Toyota Prius: Features explained

Talk about hybrid cars and the first thing that comes to mind will be the Toyota Prius. A nameplate that has been synonymous with efficiency and environment saving credentials. The Toyota Prius has been around in the Philippines for quite some time. However, given the lax attitude that we have here regarding anything other than pickups or SUVs is one reason why it isn’t selling like hot cakes.

The 2018 Toyota Prius has been the stepping stone for the company. It is using all the tech from this vehicle in its other cars now. Soon we will have almost only hybrid or electric cars around. And the Prius leads the revolution. So, here are more details and features of the new Toyota Prius.

Looks

The Prius is designed to be like any other Toyota car. One may either like or loathe the design. The grille is almost not there while the air dam is also a small unit. LED headlights along with LED fog lamps are present. The latter have cornering function while the DRLs are present in the headlamp cluster. Toyota has given smaller alloys to the Philippine version of the Prius. Globally while 18-inch wheels are the norm, we get 15-inch. The Kammback taillights are a clear lens and look great. If you look at the Toyota Prius specifications, the dimensions read as 4,480 x 1,745 x 1,480 mm for the length, width, and height respectively.

Interior

The cabin of the Prius was considered as space-age once. However, with the passage of time, precious little has been done to update them. Leather upholstery is used in the new Prius. The dials are centrally mounted and are easy to read. They display the amount of electric power in reserve and distance to empty amongst other things. The 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system is good to touch and operate. JBL provides the music system and has a 10-speaker output. The front seats are electrically powered. Boot space is ample at 425-litre. The wheelbase is 2,700 mm.

Under the hood

A 2ZR-FXE 1.8-litre DOHC 4-cylinder petrol engine which makes 99 PS of peak power and 142 Nm of torque can be found under the hood. An electric motor which sits in the boot helps generate an additional 72 PS of power and 163 Nm. However, the combined output is only 135 PS and 210 Nm. Crank the engine, and the electric motors take over. It is super silent and can transition from electric to petrol power if one presses the accelerator a bit hard. Toyota claims a combined fuel efficiency of 40 kmpl. An e-CVT unit does the transmission duty.

Safety features

Seven airbags, lane departure assist, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, electronic stability program, and traction control are part of the package. There are sensors at the front and back while Toyota also provides a reverse camera with the 2018 Prius.

Suspension

The suspension of the Prius consists of MacPherson in the front and a multilink at the back. This set up along with the electrically assisted steering wheel has been optimised for a good ride as well as handling package. The turning radius of the new Prius is 5.4 meter while the kerb weight is 1,400 kg. Toyota offers disc brakes all around with the Prius.

Price and final words

The Toyota Prius price in the Philippines starts from Php 2,249,000 for the regular colors and Php 2,264,000 for the white. If you’re looking for a daily runabout which is not only efficient but saves the environment, then the Prius should be high on your shopping list.