Toyota Prius 2016 Review

It has been quite a delay but now the wait is finally over. The iconic Toyota Prius has landed in the Middle East – though not the first generation as one would expect. No, this is the fourth generation Prius and it is touted to be the choice of commute for consumers. So, let’s have a look at it.

Exterior

You don’t really have to drive it to get an understanding of the exterior. The shape of the car is nothing like you have ever seen before. We are accustomed to particular shapes and sizes when it comes to cars and their various segments. The Prius however changes that outlook completely with its – let’s just call it unique – styling. It is either a hit or a miss for a consumer. I think it looks much better than the previous generation. Those angular headlamps and taillamps does give it a Toyota styling but beyond that it is completely new. The only thing I dislike is the alloy design. Overall, the car is a head turner.

Also See: Prius launch

Interior & Safety

The interior design of the Prius is pleasing to the eye. The simplistic yet futuristic feel you get once you sit inside is that of a space ship. The whole black and white theme makes the geek inside you alive and your first order of business is to play around with the buttons and menus just so you can marvel at the instrument cluster (placed at the middle) and its animations. The cabin is super quiet and with a dash of leather mixed with padded hard plastics, the interior doesn’t feel cheap at all. Moreover, the cabin space is pretty good for a compact car. I especially liked the boot size. The gear shifter is something you will need getting used to. The infotainment screen is average at best but given the price tag, it does the job. Coming to the safety features, the Prius has 6 airbags, BSD with RCTA, TPMS, rear camera and sensors. Overall, great package for the price.

Drive

The Prius is all about fuel efficiency. And, the drive proves it. At the end of every trip, the car presents a scorecard to the driver showing the efficiency report and how the driver can improve his/her driving skills. The entire drive is quiet but you do hear the wooosh of the engine when you floor it. Good thing about the Prius is that it picks up fast when given the pedal. 0-100 is achieved in 11 seconds but that’s not the case. The advantage of the electric motor gives you that instant torque when needed. The car can be driven on hybrid or battery power. The battery gets charged while on the move so you don’t have to worry about charging it via cables. The Prius is powered by a 1.8 liter engine that produces 97 hp and 142 Nm of torque. In addition, the electric motor gives 71 hp and 163 Nm of torque. However, the combined figure is somehow 121 hp due to some hybrid trickery. But, that is enough in my opinion. The overall ride is smooth – over humps and bumps. The cornering is pretty good for this segment. So, I have absolutely no complaints at all.

Also See: Prius First Drive

Verdict

If you accept the looks, the Prius can beat the Corolla for the most popular car award.

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Toyota Prius

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