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2010 Toyota Prius Photo

2010 Toyota Prius - Review

MSRP: $21,400 - $28,070 See Local Classifieds
 
4 12,478 views March 25, 2009

2010 Toyota Prius

2010 Toyota Prius

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Slated to reach dealerships in late May, the new 2010 Toyota Prius proves to be one of the best hybrids on the market today.

 As the best selling hybrid of all time, the Prius has an image to stand up to and in many areas, the new Prius does not disappoint.

The 2010 Prius is powered by a 1.8 liter gasoline engine with a 27 kW nickel metal hydride battery pack.  The Prius offers 134 horsepower and can achieve 0-60 mph in 10.1 seconds.  Hybrids are not known for performance, they are known for fuel economy and the all new Prius sets the standard once again with EPA rating of 51 mpg city and 48 mpg highway.

Journalists reviewed the 2010 Prius during recent test drives in Napa Valley. Part of the test drive included a battle listed by the chief engineer of the Prius.  Journalists set out in a battle to beat the results posted by Prius chief enginer Akihiko Otsuka of 62.9 mpg acheived on a test loop of 33 miles around the Napa Valley area.  Results were astounding.  Nearly every journalist was able to surpass Otsuka's results with many journalists turning in numbers above 70 mpg and one who somehow reached 94.6 mpg, though that lofty figure was excluded from the final results.  In total, 26 teams were able to achieve more than 70 mpg over the course of two days of the challenge to beat the chief.  All teams except for one surpassed Otsuka numbers during the challenge on the 33 mile test loop. 


 
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Comments (4)

  1. By  Aaron Posted: 3/26/2009 11:53am PDT

    "Rigged"

    I'm dubious about these "awesome" results when it's done on a set track at 33 miles in length. Most of that would be possible in all EV by the Prius, so it's kind of a fix, I'd say. Why didn't they do real-world testing like journalists in Japan did with the Insight?
     
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  2. By Eric Posted: 3/26/2009 3:53pm PDT

    "Response"

    As the author of this article, I should point out that a test loop as stated in the article is simply a section of city streets and such that you must follow. They are real roads, the driver must stay on this fixed course. The reviewers were trying to drive for best gas mileage, but a track was not used. It was stop and go city driving. By all means, normal road conditions.
     
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  3. By Eletruk Posted: 4/1/2009 5:18pm PDT

    "Hey, wait..."

    The battery on the Prius is NOWEHERE near 27KWh. If it were, the car could go well over 100 miles in pure EV, I think the actual battery is around 1.3KWh. If it did have a battery that big, I'd sell my Ranger EV (assuming it had a cord to plug in and charge - if not I'd hack it anyways).
     
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  4. By koffee (for here) Posted: 10/30/2010 2:27am PDT

    Wondering if the conception of the ``Abat`` will be built on this line of hybrids, had attended the auto show where the Abat™ was on stage a few years ago now. Several short stories about being built by Scion have been on the net. I drive an 1986 pick up ( and I hope to buy a truck which gets high fuel miles like the Prius is said to. I need a truck like auto.
     
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