Toyota Prius News
-
In 2013-2015 Toyota Prius and 2014-2017 Prius V models, an issue with voltage buildup could cause either a fail-safe mode or failure of the hybrid's inverter.
-
2020 Toyota Prius: Up to 56 MPG, now with CarPlay and Alexa for all grades
With more active-safety features and potential to tap into the Apple and Amazon ecosystems, the 2020 Prius keeps on with the mainstream
Byron Hurd -
Some 2019-2020 Toyota and Lexus hybrids recalled for brake booster issue
Toyota has announced a recall over defective brake boosters on some vehicles from the 2019 and 2020 model years
Aaron Cole -
2020 Honda Insight doesn't budge versus Ioniq, Corolla Hybrid
The Honda Insight hybrid sedan enters its second model year with slight price changes. It retains an impressive list of included driver safety aids.
Eric C. Evarts -
Toyota covers Prius Prime with solar panels to test mileage
Toyota is testing the potential of leading-edge solar cells from Sharp, which when placed on the rood, hood, and rear hatch of the Prius Prime might recover meaningful driving range.
Eric C. Evarts -
2020 Toyota Prius Prime gains seating for 5, Apple CarPlay, revamped lineup
The 2020 Toyota Prius Prime plug-in hybrid gains some important functionality, even though some of the key specifications for range and efficiency haven't changed. The most important improvement, perhaps, is that the Prime now offers a third seat in the center-rear, making it a five-passenger car...
Eric C. Evarts -
As some of the industry appears to be leapfrogging directly past hybrid vehicles, in favor of battery electrics—GM with its canceled Volt, for example—Toyota is making no such move. This morning it’s announced that it will open up its banks of patents related to hybrid systems, royalty-free until 2030. That applies to nearly 24,000 patents it holds on vehicle electrification-related technologies, but it excludes patents on lithium-ion battery technology, which is currently the preferred battery format for battery electric vehicles. Of course the move isn’t an act of...
-
Consumer Reports Top Picks show hybrids have come a long way
Carbuyers no longer have to give up space, comfort, features, or reliability to make a difference in saving gas. That's the message of Consumer Reports' latest list of 10 top picks for 2019, published in its Autos Spotlight, and April Auto Issue Thursday. Out of CR's 10 Top Picks, three are...
Eric C. Evarts -
Commentary: Toyota Corolla Hybrid ad brags about not plugging in
In Toyota's latest ad for its new Corolla Hybrid in Britain, it's 2002 all over again. The ad shows the new Corolla Hybrid (in non-U.S. hatchback form) bypassing all kinds of road transportation alternatives from different eras—from a stagecoach and an early brass-era car to 1950s hot rods...
Eric C. Evarts -
Toyota Corolla Hybrid rated 52 mpg: Why Toyota says it won't cannibalize Prius sales
Last week the U.S. EPA released final fuel economy numbers for the 2020 Toyota Corolla lineup. They include a confirmation of what Toyota had claimed when it introduced the lineup last fall: that the Corolla Hybrid will carry an EPA combined rating of more than 50 mpg. The 2020 Toyota Corolla...
Bengt Halvorson -
Toyota Prius AWD-e drive, Hyundai fuel cells, CO2 fines, Audi cameras: Today's Car News
We have a first chance to drive the new all-wheel-drive Prius AWD-e. Hyundai plans to build more fuel cells, but not necessarily for cars. Automakers face big fines for missing tight emissions targets for carbon dioxide in Europe. And our first experience driving with side-camera "mirrors" on real...
Eric C. Evarts -
2019 Toyota Prius AWD-e: First drive of 50-mpg all-weather hybrid
Between the unexpectedly wild styling, the very wide model range, the Prius Prime plug-in, and now the all-wheel-drive 2019 Prius AWD-e, it seems that Toyota has opted for a mix-and-match philosophy for the current fourth generation of America’s favorite fuel-sipper. The big news for...
Dan Carney -
Which automaker made a commitment to end gas engine production (eventually)? What electric car may finally have gotten a name? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending Dec. 7, 2018. This week our news came mostly from follow-up insights from the LA Auto Show as well as mainly disheartening climate reports being released in conjunction with a summit of world leaders on climate change convening in Poland this month. Along the way, there were details to report about upcoming electric cars, and encouraging news about batteries...
-
Audi e-tron first drive, how to buy a Rivian, Toyota Prius AWD-e tech: Today's Car News
We had the first chance to drive the new electric Audi e-tron quattro SUV. Startup electric truck-maker Rivian says it plans to follow Tesla's lead in selling cars directly to consumers—mostly. Toyota reveals how the new Prius AWD-e gets great gas mileage. And a new report shows greenhouse...
Eric C. Evarts -
Toyota Prius AWD-e: Going light on the rear motor helps it hit 50 mpg
The all-wheel drive version of the Toyota Prius introduced last week at the LA Auto Show earns an astoundingly good EPA fuel economy rating of 50 mpg combined—nearly as good as the 52 mpg earned by much of the Prius lineup (LE, XLE and Limited). But the system isn’t nearly as capable as...
Bengt Halvorson -
VW's last engines, Toyota batteries, Ford names: Today's Car News
VW announced that it is now designing the last combustion engines it will sell. Ford trademarks two possible names that could go on its upcoming electric SUV. Toyota explains why it still uses nickel-metal hydride batteries. And a Chinese battery company says it will pass the magic...
Eric C. Evarts -
Lithium-ion vs. nickel-metal hydride: Toyota still likes both for its hybrids
Toyota continues to stay the course with nickel-metal hydride battery cells for many of its hybrid vehicles, even though most other hybrid vehicles from other brands have moved on to using lithium-ion cells exclusively. According to Prius chief engineer Shoichi Kaneko, in an interview this past...
Bengt Halvorson -
2020 Toyota Corolla Hybrid aims for 50 mpg—Prius tech meets frugal mainstream
With the introduction of a 50-mile-per-gallon Corolla Hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota is keeping true to a mission it undertook a long time ago: democratizing hybrid technology, and making it mainstream. The carmaker has long aimed to deploy its hybrid system aggressively into pretty...
Bengt Halvorson -
Today's updates are all about new models from the LA auto show, including new electrics from startup automakers Rivian and Byton, a new all-wheel-drive version of the Toyota Prius, a new Hybrid version of Toyota Corolla, and a fuel-efficient new engine for the Mazda3. All this, plus President Trump responds to GM's announcement that it will kill the Chevy Volt, close 5 plants and lay off 15 percent of its workers. Look for even more today on Green Car Reports. At the LA Auto Show, Detroit-based startup electric automaker Rivian followed up the announcement of its planned new electric pickup...
-
Toyota Prius AWD-e earns 50 mpg with all-weather treads
If you want one of the highest-mileage non-plug-in vehicles on the market—like the Toyota Prius, Hyundai Ioniq, Kia Niro, or Honda Insight, there’s been one quite significant deal-breaker for many Snow Belt families: All-wheel drive simply isn’t a possibility. That’s due to...
Bengt Halvorson -
Commentary: How the media may have punctured plug-in hybrids' balloon
Plug-in hybrids can offer most of the environmental benefits of long-range electric cars with less cost for giant batteries or range worries. So why don't they sell better? As our esteemed former editor John Voelcker regularly noted, consumers just don't get them. As he concluded in his post...
Eric C. Evarts -
Tesla news, VW pricing, electric Harley, and Best Car To Buy: The Week in Reverse
Who will fill the role of Tesla's chairman to replace Elon Musk? Which cars made the list of finalists for Green Car Reports Best Car To Buy for 2019? This is our look back at the Week In Reverse—right here at Green Car Reports—for the week ending Nov. 9, 2018. Toyota teased an...
Eric C. Evarts -
All-wheel-drive Prius, low-priced VWs, expensive Autopilot: Today's Car News
VW announces that its new electric lineup will be priced as low as gasoline vehicles. Tesla raises prices on Autopilot following a two-week free trial. Toyota hints that it may bring an all-wheel-drive Prius to market. And we look at the best deals for November. All this and more on Green Car...
Eric C. Evarts -
Toyota teases all-wheel-drive Prius for LA auto show debut
Toyota has teased what is probably an all-wheel-drive Prius, slated for introduction at the Los Angeles auto show late this month. In studying the picture the company teased, with a Prius churning through the snow, it’s hard to come to another conclusion. The automaker says in a...
Bengt Halvorson