Driving the Toyota Prius

MANILA, Philippines - People who spend over 2 million bucks on a new car will want to enjoy a little bit of luxury.

Who am I kidding? They’d want lots and lots of luxury. And to most people, luxury can come in the form of high-tech comfort and convenience features, a spacious and luxurious cabin, a powerful engine, or even styling that turns heads on the street as they drive by.

With Toyota’s Prius hybrid car hitting all those marks four out of four, then that makes it a bonafide luxury car. So how does the Prius pull it off?

First, the Prius makes use of Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive (HSD), which enables the car to run on its gasoline engine, electric motor or both. When there is ample charge in the hybrid battery, the car moves silently and emissions-free up to speeds of 40 kph and up to a distance of 2 kilometers – without the gasoline engine assisting. Once the charge in the battery drops to a certain level, the gasoline engine kicks in. When the engine is on, it powers vehicle motion whereas excess energy is used to recharge the batteries.

The Prius’ Hybrid System is not just user-friendly; it’s downright idiot-proof. The energy-management computer controls engine and motor operation seamlessly and automatically. A real-time graphic display judges the driver’s acceleration and shows whether power usage is in the “Eco” zone or not.

The new 100-hp 1.8-liter (up from 1.5) 16-valve VVT-i gasoline engine develops more torque (142 Nm) to reduce rpm and lower fuel consumption at higher speeds. The electric motor, on the other hand, generates 80 hp and a strong 207 Nm (at 0 rpm!) Unlike internal combustion engines, electric motors don’t need to rev to develop torque but can deliver maximum torque from rest.

When starting off (there is no ignition key, just a Start/Stop push-button and the smart key fob in your pocket or handbag, much like those in newer BMWs and Mercedes-Benzes), the vehicle runs solely on electric power. As it speeds up both the electric motor and the gasoline engine drive the wheels to achieve smooth and strong acceleration. On the road and with the two powerplants propelling the car, performance is as energetic as a 2.4-liter sedan’s – albeit with the fuel economy even tiny 1.0-liter hatchbacks will be proud of.

Another energy-maximizing feature of the Prius is its regenerative braking. This allows the motor-generator to recharge itself by converting heat energy released from braking into stored electric energy, which is used later on when the vehicle starts to move again. This is very similar to the Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) used in F1 cars today.

Moreover, when moving without pressing the accelerator (e.g. gliding or coasting to a stop), excess energy gets rerouted back into the batteries. Last but not least, the engine shuts down when the vehicle comes to rest, say at a stoplight, helping achieve fuel efficiency as high as a fabulous 38 kilometers per liter.

The new Prius comes with three driving modes: Eco Mode emphasizes fuel efficiency and helps drivers achieve their best mileage; Power Mode offers more responsive driving due to more aggressive algorithms in the programming of the accelerator and the automatic continuously variable transmission (CVT). It won’t transform the Prius into sports car, but it’ll make you feel that you’re driving a bigger-engined sedan; and EV (Electric Vehicle) Mode, which allows driving on battery power alone at low speeds, battery charge permitting.

The use of sound-absorbing and vibration-controlling materials, plus the adoption of a high-rigidity body, help further minimize noise in the cabin. It’s not as hushed as the cabin of a Camry, but every bit as solid as an Altis. The compact, high-output nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) hybrid battery features smaller cooling intake and exhaust ducts and fans which maximize energy storage capacity. The battery is strategically tucked in the rear area to increase cargo space by 30 liters more than that of the 2nd-gen Prius.

The Prius’ aerodynamic performance is one of the world’s best with a coefficient drag of 0.25. That’s aerodynamically slipperier than a Ferrari. Aesthetically, the Prius looks the part of a high-tech vehicle. Up front, the short hood that flows down into the smallish grille opening and further down to the bumper has visual ties to the current Vios. Large clear-lens headlamps with the pulled-back-eyelid effect seen on recent Toyotas plus vertically stacked driving lights on the bumper create a futuristic and purposeful look.

The side view is the one that’s most reminiscent of the first two generations of the Prius. It retains the now-trademark sloping hatchback roofline with the front and rear quarter windows. A distinctive character line that slopes upwards and runs the full length of the car help achieve a dynamic look. Bold, 5-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/45 tires add visual and road-going sportiness.

The rear is yet another familiar Prius design. The unique double backlight, which greatly improves rearward visibility, makes an encore appearance, as do the vertical tail lamps, this time rendered with LED brake lights.

Inside, the cabin lives up to the space-age character of the Prius. The dashboard, with its sweeping lines, is highlighted by the digital display that monitors the car’s hybrid system as well as fuel levels and gearshift position. The center console flows gracefully towards the driver, almost as if it was offering the gearshift lever to him or her. Buttons for the audio and climate control system are large and intuitive. Versatility is boosted by the large trunk space and the split-folding rear seatbacks. Overall cabin space is about midway between a Corolla Altis and a Camry – bigger than the former but smaller than the latter.

Reflecting its eco-friendly nature, the driver’s seat cushion, scuff plates, and other interior components are made of ecologically produced plastic. A whimsical touch are the textures on the instrument panel. Look closely and you’ll see that they were inspired by the veins on a leaf.

A state-of-the-art Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), ABS, seven airbags and an Active Headrest for the driver and front passenger take safety features right up to the levels of European luxury sedans. The body has been further developed to create an advanced safety structure to reduce injuries to both passengers and pedestrians.

The Prius meets both the ultra-stringent Euro 5 and the new 2015 Japanese fuel efficiency standards, the strictest standard for emissions in Japan and perhaps the world. Its emissions were lowered by a substantial 75% compared to the previous model.

With 1.25 million units sold since its pioneering 1st-gen model debuted in 1997, the Prius leads the global hybrid race among the car manufacturers. It currently retails locally for P2.25 million – far from cheap, but certainly a fair price for a car that’s arguably more technologically advanced than luxury cars costing much, much more.