The Prius is the first vehicle to receive a maximum five star rating on the new and more rigorous 2012 German ADAC EcoTesting program.
Wayne Gerdes -
CleanMPG - Aug 18, 2012
2012 Toyota Prius - $24,000 USD to start and a 50 mpgUS combined rating here in the US.
The Toyota Prius now sits at the top of the new and more stringent EcoTest by ADAC, Germany’s largest automobile club, ahead of 55 other vehicles that have been tested under the same new conditions beginning in April of this year. The Prius was the first vehicle to be awarded a total of 90 points under the new regimen earning a maximum five star rating. The 51.35 mpgUS achieved during the tests was awarded 40 points. The maximum 50 points were attributed for the hybrid’s low overall emissions.
The new more stringent ADACtest criteria for the EcoTest includes the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP cycle), which corresponds to the projected future world cycle to measure fuel consumption. In addition, the car is submitted to the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and the ADAC highway cycle plus actual HC, NOx, CO, PM and PN emissions placing the turbo diesel in a negative light in some cases.
Another change is that the air conditioning is used during the WLTP cycle and the ADAC highway cycle. In addition, the well-to-wheel values are included in the calculations of the CO2 emissions, taking into account the emissions that result from the production of the vehicle or from fuel transportation.
The Toyota Prius was introduced 15 years ago as the world’s first mass-produced full hybrid vehicle, It is but one of 18 Toyota and Lexus hybrids available today. Total sales of some 4 million were reached at the end of April according to the company. In Europe, Toyota sells the Toyota Yaris Hybrid (c here), Toyota Auris Hybrid and Toyota Prius, in addition to the Toyota Prius+ (v here) and Prius Plug-in Hybrid recently launched as part of the all-new Toyota Prius Family.
ADAC’s Most Recent Top Evaluations
| Make | Model | Fuel/energy Economy (mpgUS or kWh/100 km) | Points |
| Toyota | Prius 1.8L | 51.35 mpgUS | 90 |
| Renault | Kangoo Z.E. | 23.52* | 89 |
| Honda | Insight-II 1.3L | 49.92 mpgUS | 87 |
| Renault | Fluence Z.E. | 25.71* | 84 |
| Opel | Astra 1.4L LPG ecoFlex | 29.55 | 81 |
| Audi | A4 2.0L TDI | 48.39 | 79 |
| VW | Passat 2.0L TDI | 49.2 | 79 |
| Ford | Focus 1.0L EcoBoost | 42.6 | 78 |
| Peugeot | 508 HYbrid4 | 53.32 | 78 |
| Mazda | CX-5 2.2L SKYACTIV-D | 44.63 | 77 |
* BEVs.
And this is only the start. Testing for the super fuel misers including the Ford Fiesta with the 1.6L TDCi ECOnetic, Toyota Yaris and Auris hybrids, Kia Rio with the 1.1L turbo diesel and the Chevrolet Volt/Opel Ampera PHEVs to name but a few has apparently not yet been completed.
Linear Mode
