2009 Toyota Prius

Gas-mileage champ or political statement?

Mac Demere / autoMedia.com

In Washington, D.C., Toyota Prius seem almost as common as pickups in Texas. It’s not true, but some car-oriented visitors feel that way. The Prius, the nation’s fuel-mileage leader, is well suited for Washington’s congested streets. The gas-electric hybrid is far more convenient and, at least for suburban dwellers, a Prius will get you where you’re going quicker than the area’s Metro rail system. If four people share the cost of commuting, a Prius may be cheaper, too. More important for a place that’s all about making statements, the Prius might as well be wrapped with political vehicle graphics. These would say its owner is very environmentally conscious. Optionally, the graphics could also say: “I’m a liberal and darned proud of it.” Prius sales numbers may be a better barometer of public feelings than are political opinion polls.

Mileage Miser

If it weren’t such a political statement, the Prius would be called a very livable, fuel- and space-efficient, boring, four-door family hatchback. It would be recommended for those who regularly battle heavy, stop-and-go traffic because it gets a league-leading 48 miles per gallon in the government’s city driving cycle (and a tied-for-best 45 highway mpg). A non-political Prius would be dinged for leisurely acceleration, a lack of ultimate cornering grip and a slightly difficult to read instrument panel.

There are almost no changes between the 2008 and 2009 Prius. Toyota says a plug-in version of Prius—one that could use household electricity to extend its electric-only driving range—is coming. Timing is unknown.

Hybrid Power

The Prius has both a conventional gasoline-fueled piston engine and an electric motor fed by a nickel-metal-hydride (Ni-MH) battery pack. Depending on the situation, the car’s computer decides if only the electric motor, only the gas engine, or both are used. Electric-only range is very limited: With four people aboard and the heater engaged, we never made it to the end of the block without having the gas engine kick in. Like all previous Prius, the 2009’s batteries are charged almost exclusively by its gas engine. When slowing down, the Prius uses generators to recapture a bit of kinetic energy that would otherwise be turned into heat by the brakes and return it to the battery.

Graphic Design

The hybrid function gains most of its increase in gas mileage by turning off the engine when the vehicle is stopped or coasting. The battery keeps the air conditioner, radio and other accessories running. Even the partially observant will notice the engine turning on and off: It’s not annoying, just noticeable. The Prius also gains city mileage by using the electric motor for initial movement away from a stop: When the gas engine starts, it’s closer to its most efficient rpm.