Toyota Prius: What the rest are saying

Read our Toyota Prius news report here.

The new Prius was officially revealed to the world at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit back in January. Since then, numerous motoring writers have had an opportunity to sample the hybrid Toyota.

We've reproduced summations from a few of them, to give you a taste of how the car has been received around the world.

Edmunds
"In reviews, we've found the current Toyota Prius to build upon its revolutionary predecessor's successful formula of fuel efficiency and versatility. It's now a more normal car to drive and use, making it easier to transition from a traditional car. While Honda's less expensive but smaller Insight is worth a test-drive, those looking for a hybrid should still start their search with the Toyota Prius."

Autoblog
"The new Prius is no longer just an appliance for commuting. It's almost fun to drive. Toyota just needs to apply some more of its Kaizen philosophy of continual improvement to the ride and handling and we can call it good."

Auto Express
"On the move there's a marked improvement in acceleration and refinement. The extra weight from the battery pack doesn't inspire confidence in corners, but on the whole it's a sure-footed and comfortable cruiser.

"The completely redesigned interior features such gadgets as a fighter-jet style head-up display, adaptive cruise control and a touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel. But if you really want to impress, there's an option of a solar-panel roof which powers a fan to keep the cabin cool and a park assist system, which steers the car for you into tight spaces. Overall, the new Prius is by far the best hybrid on the market."

Business Week
"The Prius remains the quirky alternative vehicle that is immediately identifiable as a hybrid. It still has its signature hard-to-see-out-of (but distinctive) two-tier rear window and the relatively plain interior that reinforces its penny-pincher image. But it's also roomy enough to be practical as a family sedan.

"Diesel fuel also costs about the same as premium gasoline, while the Prius uses inexpensive regular. That always seems to be the bottom line with the Prius: Factor in all your costs and it always seems to come out ahead."

Wheels
"...in city driving the new Prius feels pretty much the same as the old car. It still strolls off the line in no great hurry, needing just over 10 seconds to hit 100km/h. Still, this beats the old car, which couldn't reach 100 kays that quickly unless pushed off a cliff.

"Toyota says it has reworked the soundproofing but we were unable to discern major hush improvements during a petrol-electric tour of central Florida. An android artificiality still characterises the steering and brakes, even if the wheel feels a little firmer to the palms.

"But the Prius wasn't built for the pilotes in the neighbourhood. It's a commuting corpuscle for people who want to shave their fuel consumption in a highly visible way, rather than shave lap times. And at that, Toyota's wondrous blob excels."

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