Test: Toyota Prius + 1.8 VVT-i Executive

Well, yes, it's actually not that simple. To get the Prius to get its Plus, Toyota engineers had to start with a near blank sheet of paper and also consider that it would be sold in different parts of the world. The test Prius +, as it is sold in Europe, is a seven-seater with a lithium-ion battery tucked away in the console between the front seats.

Americans, for example, can get a five-seat car with a battery under the boot (and a more classic NiMh version). Perfect Prius +? Five-seater, with a battery in a European place. Thus, it will have a double bottom of the trunk (like the Verso), and it has almost nothing to lose in ease of use. The rear seats (again: as in the Verso) can only be used conditionally, access is slightly gymnastic, and the trunk is tiny. When folded, the Prius + is a comfortable and spacious (even in the trunk) minivan.

Why have we mentioned Versa several times already? Well, since one of the editorial board members has one at home (in a 1,8-liter petrol variant that compares well to a hybrid powertrain), comparisons were of course inevitable. And that was the most interesting in terms of costs.

If you look at the table with technical data, you will notice that in the entire test (in which kilometers in the city and the highway strongly prevailed, and women in the region were below average), he consumed 6,7 liters of gasoline per 100 kilometers. And from experience we can write that the Verso in the same conditions consumes about three liters more. And considering that a comparatively equipped Verso is only five thousandths cheaper, the bill is about one hundred thousand kilometers ... Of course, all the time, due to lower consumption, you will benefit nature ...

But for now, let's leave the Verso comparison aside and focus only on the Prius+ and finish the consumption story first. 6,7 liters seems to be a lot (especially compared to the declared 4,4 liters of mixed consumption), but because, as already mentioned, most of the test kilometers were driven on the highway and in the city, and only a small part – for regional (which otherwise make up the bulk of the combined cycle), this consumption is substantially favourable.

But more interesting is the intermediate data we measured: during normal, small country, small city use with a small motorway, it was a little less than five liters, when we really saved and avoided the highway, a little over four. - and these are the numbers that are really available. On the other hand: drive on the highway and set the cruise control to 140 kilometers per hour, and the consumption will quickly approach nine liters ...

Why 140 kilometers per hour? Because the Prius + meter is above average. When it reaches 140 kilometers per hour, the Prius + moves about 10 kilometers per hour slower, although the engine computer knows what the real speed is. Who would have thought that Toyota would resort to such tricks in the quest for users to boast of low fuel consumption. Well, yeah, from now on you at least don't have to wonder why Prius drivers drive a little slower than everyone else ...

To see how fast (approximately) you are, you will need to look towards the middle of the dashboard - there are digital gauges there, which are not the most transparent, because there is a lot of data on them, and this can happen to you (us) that you, for example, ignore the need to refuel in the near future. To make even the most important (speed) clear and always visible, the projection screen in front of the driver ensures that this information (and also, say, which button on the multifunction steering wheel you pressed) is projected onto the windshield ahead. driver.

Otherwise, equipment marked Executive is not just a serial projection screen. It also includes active cruise control (which can be less jittery), a smart key, a panoramic roof, a Pre-Crash system (which, for example, tightens seatbelts when anticipating a collision), navigation, a JBL sound system, and more.

In terms of equipment, we have nothing to find fault with the Prius + Executive, nor in terms of spaciousness (except that the longitudinal movement of the driver's seat could have been an inch more). Soundproofing could be better as the 99 horsepower 1,8-liter four-cylinder petrol engine (with the Atkinson cycle, of course) gets quite loud under higher loads. And because the transmission behaves like a continuously variable transmission, it often spins up on the highway to the maximum speed allowed by the engine electronics (which means around 5.200). And it's loud there.

The real opposite is the Prius+ when it runs on electricity only. So of course you won't get far (you'll have to wait for a plugin version for that), but what a mile it will take if you're careful enough with the accelerator pedal. Then you can only hear (if you open the window) the quiet sound of the electric motor, but of course everything is so quiet that you need to beware of pedestrians who cannot hear you and may stand in front of the car.

So is the Prius+ a revolution in the midsize SUV class? No. But for this it is too expensive. However, this is admittedly a good alternative. Because if you drive enough miles, it pays off too, and because, despite the hybrid design, you don't have to give up (for example) luggage space. And even aside from the hybrid design, the Prius+ is a well-engineered minivan that easily compares to the competition.

 HOW MUCH COST IN EURO

Pearl Castle 720

Text: Dusan Lukic

Toyota Prius + 1.8.VVT-i Executive

Basic data

Sales:	Toyota Adria Ltd.
Base model price:	36.900 €
Test model cost:	37.620 €
Power:	73kW (99 KM)
Acceleration (0-100 km / h):	12,4 with
Maximum speed:	165 km / h
Mixed flow ECE:	6,7l / 100km
Guarantee:	3 years or 100.000 5 km total and mobile warranty, 3 years warranty for hybrid components, 12 years warranty for paint, XNUMX years warranty against rust.
Systematic review	15.000 km

Cost (up to 100.000 km or five years)

Regular services, works, materials:	1.258 €
Fuel:	10.345 €
Tires (1)	899 €
Loss of value (within 5 years):	19.143 €
Compulsory insurance:	2.695 €
CASCO INSURANCE (+ B, K), AO, AO +	7.380 (
Calculate the cost of auto insurance
Buy up	€ 41.720 0,42 (km cost: XNUMX €)

Technical information

engine:	4-cylinder - 4-stroke - in-line - petrol - front mounted transversely - bore and stroke 80,5 × 88,3 mm - displacement 1.798 cm3 - compression 13,0:1 - maximum power 73 kW (99 hp) .) at 5.200 rpm - average piston speed at maximum power 15,3 m / s - specific power 40,6 kW / l (55,2 hp / l) - maximum torque 142 Nm at 4.000 rpm min - 2 camshafts in the head (chain) - 4 valves per cylinder. Electric motor: permanent magnet synchronous motor - rated voltage 650 V - maximum power 60 kW (82 hp) at 1.200-1.500 rpm - maximum torque 207 Nm at 0-1.000 rpm. Battery: 6,5 Ah NiMH rechargeable batteries.
Energy transfer:	the engines are driven by the front wheels - continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) with planetary gear - 7J × 17 wheels - 215/50 R 17 H tires, rolling distance of 1,89 m.
Capacity:	top speed 165 km/h - 0-100 km/h acceleration in 11,3 s - fuel consumption (ECE) 4,2 / 3,8 / 4,1 l / 100 km, CO2 emissions 96 g / km.
Transportation and suspension:	van - 5 doors, 7 seats - self-supporting body - front individual suspension, leaf springs, triangular transverse rails, stabilizer - rear axle shaft, screw springs, stabilizer - front disc brakes (forced cooling), rear disc brakes, mechanical on the rear wheels (pedal extreme left) - a steering wheel with a gear rack, electric power steering, between extreme points 3,1 turns.
Mass:	empty vehicle 1.565 kg - Permissible gross vehicle weight 2.115 kg - Permissible trailer weight with brake: n.a., without brake: n.a. - Permissible roof load: n.a.
External dimensions:	vehicle width 1.775 mm - vehicle width with mirrors 2.003 mm - front track 1.530 mm - rear 1.535 mm - driving radius 12,4 m.
Inner dimensions:	front width 1.510 mm, in the middle 1.490 mm, rear 1.310 - front seat length 520 mm, in the middle 450 mm, rear seat 450 mm - steering wheel diameter 370 mm - fuel tank 45 l.
Box:	5 Samsonite suitcases (total volume 278,5 l): 5 places: 1 × backpack (20 l); 1 × aviation suitcase (36 l); 1 suitcase (68,5 l); 1 suitcase (85,5 l) 7 places: 1 backpack (20 l); 1 × air suitcase (36L)
Standard equipment:	driver and front passenger airbag - side airbags in front - air curtains in front - driver's knee airbag - ISOFIX mounts - ABS - ESP - rain sensor - power steering - automatic air conditioning - power windshield front and rear - electrically adjustable and heated Rear - Rear view mirrors - Trip computer - Radio, CD and MP3 player - Multifunction steering wheel - Remote central locking with smart key - Front fog lights - Height and depth adjustable steering wheel - Separate rear seat - Seat driver and front passenger adjustable in height - cruise control.

Our measurements

T = 22 ° C / p = 998 mbar / rel. vl. = 51% / Tires: Toyo Proxes R35 215/50 / R 17 H / Odometer status: 2.719 km
Acceleration 0-100km:	12,4s
402m from the city:	18,5 years ( 123 km / h)
Maximum speed:	165km / h (D)
Minimum consumption:	4,1l / 100km
Maximum consumption:	9,1l / 100km
test consumption:	6,7 l / 100km
Braking distance at 130 km / h:	66,4m
Braking distance at 100 km / h:	40,5m
AM table:	40m
Noise at 50 km / h in 6rd gear	54dB
Noise at 90 km / h in 6rd gear	62dB
Noise at 130 km / h in 6rd gear	66dB
Idling noise:	20dB
Test errors:	Unmistakable

Overall rating (333/420)

• Even without the hybrid drive, the Prius + would be a model minivan. Due to its environmental focus under the hood, it is more economical, but also more expensive than the competition.

• Exterior (14/15)

  Outwardly, a low, pleasantly sporty, fairly balanced shape makes it clear that this is a car that is something special among minivans.

• Interior (109/140)

  There is enough space, I would like a little more driver's seat offset and a little less noise at full throttle.

• Engine, transmission (51
  
  
  / 40)

  The petrol part of the hybrid could be a little more powerful and slicker, the electric part is great.

• Driving performance (58
  
  
  / 95)

  Nothing special about the good can be attributed to the Prius +, but neither is the bad.

• Performance (21/35)

  Acceleration and top speed, say, eco-friendly hybrid ...

• Security (40/45)

  A host of safety features, including active cruise control and brilliant lighting, keep live content safe in the Prius +.

• Economy (40/50)

  Fuel consumption (if you avoid high highway speeds) is really low and the price is high.

We praise and reproach

consumption with moderate use

appearance

open space

Equipment

price

slightly weak gasoline engine

highway consumption

no five-seat version

nervous active cruise control