Similar cars tried:
Nissan Latio 1.5 Premium CVT > one heck of a lousy car, dump it after 3 years 4 months!
Fuel consumption:
24km/litre
Drive pattern:
City 40 Highway 40 Heartlands 20%
Duration of car driven:
Less than 1 month
Performance:
Reliability:
Value:
Overall:
The Review
A solid built car with Fuel saving in mind. Can out run a honda civic 1.6 auto anytime, acceleration is 10.2 sec to 100km/h. Spacious and comfortable. One of my FAV car, waited 4 months for it and never once regretted it eventhough it cost so much more than a civic. Compared it to a civic hybrid, it thumps it hands down. Civic hybird is not a full hybrid as it cannot run without the gasoline engine while the prius can and can run in stealth mode. It is so quiet in EV mode that when parking your car please be extra careful. Parking is always in EV mode never use gasoline engine at all. Driving a prius is easy and effortless. Starting it is like powering a PC. There are many gadgets found for prius that can put many other drivers in envy. It is just about how much money u willing to burn to bring them to SG. A great family car that can sit 4 passenger comfortably and even can put in a adult bicycle if only one rear passenger is in the car. Toyota sure has a winner in this one. Stop buying useless non-hybrid car, future is here with Prius!
Strengths
Quiet, Comfortable and spacious. A futuristic dashboard and good quality plastics all round. Many small compartments for use and big boot to place your barang barang. Very good FUEL ECONOMY at least 20KM/L. A fun way to drive in EV mode and a display to show you all needed information. A Fantastic car!
Weaknesses
I have added auto folding mirror, auto tilting mirror, Night Safety mirror and many other items for PRIUS 2008. Cost me a bomb! Is well worth it. Also change default radio to similar one with wma/mp3 function and included DVD playing capability in the MFD and rear view camera. Fully packed Prius!
Basic Model- None of the above mentioned. Even as a basic model it has no weakness just less creature comfort.
The car itself is rather futuristic in design, spacious (more so than an Altis actually), and when stretched delivers strong performance (although the slipping clutch sensation of the CVT takes some getting used to). Overall, it is just like any regular family car, albeit packed with more gizmos. There is a B mode in the CVT gearbox and that is for engine braking mode, which is particularly useful for downslopes where the engine brakes whenever the foot is lifted from the throttle.
The handling is rather neat and feedback from the electronic power steering (EPS) via the smallish steering wheel is average. Personally, I don't really fancy the minor shudder when the petrol engine kicks in but that is really a small issue.
The best part of Hybrid ownership? Fuel efficiency.
I drove approximately 180km in a day and the fuel indicator did not even move an inch. The consumption monitor shower an average of 5.5l/100km, which is roughly 18.2km per litre. Mind you, this was some real world driving which included some heavy right foot moments for overtaking. The car will also run perfectly fine on the cheaper 95 Octane petrol.
But bear in mind that because of the premium in price they command over a similar petrol-engined car, it only makes sense in a long term ownership. After factoring in the initial extra you have to pay and also less the number of times you have to refuel, you have to be driving the car for about 5 years (just my personal calculations) before you can really feel the savings. I still rate it as good value as you do get tax rebates and pay lower road tax than a 1.6 litre car on top of having to refuel (significantly) less.
Overall this is a more than capable alternative to the regular family sedans. But how many people actually accepts this technology and its benefits still remains to be seen.
Strengths
Green vehicle rebate, fuel efficiency, silentness, spaciousness.
Weaknesses
Slight shudder when petrol engine kicks in, slightly lethargic going uphill, high initial price.
Latest Response:
lemeinpls
Singapore Member Offline
Responded on: 16 Dec 2009 12:59PM
Hi Dear Fellow Prius.
Maybe some of you are interested in the Priuschat forum?
There is a Singapore Prius club in
http://priuschat.com/forums/groups/singapore-prius-club/ asdzds
simonleokl
Singapore Member Offline
Responded on: 31 Oct 2008 12:55AM
anyone forming a Prius club? asdzds
nightfall
Singapore Member Offline
Responded on: 8 Jun 2008 8:38PM
I maybe wrong, please correct me if I am.
I have read that the Civic Hybrid is not a full electric car as compared to the Prius. By that I mean that the Civic H only assists the engine every now and then unlike the Prius where the electric motor actually does come into action without the petrol engine being in use.
With that in mind the consumption on the Prius should be better. asdzds
ijsberg
South,
Singapore Member Offline
Responded on: 27 Feb 2008 5:33PM
Hi Eber, nope I've only sampled the Civic Hybrid on a test drive, and the Prius for a month. asdzds
Evan
Singapore Member Offline
Responded on: 27 Feb 2008 2:51PM
Hi ijsberg, looks like you've done your research! Did you test drive any other (semi) hybrids? Lexus, Citroen (CNG), etc. asdzds
ijsberg
South,
Singapore Member Offline
Responded on: 27 Feb 2008 1:50PM
Glad that it helps! But do bear in mind that everyone's driving habits are different, so you will get varying figures all the time.
Yes the Civic Hybrid is quite frugal but unlike the Prius, it was not designed as a hybrid system from ground up, but having an integrated motor assist (IMA) system to boost the petrol engine. It does however gives a more engaging and fun drive. Cheers! asdzds
Evan
Singapore Member Offline
Responded on: 26 Feb 2008 1:01PM
Cool, thanks for the useful review! I've also heard that the Civic hybrid does about the same mileage roughly 18km/l as well. asdzds