(The Detroit News) Toyota's revamped Prius hybrid gains higher mileage, better interior

Aha! The reviewer is obviously the the guy w/the 26.8 in the table at the bottom of First Drive: 2010 Toyota Prius puts up BIG numbers.

 

A good read, even a negative review is very positive. I'm looking forward to reading the fan drive impressions.

 

This is actually a good review - you just have to read the whole article.

 

yep, it is actually the best review of new prius, and the most positive one, coming from unexpected source.

 

and it seems 17" model is "sport" version, as it does have much quicker steering ratio + wider tires, something that apperantly US marketing folks did not know

 

Wow! This is from a Detroit reviewer?

Imagine the mileage without the 17" wheels and extra weight?

Still, to have done that well (poorly) on the loaded machine, trying to get the worst possible mileage . . . It makes me think I might get pretty decent mileage on a Platinum package! And enjoy the ride even more!!

 

4Stars!!! Not bad.

 

I can't help but to ask how Top Gear managed to get 17 MPG with the Iconic Prius?

The guy bashed the Iconic Gen II to the point it is not true though.

 

usb,
The Top Gear folks just ran the car Wide Open Throttle around and around the track. You didn't watch the Youtube video, I take it? When you drive your Prius WOT for a few miles, the mileage is not so good, according to these folks. But, unless you happen to live near the Autobahn? then you don't have to worry about that nonsense.
The guy that did that show did not do his research. He starts out showing a map and saying something about where the materials for the battery come from, but then never really makes a statement that links it all together. I bet he thinks the Hummer weighs less than a Prius, and cheese comes from the moon!
Guy in WNY.

 

I saw it but I don't remember the video providing details... Did they floor it and then shift to Neutral (circumvent re-gen braking)? Stuff like that.

Prius can climb up a bridge at 47 MPH at 30 MPG. However, going back down use no fuel so should average 60 MPG. For Top Gear to average 17 MPG is just mind boggling.

 

why not? just city driving in my GS will get me 12 mpg, let alone flooring it on the track, which would probably get low single digits... yes, it will get almost 30 mpg at steady 55 mph in perfect conditions, which happens 0.01% of my drive time.

that was really well written article by informed writer

 

I've only watched bits (?) of the video but typically driving for performance on a track involves going WOT on the straightaways, being VERY hard on the brakes before going into turns, accelerating briskly when unwinding from turns and being hard on the throttle after that. The WOT == bad mileage. Hard on brakes means throwing so much energy away via the friction brakes.

I took my former 02 Maxima on the track before and I forgot the mileage (the 2-4 mpg too high) trip computer told me but it was pretty awful compared to normal.

The bashing by Clarkson was moronic and some of the detnews writer's comments on the iconic Prius were exaggerated, off the mark and inaccurate. However, at least he gave the 3rd gen a positive review.

 

On the track, most cars will get fuel economy in the single digits when flogged. Diesels and hybrids are the exception.

 

I thoughly enjoyed the review in part because the driver didn't realize what it takes to put Prius mileage 'in the dirt.' Frankly, I have no real interested in educating him. But for us:

You'll notice the green line is the maximum acceleration MPG. Now one of the first things someone will do with the ZVH30 is to plot a similar curve for for maximum acceleration to find out how well EGR and the dual, variable valves work. But for "Top Gear," the first part was a maximum acceleration that probably forces an overly rich mixture so the exhaust heat won't burn out the catalytic converter.

The second part is to brake to ABS full involvement. This exceeds the energy capture capability of MG2 and the traction battery. It converts momentum into heated brake pads.

All the reviewer had to do was "Bang the stops" drive the Prius and he would achieved the worst possible mileage. But the EGR and 1.8L engine control laws probably limit the worst case MPG.

We won't know until we get a chance to plot the maximum acceleration if the green MPG line is basicly flat at ~25 MPG or has some slope or shape. Interesting times are coming.

Bob Wilson