Monday, 13 June 2011

Prius+ set to make its mark!

(Source: Auto Express, 8 June)

14 years have passed since the Prius made its debut, and in that time the car has passed the two-million sales mark, as well as revolutionising the eco-car movement. Now, Toyota is introducing the Prius+, and Auto Express has a first test to report.

"This new, bigger Prius+ might just be the car Toyota should have launched all those years ago," says the magazine. "Why? Simply put, the new seven-seater MPV answers all of the criticisms that have been aimed at the standard version over the past decade.

"It’s bigger, has more head and leg room, boasts improved luggage space and is better to drive. We think it’s more pleasing on the eye, too, with the higher roofline and MPV-style tailgate providing the appearance of a modern-day people carrier.

"Those extra dimensions make all the difference inside. The Prius+ is 155mm longer, 30mm wider and 110mm taller than the standard model, while the wheelbase stretches by 80mm. Obviously, you can’t enlarge a car and make it lighter and more fuel efficient at the same time. Those revisions, including the newly fitted lithium-ion battery pack, result in the Prius+ being 110kg heavier than the hatchback.

"As a result, fuel economy falls from 50mpg to around 42mpg, according to Toyota’s claims. However, emissions are likely to be less than 100g/km, so, as with the standard car, the Prius+ will be exempt from road tax.

"This, combined with the extra space on offer, will be enough for many buyers to accept the slight drop in fuel economy over the regular version. There’s certainly no lack of punch, either. Power comes from the same 98bhp 1.8-litre petrol engine/battery-electric set-up as in the hatch. And due to revisions to the final drive ratio, this combination means the seven-seater can sprint from 0-60mph in the same time of 10.4 seconds."

That’s not all. Steering is "more precise", and the new Pitch and Bounce Control technology "allows the electric motor to increase or reduce torque output to cleverly counterbalance imperfections in the road".

This results in a car that remains "flat" and is "more stable in corners", making it a "very comfortable car to drive". That extra room also means the Prius+ is more adept at longer family trips, "while the luggage area provides a similar amount of space to the Ford S-MAX: 971 litres with the seats in place, or 1,897 litres with them folded".

The only issue Auto Express has is the price, balking at the £3,000 premium expected over the original hatch. Other than that, the Prius+ "stacks up well on the road", and will "appeal to families looking for an alternative to a regular MPV"