have the business case to make a 3- or 6 hybrid, and the more normal Civic hyrbid (which suffers the aforementioned price and packaging issues) sells at a fraction of the Prius’ volume.
Isn’t it the Prius III that you tested, not the Prius II?
virages, Prius II, as in the trim level offered, not generation.
Holy hell, jumping from a one-star review to a five-star review? Never seen that before.
Anyways, let me actually read the review and get my thoughts straight..
Already been done. Sort of: I reviewed the Town Car, overall it was positive. Alex Dykes did the same, hated it. Then I also drove a Camry LE (sucked) and a Camry SE (kinda nice)…
Also, IIRC, RF hated the GT500 and JL loved it…
Rate the car in accordance with how well it performs its particular intended mission.
OK. Fair enough. BUT, if that’s the case, explain this:
So I’ll leave the critique of the Prius’ Corolla-like interior appointments, steering feel and handling and the Prius’ limitations in flying up long mountain grades to others.
Woah-Woah-Woah! ALL cars need to steer, hence is it is a part of the “intended mission” of every car. How on Earth can you just dodge addressing that aspect of the vehicle?
Regardless of whether or not others have addressed it, you don’t get a pass if you’re going to objectively judge the car. You can’t just *ignore* negative aspects of a car if they’re as integral as um… STEERING. Steering is kinda important, Mr. Niedermayer.
Seriously. That latter sentence could just as easily read:
“So I’ll leave the critique of every negative aspect of the car to others, and I’ll instead focus only on the positive.”
If every TTAC reviewer simply chose to ignore every attribute that *happened to be a negative* for a particular car, we’d have one hell of a lot of five-star reviews. That’s for *damn* sure.
Heloooooooooo bias.
“I hope someone makes a hybrid car thats fun to drive.”
There’s the defunct Honda Accord hybrid, as well as the Lexus GS400h. I don’t think that’s what you meant, though.**
as a hybrid, the gs450h is a joke. It’s fuel economy ratings are marginally better than the gs350 and it’s not worth the premium you’ll pay for it.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too.