Featured Toyota Prius vs Hyundai Ioniq vs Kia Niro 2018 review – what's the best hybrid?

I started to watch but the presenter started with his criticism of the Prius sheet metal art. I didn’t have the time to waste watching an ‘art critic.’

Bob Wilson

 

I watched that yesterday! Very informative and fun to watch! Like all three of thoes cars honestly!

 

i need closed caption.

 

• 'The Prius is so ugly, the presenter's only relief is to sit inside the futuristic cabin.
• The Ioniq does not look like a Prius and sized for short people in the back. Drives like an ordinary car.
• The Niro is a small SUV with lots of space, noisy, and sits high. Drives like an ordinary car.

Calling the Prius ugly is a 'dog whistle' that signifies the rest of the review will be just as shallow. Having test driven the Prius and Ioniq, he missed the point of these cars, efficient transportation.

Bob Wilson

 

Bob, the prius actually ended up winning. He liked its refinement, amazing fuel economy, and versatility!

 

The 'ugly Prius' has become a trite phrase. We're on our third Prius so I'm familiar with the technical details. Yet the reviewer made at least two direct 'ugly' comments and a third, back hand that 'the Ioniq does not look like a Prius.'

If he had done an art comparison of the attractiveness of all three cars with a compare and contrast, I'd be happy with that. Put in words what offends or attracts his sense of beauty.

Bob Wilson

 

Well, yes he was a bit trite gather than scientific in his appraisal, but it did seem that the Prius won almost hands down. Only his disdain for the body styling without realising the aerodynamic value of offered skewed his opinion. The Prius still won, despite his hack shallowness.

 

I disagree. I like the look of the Prius before 2016. 16 and up models have a certain je ne sais quoi... Can't quite put my figure on why, but they're hideous.

Now when people talk about road feel, "responsiveness," or complain about CVT... that's a dog whistle!

 

I agree. I always loved the look of the Prii! Even the 2001 prius sedan.

The 2016+ have actually grown on me, and I think years down the road they might still look fairly modern maybe?? I still think its a terrible looking design. It looks scary in the wrong ways, l guess more deranged

I do like the gen 4 in the seaglass pearl color.

My opinion about it looks aside, fantastic car!

 

The original reviewer is in the UK and difficult to reach. Would you volunteer?

An engineer, I really have no sense of style (aka. see Dilbert) or art training. Your answers help explain the problem. Once we figure out which one is worst, we can section the image to see if we can narrow in on the specifics.

Let me propose we post different views, front, side, and rear, to see if we can convert 'je ne said quo' into something specific:

(All views set to same height.)

• FRONT: best or medium or worst
• SIDE: best or medium or worst
• REAR: best or medium or worst

Thanks,
Bob Wilson

 

Shouldn't we be looking at photos from a regular Prius and not a Prime?

The prime is in my opinion the best looking prius

 

Opps! Good thing I didn't photoshop those BMW badges. <GRINS>

Perhaps a Prius advocate might do the honors.

Bob Wilson

 

The gen.4 is growing on me. I like the Red and the Seaglass Pearl the best. The one thing I don't like is the rear end looks unfinished. It sits up so high in the back you can see the underneath of the car and the rear suspension. It looks like somebody is driving around after getting rear ended and the rear plastic piece fell off.

 

This is how you do it!

Cite specific attributes and we're on the same page.

Thanks!
Bob Wilson

 

why does it matter? people will either buy one or the other, based on multiple factors. how many people will car reviewers influence?
and if he finds the looks offensive, will that bias a viewer when they see one?

 

Readers are much influenced, of course. "Hey, probably the guy is right", it is something fashion-social-assessment related.
Imagine he says the Toyota is beautiful, and spends more time of the piece of news...works as an advertisement, doesn't it?

 

You could take your criticism of the current Prius and apply it to all Toyota's current car styling so. The Prius is just the least ugly of them IMHO. Toyota vehicle reliability sells in spite of their appearance or Toyota's dealer network.

 

The wheel covers for the 15" wheels are hideous, and I think they are the main culprit in making the cars equipped with those wheel covers look bad. The Gen 4s with 17" wheels as well as those with nice aftermarket wheels look much better in my opinion.

Of the different Priuses, I think I like the appearance of the 2010-2011 Gen 3s best, though I'm OK with Gens 2, 3, and 4.

I see the front of cars as faces, and most new Toyotas don't do well (the worst are the Lexus). The styling and headlights and taillights of the Gen 4s grew on me pretty quickly. Not to say that I'm in love the look, but I think it's decent enough to be better than other new Toyotas, and I like the distinctiveness. I don't like the handlebar mustache (front) and lips (rear) lights of the Prius Prime, and I don't like the large grilles on many of the new Toyotas. The worst is the huge spindle grilles on the Lexus vehicles.

The Ioniq and Niro both look decent though, but appearance between the three would not be the deciding factor if I was ever in the market down the line (for a used one).