Every so often, we like to take a look at what other reviewers have said about the 2010 Toyota Prius hybrid. So we were excited to hear that the Detroit News, from the bowels of Big Three territory, was doing a hybrid showdown comparison test.
The paper rated eight mass-priced hybrids, leaving out both the most expensive luxury hybrid sedans but including three vehicles with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system: the 2010 Toyota Prius, the Toyota Camry Hybrid, and the new 2010 Lexus HS250h.
Facing off against them were the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid / Mercury Milan Hybrid twins, the 2010 Honda Insight, the Honda Civic Hybrid, and the Nissan Altima Hybrid, producing a test that totaled six brands from four manufacturers.
2010 Toyota Prius
2010 Toyota Prius two-tone leather interior
2010 Toyota Prius
Pre-Production 2010 Toyota Prius in Orlando
Reviewer Scott Burgess praised various different cars for excellence in different areas.
For daily performance, he gave the prize to the 2010 Honda Insight for its crisp handling and fun-to-drive nature, though he called the roadholding of the 2010 Prius "much better than its previous two generations."
The styling winner, in his eyes, was the Nissan Altima Hybrid, which he called "the most beautiful in the bunch."
The 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid won the wreath for best interior, earning special mentions for its informational graphics and instrumentation, with the 2010 Prius a close second.
And, Burgess called the Fusion Hybrid "the best car in the group" for its fuel efficiency (at 40 mpg or more) and all-electric running above 40 mph, all packaged in a car that will make you "quickly forget you're in a hybrid."
Where does that leave the 2010 Toyota Prius? Unexpectedly, Burgess shifted gears in summing up. "American has not gotten to [the] point yet" where the "results are more important than the badge". And so, he concludes:
Hitting a combined 50 mpg, the Toyota Prius still rules. Add to that a spacious interior, unique technologies and iconic look, the Prius remains the hybrid to beat. It feels and sounds and runs like the future.
We couldn't have said it better ourselves.
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