Consumer Reports finally starts testing Gen 5 Prius

Naw, it was oddly negative.

I don't know about preaching to any choirs, but I'd assume my contributions have been more helpful than your occasional disinformation.

 

There are many very slow vehicles that merge and drive safely. I drove first my dad’s Rambler, six with manual, and drivers ed in high school had a Ford Falcon, six with automatic. Drivers ed teacher made us merge a lot into the fast moving freeways of the time. It wasn’t the car being taught it was us. The cars capable speeds of today are excessive if anything imo. I feel my 20 Prime has plenty of zip to merge safely, no need more.
You had a gen 4 Prime or just read about them?

 

If a slow driver is actively blocking, yes I agree, that is just rude to others behind. If a driver wants to or has to drive slower than the normal flow of traffic, as long as they are as courteous to other drivers as other drivers are to them I'm in the camp of the slower driver. There are many other nasty driving techniques used by drivers all over the US countryside and probably everywhere else that can be far worse to the normal driver than a slow moving vehicle that tries to stay to the right and let the faster moving traffic pass at the earliest opportunity. 2 cents for what it's worth these days, a penny if lucky.

 

Indeed. If you think ahead, you can drive safely in most situations with less power. But power (and tight handling) does give you the ability to easily overcome strategic mistakes on your part (and others).

I believe my G4 had more than enough power, particularly in the 0-40 MPH range. When I would occasionally mash it off the line for giggles, I was always pleasantly surprised with the torque. I once raced a 245hp SUV (0-60 in around 6 secs flat) with my G4 LE and was neck and neck until 40, which is when we both let off. Let that one sink in... Electricity is magical.

I would be REALLY interested in the 0-40 times in the G5 though. It gets there very quickly! Makes the car seem MUCH faster than it is. Mash the G5 heading into a curvy road (be careful) and it's downright thrilling.

 

You have been the source of disinformation. They just seemed really agenda-driven and weird.

 

No, never drove a gen 4 Prime. No disrespect intended, my comment is based on hearsay and reputation, not personal experience. And I get your point on merge, BUT a slow vehicle that does not have adequate pick-up going onto a highway at todays speeds, in my opinion can be a hazard. As noted above, so much of safe driving is planning and anticipation, awareness of traffic around you, as well as position in the road. I remember a Rambler too, three on the tree maybe (? - I wasn't driving back then), and would just say that times and driving have changed a lot since those days. Some for the better, some for the worse. Happy for all the prior gen Prius owners who have adequate power to drive safely.

 

...Until you learn how to drive them, anyway. Learning to drive a slow car in fast traffic takes skill.

0-60 times have not changed meaningfully for heavy trucks in the last 50 years. They're still using the same on-ramps and highways we do, and they still get through just fine.

I take that as proof that anyone can do it, given enough experience.

Every automaker has realized that it is profitable to sell more powerful cars as a crutch to lower-skilled drivers, and that's a bummer. Sadly that's all it is.

 

Well heavy trucks have an advantage that any car does not have. I agree that learning to drive a slow car in traffic takes skill. In fact, driving any car in traffic, and doing it safely and defensively, takes skill. Lots of bad drivers out there. Don't even get me started on parallel parking

 

Discussing Consumer Reports review quality is interesting. Can we keep it to that? Suggest starting a private conversation if you feel that strongly.

 

The 2023 Prime in EV only mode is as quick as the prior Gen Prime running both motors…and gets much much more EV only range.

The 2023 Prime is also roughly 4 seconds faster 0-60 in HV Mode. The 2023 Prime in EV only gets the same 1/4 mile time as the Prior Gen running both motors.

That’s very significant. There is a reason that most reviewer‘s are in agreement that the 2023 prime drives like a full EV, yet retains the ability to go an extra 500 miles with zero range anxiety. This is why I’m buying one. Best of both worlds and yet still fun to drive, plus I think it’s an absolutely beautiful car.

I’d call that a win-win with only a 2 mpg HV loss Over the prior Gen. Plus, the 2023 does not look like a squished deformed fish (rear window ).

 

A Toronto newspaper described the looks of the previous Prime as "robot catfish".

That was more a reference to its snout, er grill.

But i could never understand the vestigal tailfins and turn signals inspired, near as I could tell, by the 59-61 Chevy Impala.

 

I thought those had a certain harmony with the "lepidoptera" taillights on recent Camrys, Siennas and other late-model Toyotas.

 

Prius design seems to be more Japan centric than other global Toyota models. Sounds like the wheel size on the new model are somewhat common there now. The Prius is also a halo model, so experimentation is more acceptable.

 

A lot of the MPGs range is pretty simple to figure out...the driver. My 2021 has gotten 74 mpg when I used the "pulse and glide" method on the 40-mile drive into work. My "drive like Cruella DeVille" method, still, gets around 55 mpg.

While I'll never buy an EV, I would like to, someday, get a Prius Prime to play around with the EV range.

 

It would be really interesting/helpful if someone could reprint the whole Consumer Reports article once it becomes available.