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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/Canadian_Flag.jpg From niche model to mainstream powerhouse (http://www.theglobeandmail.com/auto/new-prius-hybrid-up-to-the-job-of-family-car/article1196283/)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/16_10_Prius.jpgJeremy Cato - THEGLOBEANDMAIL (http://www.theglobeandmail.com) - June 25, 2009

Can it get any better than this? The 2010 Prius is even cheaper than the outgoing 2009 model. ;) --Ed.

From niche model to mainstream powerhouse - that's what Toyota has in mind for the new Prius gasoline-electric hybrid.

And that's why engineers worked on the 2010 Toyota Prius for 4½ years. No one at Toyota will say exactly how much the company spent developing the third-generation Prius, but it was a bundle. Some 2,000 engineers spent four-plus years working on this project.

Yet the price tag isn't going up, but down - from $27,710 for the 2009 to $27,500 for the 2010. Obviously price increases are not doable in this market, not with Honda's newly launched Insight hybrid out there.

And then there is the all-new 2010 Ford Fusion mid-size hybrid sedan rolling into showrooms now, too. Ford, in fact, boasts that its car is the most fuel-efficient mid-size hybrid sedan in North America - much better than the Toyota Camry Hybrid.

The Prius, though, is a four-door hatchback. And with more than a million Prius hybrids sold worldwide in the last decade, Toyota's entry is the industry leader and that puts a big bull's eye on Toyota's back.

Well, the 2010 Prius is certainly an improvement over the outgoing model, the one so popular in Vancouver with taxicab drivers. They may not be thrilled with the mechanical feel and sluggish acceleration of the outgoing car, but they wax on about its fuel efficiency and reliability.... http://www.theglobeandmail.com/auto/new-prius-hybrid-up-to-the-job-of-family-car/article1196283/

Now if they could just knock another $5000 off and I'd consider it ;)

Buy a used one. I'm currently looking. In my area the 04-05 are avaliable for under $13k.

This is my next car when I buy in 2015

Hmmm, I like acceleration and still own a V-8 powered vehicle.I don't feel that the 2006 has sluggish acceleration.It tested at 10.6 0-60 MPH-THAT ISN'T FAST, BUT IT ISN'T SLOW.The HCHII with 12.5 0-60 is slow accelerating. The older generation VW TDIs are also 12 second slow.

In the 15-45 mph range the Prius pulls pretty well.Granted at 60 mph and above, it accelerates slowly, as you would expect from a 3000 lb 110 hp car.

In the city, the Prius II is plenty quick.

I thought that WG wrote that the newest Prius had less back seat room??
Charlie

...
I thought that WG wrote that the newest Prius had less back seat room??
Charlie

Thats what it seems to some of us. But frankly that depends in part on how the front seats are adjusted.

You are being too nice in saying 12.5 secs for the HCH-II as that is only really possible when the SoC is good. If it is not, then say hello to the 15-16+ secs range.

msantos,
Wow, I didn't realize that the SOC of the HCH II affected the acceleration so much!
The Honda partisans are so rabid, I Have to be careful when I make even the mildest critique of the HCH II. Since you own a HCH II maybe you get a dispensation along with the Honda warranty. The Prius seems indifferent to the displayed SOC, but Toyota doesn't seem to let it drop very low. I guess 1 bar is still 80% charged.

15-16 seconds is almost as slow as a 1980 vintage MT Chevette-that was a SLOW CAR!

I like acceleration, and the Prius isn't slow in city traffic-amazing how quick those instant torque electric horses are.
Thanks
Charlie
PS The backseat room on the 2006 is adequate for 5'10" adults son), plenty for 5'5". me. Three typical USA 220 LB adult males would be squashed in it. Didn't they squash 4-5 during the Prius vs Honda diesel MPG off??
With the seat "flat" it is a little short for our small female greyhound-she has to keep her head down, or crowd toward the front to mooch from the front seat passenger.

It was 3 per car, with one sleeping in the back of each. Both were decent for lying down, but the Honda was better. The space was more sleepable and the seat cushions felt better. The prius - I didn't like the headroom intrusion from the hatch hinges. The honda icdti had better headroom. The honda felt like a quality car, the Prius like an economy car in comparison.

Andrew,
So there was 3 of you stuffed into them. Was that Honda diesel a hatchback of some sort- it isn't available here -USA- yet is it?
We sleep enroute on our long trips but we haven't taken the Prius on long trips yet.It has about 68" in length and about 38 or so in width. Two short adults-5'5" or so can sleep OK at rest stops in the back of the Prius, if they have a decent mattress stuffed back there.We haven't used it for trips yet, but we probably will soon since the guzzler is leaking oil/fluids and it is too hot to get under it and repair it well enough to trust it on a 3000 mile trip.
I've cut some plywood to fill in the "holes" between the front seat and the "laid down" back seat.The headrests support the plywood and I put dense foam(old martial arts mat material) on top of the plywood to bring the level up to the level of the back seat. This way we have a nice-not quite flat since it is about 10-15 degrees short of flat-surface to sleep on.It also allows the dog to safely walk up to the front seats to mooch treats etc.

"Someday" I'll extend the rear of the Prius about 2- feet, and support the extension with a hitch support. It will add interior sleeping space
Thanks
Charlie

I've slept in the back of my Civic with the seat folded down and an air mattress stuffed in there. Space was tight. :p Couldn't roll over easily due to the rear deck being so low. A prius wouldn't have that problem. It was long enough for all 6'2" of me to fit, though.

The euro honda diesel is a hatchback - sort of a fat bubbled-out hatch at that. That gave it better rear headroom than the prius.

...
I like acceleration, and the Prius isn't slow in city traffic-amazing how quick those instant torque electric horses are.
...

Charlie, as long as the SoC is there, Honda's approach actually works just as well in the urban acceleration part... that is up to 30-35 MPH (the Prius is not faster up to this point). After that, it lacks the electric motive effectiveness of the Prius and it definitely loses the 0-60 game. I'll let the following chart do the rest of the talking on this front (note the blue lines):

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/522/power-torque_curves.jpg


Cheers;