15 years ago, the world was introduced to the first mass-produced hybrid, the Toyota Prius. The look was undeniable, and until now, nothing about that look has changed.
You could always spot the Prius driving down the road, with the very simple, blocky look. The look was not necessarily the draw to the Prius, with people choosing to drive this vehicle for the versatile reliability and the massive fuel savings.
Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press’s auto critic notes, “The car’s shape is wedgy, with a rising beltline and small, angular lights. The 2016 Prius is lower and wider than its predecessor, but remains recognizably a Prius, the fourth generation of the world’s best-selling hybrid.”
The Prius is the automotive industry’s best-selling hybrid and Consumer Reports subscribers have voted it miss popularity. Toyota is trying to bring out a new look by updating the car with a Global Architecture theme. This means that the upcoming Camry and the Prius will have the benefit of a foundation that is shared between the two vehicles, as well as parts that are interchangeable.
The 2016 Prius will provide a great vehicle to people interested in a hybrid, but Georg Kacher of Automobile Magazine says, “When the battery is fully charged, Prius-san takes off silently and graciously. That’s really impressive, and it does make you feel good. Of course, the e-effect won’t last long…Even in optimum circumstances, we’re told that about a mile of all-electric cruising is all that you can expect. This is a reminder that the Prius is a hybrid, not an EV.”
The 2016 may seem under powered with the 1.8-liter gas engine and two electric motors that maintain the 121 horsepower for the Toyota Prius. The 2015 model, having 134 horsepower may seem odd to some but, Gabe Shenhar of Consumer Reports says, “That’s due to different Japanese calculation method that takes into account the has engine’s 95 hp and the electric motor’s 71 horses.”
With models running from $25 – $30,000, catching the great fuel economy can be had by more of the world.
