Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT Hybrid Sol
Content
It even became everyday enough to
s(m)o started judging it like all other cars. Comfort, position of the road, consumption, noise… From generation to generation, it has become more and more different from its competitors – but not for the better. A humming engine (even more noticeable due to the continuously variable automatic transmission) and inaccurate steering, a chassis that reacted to any attempt to go faster in lean and swim corners.
And appliances that are more suitable for 2's sci-fi serials. Yes, the Prius is aging and aging noticeably before the next generation arrives. However, Toyota has done enough generation after generation to increase the number of vehicles sold. The largest markets in the beginning were, of course, the domestic and the already mentioned American. In the first ten years, one million customers chose the first and second generation, and then another million customers in the next two years alone. Thanks to the redesigned third-generation Prius, it boasted more than a third more powerful drivetrain than before, while CO25 emissions and fuel consumption were reduced by about XNUMX percent.
This is one of the reasons why the Prius had over three million customers by mid-2013 and today more than five million customers worldwide have chosen it (including all body styles and third-generation plug-in hybrids). But it's time for a change. Not only for technical progress (although this is very important for the new Prius), but also for changing the spirit of the car. The new Prius should be sportier, flamboyant, and more driver and passenger friendly.
“It should evoke emotion,” Toyota executives said, and, as usual, it did. Okay, it evokes a wide range of emotions in its form, from those who really liked it (which was the case with most of us who met us and the new Prius during our test), to those who simply rolled their eyes and commented how caustic about Japanese designers. Yes, the plug-in hybrid version of the Prius is better, but even the regular Prius is no longer just a household appliance like it used to be.
The buyer should also be attracted to the design, and Toyota's new Prius follows the rule that it is better to have half of the customers who like the design and half who dislike it than one hundred percent of buyers. potential clients who flinch at the design shrug their shoulders and say “just fine”. Emotions are still at their peak of impulses that prompt or deter you from buying a car. So the nose is low and has headlights that are made up of many curves, so the rear is tall, it has deeply lowered lights, and therefore the red suits it well.
A new platform called GA-C (Global Architecure-C) was also dedicated to the new Prius. It is the first platform built on the new TNGA (Toyota New Global Architecture) architecture and is intended to replace the MC platform on which, in addition to the Prius, most of the previous smaller Toyota were based. As a result, the car is 60 millimeters longer, 15 millimeters wider and 20 millimeters shorter than its predecessor. The center of gravity is also lower (by two centimeters), which, with a body stiffness of 60%, provides a much more dynamic position on the road.
What is the difference compared to its predecessor? When Sasha and Alosha got into the first corner at the ecological rally EkoNova (this was described in the previous issue of Avto magazine), they (especially Sasha at the wheel) were very surprised. It was a revelation that he was driving like the first modern bright car. Also because the new Prius is not too heavy (it weighs 1.375 kilograms) and because the drivetrain on paper is weaker and more agile behind the wheel than its predecessor.
The heavily upgraded 1,8L Atkinson cycle VVT-i petrol engine now boasts 40% thermal efficiency (also because they offer better combustion control and a new thermostat that allows the engine to warm up faster, meaning that the car can only run faster and more on electricity). The petrol engine can produce just under 100 horsepower and the electric motor an extra 70, but the system makes 122 horsepower, which is noticeably less on paper than its predecessor, but you won't notice it behind you. the wheel is just the opposite.
The Prius now prefers and more generously assists with the electric motor, which means that the gasoline engine rarely spins at higher revs (because it gets noticeably loud), while the electric motor torque also provides an instant sense of acceleration. In addition, the maximum torque of the petrol engine is also available at lower revs, resulting in a quieter and more fuel efficient ride, yet more enjoyable and lively at the same time. They redesigned the CVT significantly, redesigning the interior to reduce friction and losses by 20 percent and overall length by five centimeters, and now they no longer have a large planetary gear system, but have switched to classic three-shaft gears. However, planetary gears are only used in a very reduced form to share torque between electric motors and an internal combustion engine.
Toyota says the overall efficiency improvement over its predecessor is a fifth, and our normal circle included the new Prius in a small elite group of (non-plug-in) cars with less than four liters of fuel consumption. The diesel Clio was two-tenths of a liter better, while the Octavia Greenline was just as fuel efficient as the Prius at 3,9 liters, and the Prius is by far the most fuel efficient in the city. It turned out to be even better at test consumption: I don’t remember the last time we had a car in the test that “withstood” less than five liters.
It's a Prius, but it was enough for fast highway miles. By the way: The weight of NiMH batteries remains the same, but they have a higher energy density, so they can store more electricity than before in a 10 percent smaller battery. And it was even more important for use on the new platform as Toyota engineers made every effort to make the driver feel sportier and less significant behind the wheel than someone who sacrificed driving comfort and pleasure on the altar of ecology. As a result, the seat height is now much lower, as the driver's buttocks are located six centimeters closer to the ground.
Some may be missing the more comfortable flow and getting out of the predecessor's car, but on the other hand, taller drivers can now easily get behind the wheel of the Prius (despite the car's headroom being 20 millimeters lower). The interior is also completely new, including the gauges that remain in the middle of the dashboard, but they are more modern, transparent and designer. They are made up of three logical sets.
On the far left and closest to the driver there is a speedometer with other most important information, next to it is an on-board computer or an entertainment information system, the far right is intended only to warn about the operation of individual components (lights, airbags, cruise control, etc.). It's a shame the on-board computer lacks ease and intuitive controls (and some information like current consumption), but it's commendable that the head-up screen has been standard since the mid-range Sol package. This disrupts the traffic sign recognition system, which is too inaccurate, and at the same time, their display on the head-up display is annoying, as it overlaps an important part of the data.
Also interesting is the work of the environmental indicator, which evaluates the environmental suitability of driving on a scale from 1 to 100 - but only from one stop to the next. However, it's quite tricky as it penalizes any over-braking (which is usually the result of poor traffic prediction) and we admit that we weren't able to get above 97 in normal traffic. The steering wheel has become more vertical, and the center console is more ergonomic than the previous one.
It has an LCD touchscreen large enough to control most of the car's functions, including the infotainment system. It doesn't know modern forms of smartphone connectivity (like Apple CarPlay), and the individual air conditioning switches underneath are handy, but the design is quite different from the rest of the system. Air conditioning also contributes to economy: it can detect how many people are in the car, adjust its work accordingly and save up to 2,4% of fuel - but at the expense of sometimes too slow cooling of the interior.
There is ample space in both the front and rear (for two), and the trunk is more than large enough for everyday (and less everyday) family use. Because the rear has a fifth door, not just the boot lid, and because the rear seat is foldable, the Prius can carry surprisingly large items of luggage. There's no shortage of safety systems, of course, and a new, more powerful and faster automatic parking system called the S-IPA could put the Prius in less space than its predecessor. Unfortunately, Japanese engineers still find it necessary to change
The Prius warns the driver in the cockpit with a loud beep, which drowns out the parking sensors well enough not to preclude a close collision with an obstacle (although the Prius has an automatic braking function when it approaches an obstacle). Another criticism: active cruise control, unfortunately, only works at speeds above 40 kilometers per hour, moreover, it reacts too harshly and nervously. Cross Traffic Control works much better in reverse, the same goes for blind spot control, and a little more determination can be expected from the auto-dimming rearview mirror. And looking backwards: the double rear window for taller drivers means they won't see much back as the body part between the two windows obstructs rear-wheel drive cars.
But despite these small flaws, the Prius proves that eco-driving is no longer boring and expensive. The base price of just under $ 26k and a little over $ 30 for a fully equipped vehicle is acceptable given what it has to offer. The only question will be where the first serious future competitors will be in six months.
Душан Лукич photo: Саша Капетанович
Toyota Prius 1.8 VVT Hybrid Sol
Basic data
| Base model price: | € 28.900 XNUMX € |
|---|---|
| Test model cost: | € 30.300 XNUMX € |
| Power: | 90kW (122 KM) |
| Acceleration (0-100 km / h): | 10,6 ss |
| Maximum speed: | 180 km / h km / h |
| Mixed flow ECE: | 3,9 l / 100 km / 100 km |
| Guarantee: | 3-year general warranty, 5-year hybrid element warranty, extended warranty option, mobile warranty. |
| Systematic review | For 15.000 km or one year. km |
Cost (up to 100.000 km or five years)
| Regular services, works, materials: | 1.814 € |
|---|---|
| Fuel: | 4.622 € |
| Tires (1) | 684 € |
| Loss of value (within 5 years): | 9.576 € |
| Compulsory insurance: | 2.675 € |
| CASCO INSURANCE (+ B, K), AO, AO + | 6.625 ( |
| Calculate the cost of auto insurance | |
| Buy up | € 25.843 0,26 (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 13,04:1 - maximum power 72 kW (98 hp .) at 5.200 rpm - average piston speed at maximum power 15,3 m / s - specific power 40,0 kW / l (54,5 hp / l) - maximum torque 142 Nm at 3.600 rpm min - 2 camshafts in the head (timing belt)) - 4 valves per cylinder - fuel injection into the intake manifold. |
|---|---|
| Energy transfer: | engine drives the front wheels - planetary gearbox - gear ratio np - 2,834 differential - rims 6,5 J × 16 - tires 195/65 R 16 H, rolling range 1,99 m. |
| Capacity: | 180 km/h top speed - 0-100 km/h acceleration 10,6 s - Combined average fuel consumption (ECE) 3,0 l/100 km, CO2 emissions 70 g/km - Electric range (ECE) np km. |
| Transportation and suspension: | limousine - 5 doors, 5 seats - self-supporting body - front single suspension, coil springs, three-spoke wishbones, stabilizer bar - rear multi-link axle, coil springs, stabilizer bar - front disc brakes (forced cooling), rear disc brakes, ABS, rear electric parking brake wheels (switch between seats) - steering wheel with a gear rack, electric power steering, 2,9 turns between extreme points. |
| Mass: | empty vehicle 1.375 kg - Permissible gross vehicle weight 1.790 kg - Permissible trailer weight with brake: np, without brake: 725 - Permissible roof load: np |
| External dimensions: | length 4.540 mm – width 1.760 mm, with mirrors 2.080 1.470 mm – height 2.700 mm – wheelbase 1.530 mm – track front 1.520 mm – rear 10,2 mm – ground clearance XNUMX m. |
| Inner dimensions: | longitudinal front 860-1.110 mm, rear 630-880 mm - front width 1.450 mm, rear 1.440 mm - head height front 900-970 mm, rear 900 mm - front seat length 500 mm, rear seat 490 mm - luggage compartment 501 - 1.633 365 l – handlebar diameter 43 mm – fuel tank XNUMX l. |
| Box: | trunk 501–1.633 XNUMX l |
Our measurements
| Measurement conditions: T = 17 ° C / p = 1.028 mbar / rel. vl. = 55% / Tires: Toyo Nano Energy 195/65 R 16 H / Odometer status: 1.817 km | |
| Acceleration 0-100km: | 11,6s |
|---|---|
| 402m from the city: | 18,1 years ( 128 km / h / km) |
| Maximum speed: | 180 km / h |
| test consumption: | 4,9 l / 100km |
| Fuel consumption according to the standard scheme: | 3,9 l / 100km |
| Braking distance at 130 km / h: | 65,7m |
| Braking distance at 100 km / h: | 38,8m |
| AM table: | 40m |
| Noise at 90 km / h in 6rd gear | 62dB |
| Noise at 130 km / h in 6rd gear | 65dB |
Overall rating (340/420)
The new Prius proves that such an eco-car can be markedly different, but at the same time driving is very similar to the one we are used to. The very low consumption proves that it can easily compete with even the most fuel-efficient diesels – without a battery charging cable.
Exterior (13/15)
The shape is polarizing, but those who really did not like it turned out to be less than we expected.
Interior (101/140)
The trunk is decently large and there won't be any problems on the back bench. The equipment is also rich.
Engine, transmission (56
/ 40)The new hybrid powertrain is quieter and more efficient than its predecessor.
Driving performance (58
/ 95)The lower center of gravity and the new chassis will delight even sportier drivers.
Performance (24/35)
Of course, the Prius is not a racing car, but it is powerful enough to easily follow the flow of (even fast) traffic.
Security (41/45)
Points were earned by five NCAP stars for test accidents and electronic safety assistants.
Economy (47/50)
The price is not the lowest (which is expected and understandable for such a machine), but the consumption is extremely low.
We praise and reproach
actuator assembly
consumption
open space
too many unfinished parts
transparency back
