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ELECTRIC DREAM
Theres a shock in store with the Toyota Prius
If theres one thing you wont get from me, its a doom-laden view of the future - you know, peak oil, climate change and all that. In contrast, you can be forgiven for thinking that its my job to ‘big up’
the car industry and all its associated activities.
After all, my job is to tell you how great cars are - especially the new ones, the fast ones and the luxurious ones.
In fact, all the ones the green people would like to see crushed, turned into jewellery and, in some post modern, ironic sort of way, sold at new age music festivals to like-minded bunny-huggers.
Well, I hope youre ready for this - and youre sitting down - because Im going to come right out and say it: Toyotas Prius is a rather good car.
So what makes the Prius a good car? Before answering that its worth spending a few moments examining it.
Although Toyotas first attempt was a commendable one, it wasnt what you could call easy on the eye. In an age where marketing and image matter, it doesnt matter how clever a car is if it doesnt look
appealing in the eyes of the consumer. It didnt and, unsurprisingly, wasnt embraced by the majority.
Fast forward to the second generation car we have now. Its certainly more glamorous than Toyotas first attempt, yet retains the tried and tested practical family car silhouette.
But thats where the similarities with your average Ford Focus ends. The fancy hybrid drive gubbins is very clever - too clever for me. Whats important is that it just works. Theres nothing worse than owning a stylish music player if its controls are confusing because youll end up not using it.
The Prius is the reverse, and as such is incredibly user friendly. In fact, it proves easier to drive than a regular car.
And heres the crux of the argument for the Prius. Yes its very clever and yes its very economical - I routinely saw the high 50s mpg on the trip computer without even trying.
Most importantly for a car thats tasked by the environmental lobby to chance perceptions and win over petrolheads it must not be intimidating or complex to drive, that way it will appeal to a broad audience.
It goes something like this: with the keyless ignition system its simply a case of walking up to the car, getting in, belting up, pressing the starter button, sticking the car in Drive, releasing the handbrake
and pulling away.
As an added bonus, if the engines not too cold or the cars already been driven, youll be driving off under battery power for the first few yards.
From an ergonomic perspective, everything thats driver orientated in the cabin is simple to operate, The steering is Toyotas usual town lite setting, making urban running a breeze, while the stubby
fascia-mounted gearlever requires nothing more than a quick nudge in the desired direction.
Theres no manly, oversize lever protruding from the floor, which frees up space in the cabin.
Continuing the ease of use theme, the digital instruments and, in the case of the flagship T Spirit specification, the touch screen sat-nav, audio function, climate control and Bluetooth phone interface all work well.
Theres a cavernous centre armrest storage box and rear seat passengers are positively spoilt by the amount of room available. In essence the car works well as a five-door family hatch.
Theres no question that the cars lavish specification and exceptional cabin refinement are two important factors in the cars appeal. However, the more time you spend behind the wheel the more you appreciate the relaxed nature and simplicity of the driving experience.
The Prius is no sports car but it can be driven briskly, although ultimately it prefers it if a more sedate pace is maintained. One bonus of the hybrid drive is the electric motors ability to step in and add
some extra oomph when youre accelerating or putting the petrol engine under a heavy load.
Along with the extra pace, the electric intervention helps reduce an ordinarily heavy hit on the cars fuel consumption.
Ride comfort is first rate for something of this size, while the transition back and forth from electric running to the petrol engine is almost impossible to detect. On the latest cars you have option of
switching exclusively to electric power, which is handy in car parks and for stop-start traffic.
Dont worry, the petrol engine kicks in above a predetermined (low) speed or when the battery charge is low and in the first instance it wont let you impersonate a milk float if the cars too cold.
I could never describe myself as an environmentalist but I do like the Prius, not because its become the poster child of the enviro-transport lobby, but because the technology behind it just works and its a smart, refined car that doesnt cost buckets of cash to run.
There are less expensive compact family hatches around, but none with Lexus-levels of standard kit. However, for me the Prius is a shining example of what can be achieved when technology is used positively and not just to superficially impress buyers. As a fuss-free mode of transport for active urban families it hits the spot. Why cant more cars be like the Prius?
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