Smooth transitions - I don't even remember I'm driving a hybrid engine! (Toyota Prius)

Member Name: Miss-C-B

Product:	Toyota Prius
Date:	17/11/08 (111 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: You forget you're driving a hybrid

Disadvantages: Cockpit ergonomics and computerised system need tweeking

The Toyota Prius is actually designed to be a low-emission car rather than fuel-efficient, but fuel-efficiency is a side-effect of the low emission objective.

My current average fuel consumption is about 45mpg and I'm able to fill the tank to about 40 litres (c. 85 gallons). I have heard that the tank is a flexible rubber bladder tank and will vary in size according to the temperature.

I drive on urban, built-up and congested roads covering on average 12 miles a day, 5 days a week with a bi-monthly motorway trip of about 150 miles one way.

Very briefly and generally, the Toyota Prius hybrid engine uses the electric engine when travelling at < 30mph or easy driving conditions and starts to use the petrol engine > 30mph, for accelerations or generally when more power is needed.

The battery is charged by the engine when the amount of power used for propulsion is less than the power output of the engine and is also charged by regenerative-braking (converting the car's kinetic energy into electrical energy to charge the battery).

I'm overjoyed at the quietness of the engine (I can hear my music and don't have to struggle to converes!), love the external styling, like the interior, in awe of the simplicity and smoothness of driving the Prius hybrid engine, but I know that the computerised information/control display system* (in the middle of the dashboard) could be so much better.

[*what is it called??]

I'm not a tecchie and don't claim to be, so I won't give too many technical specifics here because if you're really interested there are many sites dedicated to the specfications of the car, or perhaps you'd be booking a road test anyway; either way, you'd get all the specifics you'd want.

The hybrid engine has already received a lot of write-ups so I'll also skip that part...

I want to mention the cockpit and driver's seat. Before the Prius I was driving a VW Golf and I've also driven a Volvo, and compared to both of these the seat really doesn't compare. I find myself having to slouch in the the seat to get a good perspective out of the windscreen - I haven't figured out why. Is it the seat? Is it the seat belt? Is it too low? Also, for me, the range of adjustment on the steering wheel isn't varied enough.

I also find that I'm developing a withered and numb left leg - it doesn't need to do anything while I drive - but this never occured in the other two cars I mentioned (VW Golf and Volvo), which were both automatics too. I haven't figured out why either. So, in summary, the ergonomics of the cockpit aren't right for me - something's just a little off for me. I'm 5ft.3inches tall.

The seat belt adjustment panel I've had to push to the highest point, but since I"m not that tall who uses it on the lower settings?

The computerised information/control system in the centre of the dashboard really hasn't been designed for me... I can't really operate it when I'm driving because not only do I have to take my eyes off the road for quite a while but I have to stretch right across to the middle - quite dangerous. It takes me far too long to find the right button then I have to push another series of buttons on the touch-screen before I get to the CD I want, or before I can set the right interior climate. That's dangerous.

In a VW or Volvo the buttons and dials are all on display and I develop muscle memory over time to be able to reach for them instantly and with ease, but with the touch screen technology the buttons end up all over the place on the screen and I have to keep looking over to find them.

The sattelite-navigation system is almost brilliant, but it's difficult to change the destination after driving off since you cannot operate it when the car is in motion - a safety feature. It would be more brilliant if I knew how to update the sat-nav information e.g. add new Points of Interests.

The split screen on the sat-nav system is a god-send. One side provides an overview of the area and the other side provides a zoomed-in detailed view of the immediate junction to provide clearer directions at turning points.

I hate having to push several touch-screen buttons before I can get the audio system to change to CD 5. The CD buttons should be displayed as push-buttons and I can just push them right there and then to get what I want - my music in an instant - instead of faffing around with the touch screen.

The rear windscreen isn't brilliant since it's split into two horizontal panels obstructing clear, easy and fast vision - I kind of have to spend a few seconds adjusting my eyes and mind to the view to understand what I'm seeing. A few seconds is a long time in urban driving - anything could happen.

The Intelligent Park Assist drives me nuts. It keeps bleeping, as it should, whenever I reverse. I feel like I"m going to go crazy some days. How would I switch it off or reduce the volume level? I can't. It hasn't been designed that way. However, yes, I know it's a good idea, but it would be better if it were adjustable. Where are my human rights as an intelligent individual to decide for myself whether or not I need an Intelligent Park Assist to bleep at me whenever I reverse? I may or may not need it according to circumstances and I may prefer to use it at various sound volumes.

Another good idea that needs improving: whenever the driver switches off the engine and opens the door without removing the key from the car, there is another alarm!! It also bleeps like crazy!! Until you remove the key from the car. It's objective, of course, is to ensure you don't leave the key in the car. AARGH. How many bleeps do I need in one day, in one driving session? Some days I feel as if my ear drums are about to explode, but if not that then the car is about to explode. The alarms do really sound like the final countdowns on a bomb just about to explode... just like in the movies!

Then, if you have a passenger, the car bleeps again, again like crazy. It bleeps. Because the passenger isn't wearing a seat belt. Omigod. I know it's a safety feature... but sometimes, just sometimes, it's not necessary. I get over it by agreeing: yes, for the majority of times that it's a good idea it's worth the frustration for the minority of times that it's a pain in the ass.

It's the bleeping that gets to me. However, some days to stop hearing the bleeping I purposely ignore it which means it sometimes stops serving it's purpose as a warning alarm...

So, if you have an adversion to bleeps you may need to consult the dealer before buying.

Another few things about the design of the interior:
- when the sun flap is down on the driver's side, it covers up about half the rearview mirror therby obstructing my view - bad design. I've never seen/had this problem before in other cars.
- I don't know what causes this, but there are quite a few restrictions that stop me having an easy, fast, all-round driving vision from the driving seat - I often have to double-check things or concentrate harder to overcome 'blind spots'.
- vision of the bonnet and rear is restricted from the driving seat to make parking more hazardous and the IPA more essential - I'm now a more experienced Prius driver and therefore my guessing is better.
- there is something about the boot space that could be better, at the moment it feels like a struggle to use it fully. Again, I'm comparing it to my best experiences in other cars - which is the point, right?
- the paintwork seems easy to scuff or scratch... or have I just had some bad luck?

Things I like:
- it looks great from the rear!
- loads of other stuff too...

On the whole though, I do love driving my Prius.
I'm trying to think which other car I'd choose to own right now, and I can't think of one off the top of my head...

I love the hybrid engine, I love the overall design, but the cockpit needs to be ergonomically improved and the dashboard/ touch-screen controls need to be more driver-friendly to prevent hazardous driving.

Summary: Excellent hybrid, but there are still a lot of tweeks required, mainly the computerised controls

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