2010 Prius pushes average to 50 mpg

[spinbaby]

DETROIT — Toyota Motor Corp.’s sleeker, more fuel-efficient update to its iconic Prius goes on sale this spring in a market growing more crowded with competing hybrids and battered by the global financial crisis.

But the Japanese automaker’s executives are confident that the third-generation gas-electric Prius, which promises a city-highway average of 50 miles to the gallon, will maintain its spot as the top-selling hybrid in the United States.

“Since Prius was first introduced, the consumer demographic has shifted from an early adopter to a mainstream shopper,” Bob Carter, Toyota Division group vice president and general manager, told reporters recently at a news conference unveiling the 2010 Prius midsize sedan.

http://www.ajc.com/services/content/ajccars/content/stories/2009/01/27/toyota_prius.html
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I can hardly wait to see how far they've pushed this technology when it comes time to trade in my 2007 Prius in about 2012.

[demodonkey]

1. My 95 Subaru is on its last legs. Tranmission won't back up. But I've no income & no $$ for a Prius.

Congratulations that you have a 2 year old one and can look forward to a new one in 2012.

Some of us unfortunately are not so lucky.

:-(

[Barack_America]

3. What's the point of this?

I'm in no position to buy a new car either, but why guilt those who can? Particularly those who bought into hybrids early? They made a shrewd investment, as the resale value of those vehicles is incredible.

[BlooInBloo]

2. But I heard that GM has a 20mpg hybrid SUV! Isn't that just as good?

:rofl:

[spinbaby]

4. They have an electric car, too

Sort of. They have enough of an electric car to advertise, but not enough of one to sell.

[StreetKnowledge]

38. Not yet.

Development, you see. And when they are tryign to get it right the first time, I don't blame them for holding off for a few months.

Watch for the Volt - which will beat the Prius, old or new, at a dealership near you in about six months. :)

[NYC_SKP]

5. I dealer I know has one, says it's a P.O.S. joke of a truck. Can't sell it.

He sold my girlfriend a hybrid civic, which betters my Prius mileage.

But that's because I drive my Prius like a Camaro!

[thrift_store_angel]

6. Really?

What kind of mileage are you getting on the Prius? I drive in the DC area, which if you are doing under 70 on the freeways you are likely to get pushed off the road and the lowest I get is around 44 mpg. Does the civic get more than that? *curious*

[NYC_SKP]

15. During break in, the Civic was just barely hitting 40mpg, now it gets 50 when

driving on flat highways at 70 MPH.

My Pruis is a touring model, bigger wheels and different tires, and gets lower MPG and I don't even try to drive for mileage, so my average hovers around 40, often less.

She and I should swap cars for a week and see what the difference is, based on our driving habits.

[thrift_store_angel]

32. 50 is good

Rarely do I hit 50...I did when I drove down to Florida and one time when I drove to Richmond, but normally I average about 46. I think I might have only gotten 40 the first week or so I had my car, but I haven't seen it get that low since then.

[DainBramaged]

25. I know LOTS of dealers who sell LOTS of them because they are GREAT

people movers that get GREAT city millage for such a huge vehicle.

ToyHonNis, god of rumor and innuendo on DU.

And you drive your Peeus like a Camaro?

:spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray: :spray:

[BlooInBloo]

31. Good to hear they won't be needing a bail-out! Thanks for the info!

[Kalyke]

7. ...and will be recalled in 2011.

:P

[TlalocW]

8. I'm really kind of disappointed with hybrid technology

I know of at least one car that is said to get 48 mpg without it, and that's the VW Bug. My 1994 Nissan Sentra which I have driven into the ground since I got it in 1995 has 185,000 miles on it, and it still gets 30 on the highway - more if I've got the wind at my back :)

The Insight when it was first introduced in 2000 got 70 supposedly. Yes, I could probably flip the car over by myself, but it wouldn't be the smallest car I've ever driven.

It just seems like we should be a technological point where all non-luxury cars are getting in the 40s.

TlalocW

[Lorien]

11. The Prius has the interior space of a Camry, not a Bug or a Sentra

so often people make apples to oranges comparisons-thinking that the Prius is a compact car. It's not. A good friend of mine has one, and after driving a Camry for years the Prius is pretty much an equal trade for him.He can comfortably fit just as many family members in the car and haul just as much camping equipment. It's a mid sized car, so it's mileage should be compared to other mid sized cars.

[NYC_SKP]

17. Yes, more space than my old Volvo V40 wagon, tons of space in the back.

I often load up 8 five foot folding tables and several large cartons.

My Pruis is like a little delivery van.

[Lorien]

22. I think that many people think of it as a compact because of it's design

which is similar to many aerodynamic fuel sipping compact cars. All they need to do is compare one to the vehicles parked next to it in any lot. I own a Camry and was parked next to one not long ago. The wheel base was about the same as my Camry's, but the Prius clearly had more headroom. It's actually a pretty good sized car!

[NYC_SKP]

28. I miss my Camry WAGON! They killed it for the US market after 96.

It's still made for other markets, damn it!!!

1992-1996 Camry Wagon:



A later 2000 model, these are seen in Australia and New Zealand:

[Lorien]

34. My mother keeps saying the same thing

her Camry wagon finally died when it was a little over 20 years old (she never did a lot of maintenance to it). She's tried to find a decent substitute without luck. :-(

[Statistical]

19. Comparing older & smaller cars is not a good comparison

Safety standards have gone way up in last 2 decades.
A car that got 5 star in 1994 likely would be a 3 star or maybe even 2 star today.
Some cars sold 2 decades ago couldn't be sold today because they wouldn't meet minimum safety standards.

Trying to sell a 2 star (substandard) safety rated vehicle would be difficult.
The mileage standard has gotten much more difficult /realistic.
Most vehicles "lost" 10%-15% on their rate mileage when the standard changed.

Cars have also gotten heavier & larger.

So a better comparison would be to find a vehicle with:
* similar weight
* similar space
* similar safety equipment

and compare the gas mileage.


Just mpg doesn't sell. Consumers are concerned w/ safety, space, comfort AND mpg.
I have a motorcycle that gets similar gas mileage as a Prius but if I had to be in a high speed vehicle accident I would rather be in a Prius.

[thereismore]

29. There are fanatical Insight drivers who push mpg to 100 with driving style. nt

[Lance_Boyle]

9. My 2001 Jetta TDI has been averaging 50+ since... 2001.

And I don't have to pay Big Oil for the privilege. It's fun to outsmug the prius hippies. :D

[Lorien]

12. The Jetta is a smaller vehicle than the Prius. nt

[Lance_Boyle]

20. no, they're both mid-sized sedans. n/t

[MurrayDelph]

10. and the 2010 have a switch to run in EV mode

I would love to get one to replace my 2002 / 142000mile Prius, but I would have to give up the carpool stickers

[NYC_SKP]

16. Are you certain that you can't reassign your stickers?

I thought you could.

[thrift_store_angel]

33. Go to the Prius forums

The switch is already there, you just have to install a button to be able to turn it on. The Prius' sold in international markets all have the button, they just didn't put it in the US cars.

[ogneopasno]

13. But...it's still ugly.

[Kalyke]

14. LOL!!

Agreed!

[depakid]

18. Looks pretty damn cool to me...

[spinbaby]

21. It's not ugly, it's cute

Actually, right now it's filthy dirty with salt and crusty ice.

[Ikonoklast]

23. Will being close to the replacement time for the battery pack

impact the amount of your trade-in?

My understanding is that cost of replacement will drive down the re-sale or trade-in value of the Prius.

[DainBramaged]

24. But the recalls the recalls, gas mileage don't mean nuthin' if they is recalling the rest

ToyHonNis, the god of Japanese love on DU.

[BanTheGOP]

26. Toyota pays virtual slave wages....

...to its NON-unionized workers in the South. Before they are allowed to profit on their new electric car, they need to be told by Obama and the Congress to pony up and unionize, otherwise their patent should be distributed to companies who ARE fair to their own workers but are in the middle of bailout problems.

[Obamanaut]

27. You mean prress gangs still exist, swooping upon unsuspecting

bystanders and forcing them to work in auto factories? And here I was thinking it was an all-volunteer work force.

[BanTheGOP]

35. They pay HALF the wages that Detroit pay...

...and their benefits package is about as substantial as a six pack of suds. When the auto industry is natinoalized, ALL the auto industries need to be nationalized, not just the ones bailed out, so we can inject a socialist, human-need oriented focus on the companies.

[Obamanaut]

36. They offer X amount of dollars, and people will either work for that

X amount (including whatever benefit package is in the deal), or they won't. Is it possible the factories were placed where they are because the wages in that area are generally less than in some other area? That's sorta like in-country out-sourcing, go where the costs are lower to produce whatever widget you are making.

[flvegan]

30. Good. MPG oneupsmanship is good

Now if they'd just slap a turbo on one, I might consider buying one. :P

[Touchdown]

37. Eh' not a big fan of Toyota.

But when this baby hits hybrid, I'll go shopping.



And they're coming.

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10049399-48.html

[StreetKnowledge]

39. Anyone wonder why the current model only last four years?

And wonder why Toyota was rushing its development?

This.......



is why.

It's better looking than the Prius, supposedly gets better mileage than the Prius (I've heard 75 mpg out of it - yes, really) and apparently is the same size as the Prius. I think I know which I'll be buying, thanks. :)

[Divine Discontent]

40. price? 20-25? or higher? not interested if more than that for a basic one, but I'd certainly

SUPPORT UNION LABOR if I'm able to afford it. Everyone HERE should, since the chevy's specs should be great, but I'm expecting the Volt to be rather pricey. It'll be popular but it won't sell huge numbers if it's over 28K, that's my humble opinion.


Edit: I found conflicting viewpoints on price, but the average seems to be 35K at base. :( However, possible Gov't cash for buying an electric hybrid could push the price to 30. So, hopefully by 2011 or 2012 the price might drop to 25 with the Gov't incentives!