Prius maintains status quo

good example of how stupid car articles can be.

 

Actually, to really understand where the writer is coming from, you need to link to the review of the Highlander. Like most car reviewers, this one is a lead foot, even admitting it in the article on the Highlander. To them, unless there is massive grunt, the car is no good.

The one thing that I find most interesting, this is the first article on the Prius that actually compares it with another hybrid. In all my research before buying my Prius, I found that reviews and articles on the Prius, were just that, on the Prius. Yet every article on the Honda Civic Hybrid, which is the only other hybrid available in Australia, compared it to the Prius. Generally there is not much wrong with a car that is being used as the benchmark for everything else.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(AussieOwner @ Aug 25 2007, 04:59 AM) [snapback]501931[/snapback]</div>

He sounds a bit lead-footed if he is only getting 41 MPG on a 119 mile test -- unless he only drove it 5-10 miles at a time.

I would like to have read more about a real comparison to the 2008 Highlander hybrid, but I didn't see anything in the article. I'd like to know how he thinks the new "Hy"lander is so much better.

Has someone found a good article that describes the 2008 Hylander?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(a priori @ Aug 25 2007, 09:39 AM) [snapback]501955[/snapback]</div>

He said he had it for a week. If that is 7 days he only averaged 17 miles per day. If it was a 5 day work week then he averaged about 24 miles per day. You don't need to be a lead-foot to get 40 mpg driving such short distances.

He probably likes the Highlander better because it is not only accelerates faster than the most powerful gasoline version but also gets better mileage than the least powerful gasoline version. Also to auto journalists, 25 to 30 mpg is excellent highway mileage.

 

As I read the article, I kept anticipating when she would start describing all the wonderful new Highlander features that the Prius lacked, by I didn't see a single mention of them, or even a link to the Highlander article.

So I found the article, and aside from such astute remarks as "the taillights sparkle", I only saw 2½ new hybrid-related features that the Highlander had:

This sounds like a dumbed-down version of the MFD energy/consumption displays.

This one seems to force you to drive economically. That certainly can be useful for many (it would make it easier to reply to a "I only get 35 mpg" post with "Did you try driving in ECON mode for a tank or two?" But it certainly isn't necessary for anyone who can demonstrate some self-restraint.

The third feature is EV mode, which from the description is exactly the same as the Prius EV mode. I count that for half, since it only applies to US drivers, and it's easy enough to add if you want it.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GeoDosch @ Aug 25 2007, 11:51 AM) [snapback]502013[/snapback]</div>

Thanks for the link -- I had not found it before nor noted that she had written more than one review.

In her article she admits to being lead-footed, so this also could explain the 41 MPG on the Prius test drive.

Interesting that the 2008 Hy-lander has the EV switch. Do you suppose that is coming in the 2008 Prius? Or, perhaps, that it would be available in a Toyota-approved after market install? I'd like to have it, but I'm not going to see enough of an efficiency gain to risk the arguments with Toyota regarding warranty invalidation.

 

ECON mode sounds like it would be very useful for the majority of consumers who don't have the time to search forums for information on the best way to accelerate.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Aug 26 2007, 12:28 PM) [snapback]502367[/snapback]</div>

I think that's giving the ECON button too much credit. I doubt that there's a driver out there who doesn't know that jackrabbit starts and a lead foot kills gas mileage. But many drive that way anyway, just like everyone knows proper diet and exercise is healthy, but look how many people who should be doing that don't.

I think drivers fall into one of three camps on something like this. There are those who have the necessary self-restraint to drive economically, and don't need the car to force them to drive that way. Then there are those who like zooming away from the stop line, and wouldn't use the button anyway. The third group, who want to drive economically but have gotten into the bad habit for having a heavy foot would benefit. But I don't think it's a case of simply not knowing any better.

Personally, I don't know that I would want to use such a feature if it absolutely prevented you from accelerating quickly. I'm very careful with how I come up to speed, though there are times when you need to accelerate, such as merging onto a highway or pulling into heavy traffic, and even occasionally in emergency situations. But if I stomp on the gas and the car ignores it in order to save gas, I would find that unnerving. However, since I'm only making an educated guess as to how it works, I'll reserve judgment.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Aug 26 2007, 08:36 PM) [snapback]502528[/snapback]</div>

Uh... no, not one of those ECON buttons. You would need to read the 2008 Highlander Hybrid review to see what it refers to.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Aug 26 2007, 11:57 PM) [snapback]502587[/snapback]</div>

How about this for an economy mode. Put a smaller engine in it! Not a 4 cyl as its too big for that but a smaller six.