Consumer Reports: Prius tops Satisfaction list (again!)

Some highlights and lowlights:

Small Cars:
Honda Fit: -----81
Civic Hybrid: --79
Corolla: -------75
Hyundai Elantra:69
Versa: ---------69
Yaris: ---------69
Focus: ---------55
Chevy Cobalt Sd:45
Chevy Aveo: ----44

Family Car:
Toyota Prius: --92
Camry Hybrid: --87
Fusion V6AWD: --81
Saturn Aura: ---81
Honda Accord: --79
Toyota Camry: --76
Accord Hybrid: -66
Chevy Impala V6:57
Pontiac G6 V6: -56
Volvo S40: -----53
Grand Prix: ----50

Large Sedans:
Hyundai Azera: -83
Toyota Avalon: -80
Dodge ChargerV8:79
Chrysler 300 V8:77
Kia Amanti: ----63
Chrysler 300 V6:61
Dodge ChargerV6:57

Luxury Sedans:
Lexus LS460: ---88
Lexus GS450h: --79
MercedesEdiesel:78
Cadillac DTS: --75
BMW 5 Series V8:75
Lincoln TownCar:73
Mercedes E V6: -65
Jaguar XJ: -----65
Cadillac STS: --64

Small SUVs:
Toyota RAV4 V6: 80
Hyun.SantaFe V6:80
Jeep Wrangler4d:77
Honda CRV: -----76
Escape Hybrid: -73
Nissan Xterra4W:66
Ford Escape: ---60
Kia SportageFWD:57
PontiacTorrentA:56
Suzuki GrandVit:47
Chevy Equinox: -41

Midsize SUV:
Lexus RX350: ---83
Ford Edge: -----82
Totoya 4Runner4:80
Honda Pilot: ---78
Saturn Outlook: 78
Lexus RX400h: --78
HighlanderHyb: -78
Nissan Murano: -72
Range Rover: ---65
Hummer H3: -----63
Cadillac SRX V6:62
Chevy TrailblV8:61
Ford ExplorerV8:59
Nissan Pathfind:56
Mazda CX7 FWD: -56
Jeep GrndCh V8: 55
Ford ExplorerV6:50
GMC Envoy V6RWD:49
Jeep GrndCh V6: 41

Large SUV:
Land Cruiser: --82
Chrysler Aspen4:81
GMC YukonXL1500:76
Chevy Tahoe: ---66
Cad Escalade: --66
Ford Expedition:64
Nissan Armada: -61
LincolnNavigatr:59
Dodge DurangoV8:58

Compact Trucks:
Honda Ridgeline:82
Toyota TacomaV6:79
Ford Expl STV8: 67
Nissan Frontier:64
Dodge Dakota: --46
Chevy Col 5cyl: 45
Ford Ranger: ---44
Mazda B series: 44
Chevy Col 4cyl: 40

Full Size Trucks:
Toyota TundraV8:81
Chevy Silv25TDI:78
Toyota TundraV6:75
Chevy Avalanche:72
Dodge Ram25 TDI:72
Ford F250 TDI: -70
Lincoln MarkLT: 68
Chevy Silv25V8: 65
Nissan Titan: --62
Ford F150 V6: --59
Dodge Ram1500V8:58
ChevySilv15V6RW:51

Minivans:
Toyota Sienna: -81
Honda Odyssey: -80
Hyundai Entourg:70
Kia Sedona Ext: 65
Chevy Express: -54
Nissan Quest: --54
Chevy Uplander: 34
Buick Terraza: -34
Saturn Relay: --34

Rob

 

The Prius is clearly benefiting from today's wave of enthusiasm for fuel-sipping hybrid cars. Boasting the best gas mileage of any five-passenger vehicle we've tested--44 mpg overall--the Prius has generated an almost cult-like following among many environmentally conscious consumers.

The current running average in my Prius is very close to 56 mpg, and I'm not even much of a hypermiler.

I mention that as much to stifle the naysayers rather than praise the Prius, but it sure is nice these days to be able to just about choose your fuel economy rating by how much effort you are willing to put into hypermiling (eco driving).

Harry

 

I can understand why many people like the Prius. They are good cars. My second one is a 2010 model and like the first it has been utterly reliable and gets good gas mileage, averaging about 44mpg in town. (The mileage could be greater were it not that the trips I usually make are short and involve too danged many traffic lights.)

Would I buy another Prius? No, I would not.

The harshness of the suspension and the noise (specifically due to the combination of suspension and tires) for me has grown to be unacceptable. Next time I'll buy a vehicle which offers better quietness and smoothness, plus relatively good city gas mileage even though that mileage no doubt will be considerably less that I get with the Prius.

 

If you want a Prius with better cabin sound isolation and a plushier ride, you don't need to look further than the Lexus CT200h. Prius drivetrain in Lexus packaging.

And given the Prius drivetrain in the CT200h, you won't be giving up much gas mileage either.

 

The Lexus is too expensive of an alternative - at least for some of us on this forum.

Fortunately, for Toyota - there just isn't a fun to drive as well as low or reasonable cost true competitor to the Prius that's also high mileage. One would think that this won't last much longer. Possibly, the next gen (2013?) Mini Cooper with a rumored 3 cylinder engine that gets over 40mpg will come close.

 

How much does a loaded Prius Liftback V-package cost? $30K ?
The CT200h, on the dealer lot, starts at $31K. (and the base model is already pretty fancy)
proof: http://priuschat.com/forums/prius-h...h-now-dealer-lots-starting-29-999-photos.html

---
I just saw this Toyota advertisement on Yahoo:


---

 

There are several better tire choices than the OE tires that come with the Prius, as well as strut and brace kits that reportedly do wonders for handling! Also, if you run the tire pressure high to get more mpg's you do sacrafice ride quality! Most smaller cars, including the mini, tend to have a fairly firm ride, I have ridden in a mini and it isn't what I call cushy! Big Buicks and Caddi's are the choice for that living room sofa ride!

 

you will be lucky to get 32mpg in that 3cly Mini, real life.

 

2012 Mini Cooper
EPA Fuel Economy Miles per Gallon

Premium Gasoline
31
Combined

28 City

36 Highway

So, yes going from 36mpg to 45mpg is pretty dramatic as mentioned below.

As for the next gen Mini - Here's the most detailed rumor that I've run across. Will there be a 45mpg MINI in a year or so - who knows? Would I want one instead of a boring Prius - if it really is somewhere close to 45mpg and drives anything like the current MINI - of course.

 

All true but the CT200h is also somewhat cramped and slower to 60 MPH with somewhat peculiar styling. No doubt it's more fun to drive (from what I've read) but I don't see as a great value; you're at least into the low to mid 30Ks by the time you get it out the door. Sure, a loaded Prius 4 or 5 can top that but you don't need to go that high by staying with the more reasonable models 2 or 3. That luxury stuff is really nice but at the end of the day, I don't really need it, nor does the average Joe. A good thing that Lexus offers the CT200h for those folks that absolutely must have a Prius branded as a Lexus but at the end of the day, is it a better car than the Prius? I think not really.

 

As a CTh owner who switched from a Prius for comfort and trim reasons I can agree, but a middle ($) ground *does* exist: upgrade the suspension and put softer, wider tyres on the Prius.

F8L does just that.

 

Sounds like you want a Focus.

Mini is too small as would a Fiesta (which is also supposed to get a 3cyl) but Focus is about the right size and would get 30 still.

I average 34 in the Fiesta and 44 in the Prius.

 

Have you driven a CT200h? I thought it was just as noisy or maybe even noisier than a gen3 prius.


edit:
Data from Edmunds. The Prius V is about 1.1dB louder than the Ct at cruising speed.

CT200h
Sound level @ idle (dB ) 37.7
@ Full throttle (dB ) 70.8
@ 70 mph cruise (dB ) 64.5

Prius V (they didn't have data for the regular Prius)
Sound level @ idle (dB ) 37.9
@ Full throttle (dB ) 73.4
@ 70 mph cruise (dB ) 65.6

 

To put that 1.1 dB into perspective, the Prius is only 7.5 dB louder at full throttle than at cruise speed

 

Have you tried different tires? Or modifying the suspension? Or having a body shop add sound-deadening material?

All cars make compromises but some are more easily adjusted than others. For example I want better mileage so I make the ride harsher by increasing tire pressure.

 

what you pay for when you by a Lexus is the quality of service, free drinks, and free food.



get a Lexus
go for service
take all the food
profit

 

NOW you're talkin' MY language. :thumb:
Do I hear 50lbs psi?
:eyebrows:

12 years ago, our Range Rover was ALWAYS in the shop. Yes - it wasn't so bad, because of the foo foo coffee ... warm oatmeal raison cookies ... warm chocolate chip cookies, juice etc. You gotta treat 'em nice after you over pay for a ride that's always is in the shop.

.