The new Prius keeps its iconic profile but the car has been stretched slightly -- about a half inch. The bump on the roof was moved back. (Toyota Motor Corp.)
The worst possible gas mileage you'll ever get in the 2010 Toyota Prius is 26.8 miles per gallon.
I know this because I did every thing humanly possible to beat this redesigned hybrid into submission.
The car's sticker reads an eye-popping 51 mpg city, 48 mpg highway -- 50 mpg combined -- and most people will best that mileage without even trying. So I had to see what it would do if I did everything wrong.
I rolled the windows down, turned the AC on high and gunned the 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine in the parking lot, hoping to spin the optional 17-inch low rolling resistant tires in defiance; let's put all 134 horses, a combined total from the engine and electric motor, to work.
Clicking on the headlights and toying with the sunroof like a 6-year-old, I wanted to leave the car's batteries depleted by the time I returned. Thumping the accelerator harder than John Bonham thwacks the drums in the "Immigrant Song," I took off with a laugh.
The course Toyota set up in Napa, Calif., for journalists testing the vehicle was supposed to demonstrate how efficient the company has made its third-generation Prius. But Toyota wasn't going to fool me with its California eco-speak. Detroiters know better: The Prius is evil.
It has insidiously crept its way into the mainstream automotive world with its high mileage, clean emissions and cult following. Half gas, half electric, it's a marketing monster, devouring everything around it -- including Detroit's lunch -- with a silent little electric hum. The new model is even quieter, as it debuts its first completely belt-free engine. Every accessory, from the air conditioning to the water pump, is electric only.
Prius best in midsize mileage
I took to the road in "braking mode" instead of "drive." The brake mode is great for cruising down mountainsides but lousy for attempting to achieve respectable gas mileage. Every time I took my foot off the accelerator, the engine would start to slow the car through compression braking. (Think downshifting on a manual.) And I was doing my best to never let the hybrid system take over -- Toyota has improved 90 percent of the system. When the engine silently shuts off at traffic light, you can't even rev in neutral.
Foiled again!
This is the car that embodies all of Detroit's fear and loathing. People throughout America think the word Prius means hybrid. Make that mistake in Motor City and auto executives break out in facial ticks. It's no wonder I wanted to take out my misguided aggressions on it.
But coasting this 3,000-pound machine up hills and accelerating down them, randomly coming to a full stop before flooring it again, did not work. The Prius still bested the city mileage of every single gasoline midsize sedan.
Sorry Detroit, I tried.
With no attempt to hyper-mile, the new Prius will likely top 60 mpg. Seventy miles per gallon is not impossible and requires just a little concentration.
But, wait, it gets worse.
Quirkiness replaced with function
Toyota's overhaul makes the Prius almost fun to drive -- certainly a lot more fun than the previous generation. Some of the car's quirkiness has been replaced with function and Toyota has given the Prius a significantly better interior.
If the first-generation Prius was a gimmick, and the second generation a threat, the third generation just might be a punch in the gut for anyone trying to catch it. It's scary good. Here's why:
Then there's the adaptive cruise control, found on much more expensive vehicles, which will adjust the car's speed based on the vehicle in front of it. There's also an intelligent park-assist feature, back-up monitor and a lane-assist system. This helps you drive the straight and narrow and holds you in your lane. For multi-taskers yapping on their cell phone, yelling at their kids and driving, this system might prevent a few accidents.
Toyota also debuts its Safety Connect system, which will notify authorities after an accident, has an SOS call button and can locate the vehicle if it's stolen. Of course, if any future owner chats up this system too much, just reply "On-Star." Not every great idea starts at Toyota.
However, Toyota has a new platform for the Prius and this one responds to the road and the driver. The steering has much better feedback and the car bites into corners. That may not be the best eco-friendly way to drive, but the car's suspension handles aggressive driving pretty well. The rear drum brakes on the previous generation were replaced with discs and all of the electronics, such a stability control, help but were never overbearing. It's never going to be a racer, but now it can race.
The center mounted digital gauges feel natural and futuristic. There was little to dislike, as hard as I tried.
Revving the engine as I returned, I felt exhausted. My leg ached from thrashing the throttle and the herky-jerky driving left me beaten. The worst I could do was 26.8 mpg -- which was way better than it should have done. Drive it normally and it will produce incredible mileage.
Now, with so many improvements, even at its worst, when it arrives later this spring, it's one of the best cars out there.
Scott Burgess is the auto critic for The Detroit News. He can be reached at (313) 223-3217 or sburgess@detnews.com">sburgess@detnews.com.
Report Card
Overall: HHHH
Exterior: Excellent: Sharp crisp lines give the new Prius much better definition.
Interior: Good. Clean and well made, the interior offers more space and more comfort.
Performance: Excellent. Good power at launch and extremely quiet ride at any speed. Transition from electric to gas is seamless.
Safety: Excellent. Four front airbags, side curtain airbags for both rows, electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes and active headrests
Pro: High mileage and good ride create a good eco-friendly package.
Con: Not made for fast twisty roads.
Grading Scale
HHHH Excellent HHH Good HH Fair H Poor
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