2005 Toyota Prius Test Drive

The car of the future- -and not because it's a hybrid

The first Toyota Prius was a novelty but the 2nd Generation delivers a full-featured family sedan with many advanced features. For 2005 subtle changes were made to its gas/electric/CVT powertrain, making Prius smoother, reasonably powerful and, of course, amazingly economical. The only problem lies in getting one, as demand for the spacious futureship outstrips supply. Base price $20,875. Warranty: 3yr/36,000 mi total car, 5 yr/60,000 mi powertrain. EPA fuel mileage: 60 city/51 highway.

First Glance

As the parking attendant guided our Prius into the last available slot aboard the 5 PM ferry to Vancouver Island he shouted "hey, it's one of those nuclear-powered cars!" It had been a close call as the ship was full and there was some doubt as to whether another vehicle could fit. Thankfully, trim lines and sensible exterior dimensions allowed the Prius to be shoehorned in place, otherwise it would have meant two more hours in the penalty box, waiting for the 7:00 PM sailing. I'd already been there more than an hour and the journey adds another hour-and-thirty-five minutes, so if the ferry guy assumed my car was powered by nuclear energy, I wasn't going to spoil the illusion. In fact, driving a Toyota Prius really is like driving a car of the future, even to the point of altering long-time driving habits. Of course the hybrid drivetrain with its advanced technology and fuel-saving performance is what makes the Prius unique but even if the car had been powered by a conventional drivetrain I'd still be impressed. Toyota has, literally, reinvented the motor car and we should all be glad, especially those of us who care about the environment vs. merely paying lip-service.

In the Driver's Seat

Entering the Prius requires a remote locking device but once the doors are open, you can put it in your pocket because starting this car is unlike anything you've ever done: Foot on the brake, press the power button, watch for the "ready" indicator to light up and you're ready to go. You can then, if you wish, check the center-mounted display, which shows the flow of energy between gas engine, electric motor, and batteries. Sprouting from the dash is the gear lever, about the length of your thumb. The only "gears" you'll select, however, are forward and reverse, for the Prius utilises a CVT (continuously-variable) transmission, a system that automatically matches engine power to the circumference of a sliding metal belt. Because the Prius is so quiet, you won't even notice what's happening except when engine revs are required for passing acceleration. It's a perfect match for a hybrid power source, making the switch between gas, electricity, and gear-ratios seamless. Almost as impressive as the technology, by the way, is the exceptionally spacious interior which, when the rear seats are folded, provides a lengthy, absolutely flat, load space that would do credit to a minivan.

On the Road

The first thing you'll notice is utter quiet, though our reverie was spoilt by snow tires fitted for the benefit of journalists who motor to the nearby Whistler ski area. That aside, the Prius is a relaxing drive. You ride high, enjoy excellent visibility, manoeuver confidently with a small, oval-shaped steering wheel that sits almost in your lap. Far more enjoyable than being submerged in those slab-sided tanks with gun-slit windows masquerading as cars these days. Since there are no gears, tap the tiny lever to the left and down to go forward; left and up for reverse. Reversing causes a beeper to sound inside the vehicle, assumedly as a caution for motorists who accidentally flick the gear lever the wrong way. Acceleration from rest is only average but 40-70 mph performance, more important than stoplight drags, takes a mere 8.93 seconds. Flooring the throttle adds a burst of sound from the 1.5 liter DOHC four as it and the belt-drive adjust to your demands; the good news is that you can pass with confidence. The Prius is no sports sedan though steering response is good and it tracks well through turns. Mileage is better in the city when battery power dominates, whereas the gas engine is usually needed for highway driving.

Journey's End

Prius' non-traditional shape is aerodynamic, adding to fuel economy and performance while providing more interior room. Obviously such radical styling attracts attention but the innovative packaging is vastly superior to that of a conventional sedan which makes the Prius, in my view, quite beautiful. Others may disagree. The interior is equally different, particularly in its use of materials; dash, console, and upholstery all have a luxurious look that owes something, believe it or not, to those Bakelight-bodied radios of the 1940's. (What goes around comes around and its name is Philco; nice to know the future has a past.) That center-mounted screen offers, among other attractions, a GPS map, and although the steering wheel cleverly includes buttons for sound, air controls and screen-displayed information, I'm of the opinion that one can sometimes have too much of a good thing, for such things are distracting. Said comment does not apply to the wide rear doors and spacious rear seating area nor to the "double-bubble" roof, a clever take on Italian sports car designs from the 50's. Buy this car to save fuel or to experience the automobile as it should be: I have seen the future and I'm driving it now.