2010 Toyota Prius

2010 Toyota Prius

Continuing our sporadic series on other writers' reviews of the 2010 Toyota Prius, today we move to the hallowed grey pages of The New York Times.

Yesterday, reporter and blogger Micheline Maynard wrote a detailed post on her impressions of the new 2010 Prius compared to her current 2009 model. (She had chronicled the purchase of that car in a lengthy 8-part diary, part of her ongoing "Prius Diaries"--yes, it's not your father's New York Times any more.)

Overall, Maynard likes the new 2010 Toyota Prius, saying: ...the third-generation Prius feels solid, and looks strong on the road.

She likes the interior: The seats in the new Prius would please anybody. They’re comfortable, yet firm, you have a good view of the road and you can order them in a heated version which is a nice perk for those of us who live in cold climates.

She also discussed the three different operating modes the driver can select: Eco (which detunes for the car for maximum fuel economy), Power (which goes the other way, for quickest acceleration), and EV (which runs the car solely on its batteries for short distances).

Maynard must have gotten some bad information, but we give her credit for showing her correction inline (as we do here too): EV mode ... turns the car into an electric vehicle. This has a very short range that Toyota says is about 24 miles one mile. 

She had a few dislikes, too: She doesn't like the new front-end styling, calling it "crunchy" and "angular". And she thinks the center console is "funky". Her mother-in-law also complained about rear-seat noise.

Showing just how far the online Times has come,  Maynard even included a short YouTube video in her piece. It pretty much summarizes her comments in the piece, so watch the video if you don't feel like clicking through to the piece itself.

REVIEWER REVIEWED:  Business Week on 2010 Toyota Prius: We Like It. We Really Like It!

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[The New York Times]