2008 Toyota Prius Road Test

Prius ride quality is really unexceptional. The vehicle rides like a typical compact or sub-compact car, meaning that road degradation is felt more so than in the Toyota Camry Hybrid I road tested prior to this week's Prius.

Really? I thought the Prius rode more like a midsize than a compact. Are they saying it doesn't ride any better than a Corolla?

 

for a car that has over 180,000 km i think its pretty comfortable, even at 40 psi pressures. I've ridden in a lot worse cars, by no means I've never had people complaining about how harsh the ride is, in fact they claim it was smooth!

 

interesting article and no surprise he didnt get the mileage he expected. thought for sure, someone would have mentioned the break in period. then again, i might.

also surprised at his evaluation of the cabin controls. having duplicate controls for nearly everything on the steering wheel imm, should have at least gotten a yellow

 

Sorry

My browser seemed to cache the forum (very strange) and so I didn't see my post and reposted. Now I don't see how to delete the repost so I'm writing this explanation instead.

 

It's not exactly a good layout... no physical HVAC controls and a lack of one touch stereo presets is a major usability faux pas.

 

If HVAC means the climate control, I agree: the climate controls are dreadful. You have to turn on the fan to change the temp, which is necessary because some air comes through even with the fan off, and to go from Max Hot to Max Cold you have to scroll through the entire temperature range.

I much prefer old-fashioned dials, which can go from Hot to Cold at the flick of a wrist. Also, the Prius allows re-circ or fresh air, but the dial on my old '89 Civic allowed any ratio in between.

 

Re: 2008 Toyota Prius Gadgets That Frustrate

I too agree about the controls on the dash screen that seem "over complicated." Then there's the vent controls too that frustrate me when trying to get the airflow where you want it. Getting comfortable with the steering wheel controls (especially @ night) can be perplexing. Just when I think I've mastered them I blow it. By the way...Whats with all of today's cars and the ever annoying "helicopter'g baffle noise every summer when you want the windows open? Somebody comes up with a fix-it for this and I'll be impressed.

 

I agree with you. The Prius' long wheelbase, tires near the corners, and tighter suspension make it ride like a decent mid-size. Not firm. Not floaty. Just about right. It seems the reviewer prefers a ride like grandpa's big old Buick (the "gold standard" that Camry shoots for).

 

Re: 2008 Toyota Prius Gadgets That Frustrate

"Booming" is caused by turbulent air streaming past partially-open rear windows, usually full-size rear windows. It's normal on any four-door vehicle I have ever driven, going well back into the early 60s. Most people just never noticed it until power windows became standard equipment on most cars starting in the early to mid 90s.

 

You need to open windows on both sides of the car (driver and passenger) to equilibrate the air pressure. The booming will go away. I've experienced it in all the cars I've driven ranging from model years 1967 - 2004.

 

Oddly, my Zap Xebra does not do this. Even at 40 mph (its top speed on level ground) there's no hint of it. There's one long gently-sloping road where I routinely get up to 45 mph, and there's still no "booming."

 

the booming only happens to me when the back window is down farther than a crack. and that is eliminated by opening a window on the other side the same amount

 

Remember that the Civic has 4 wheel independent suspension, and the Prius has an old-fashioned beam axle out back. I recently had a chance to test drive a Honda Odyssey minivan and a 2008 Toyota Avalon, and you simply don't feel bumps or road texture.

A sharp bump at speeds of say 70 km/h that can expect a kick and perhaps a bit of a sidestep in a Prius, is simply absorbed in a car with 4 wheel independent suspension. Especially if the bump is on just one side of the car

 

On my FJ Cruiser, the HVAC has old-fashioned knobs for temp, fan speed, and air distribution. However, the control is purely electronic on CANBus and it is called the "Integration Control and Panel"