Prius vs BMW M3 vs MPG at Top Gear: Who Wins?
I really didn’t like what the Top Gear guys did the last time to a Prius, but this time I think they have a point (partially). They’re going to race a Toyota Prius (1.5L)versus a BMW M3 (4L). Of course the BMW will win the competition… but wait… not the speed competition. The BMW will get 19mpg and the Prius only 17mpg. Why is that? Does it prove that the Prius is more a gas-guzzler than the BMW? No.
The following phenomena happened: the BMW, with its 4L engine, did the rounds with its engine at low rpm, because it can do much more with it, and the Prius over-revved its small engine, consuming much more than its specifications.
The Top Gear hosts say it all depends on the way you drive, and I agree with that, but the competition they just did here doesn’t prove that if you take your Prius to a calm city walk its consumption will be more or equal to a BMW’s, in whatever manner you would drive that BMW. Even if you keep it to the engine’s stall limit, a minimum value of consumption would still be much higher than the Prius has. My father does that with his 2.0L Ford, and he keeps getting values of 23MPG in a relatively small town (not a lot of red lights).
On the other hand, there is more pollution in making the Prius than a Hummer can do in a lifetime by burning gasoline. I agree with that. Toyota would have to find a more economical and ecological solution for their Prius to be really green from head to toe.
Go ahead and watch the video!
Want to comment? Write here: