I have a 2012 Prius with 114,000 miles. Bought it with 7 miles on it. I get 52 mpg in town and 48 on the highway. Just put the third set of tires on it at 100,000 miles. Haven't even had to change a headlight or tail light on the thing. Just oil changes, tire rotations and air filters. Best most reliable car I've ever owned. If that's "just in development" then I'm fine with that.
My 2012 Prius is by far the best car I have owned. It’s been 10 years and 3 months since I purchased it new. So, far not a single failure or repair, other than tires, oil and filter changes, air filters. But no actual mechanical failures. The main battery is still going strong. It has about 94,000 miles. Brakes still good. One thing is the really great engineering-no fan, air conditioner, power steering or water pump belts, (all directly driven by electric motors), no gear meshing or un meshing, no clutch or torque converter. Everything is tight at all times, coupled by electromagnetic fields (motors). The CVT is not the usual conical pulley and belts like in other cars (which are very wear prone), but a system of planetary gears. It’s a truly ingenious system.
2nd gen is the ultimate used car. Average asking price is $3500 and they are insanely reliable. 250k is considered low miles for one. Hatch practicality, great MPG, pretty cool tech features (keyless start and proximity entry, central touch control for the stereo, climate, etc, digital cluster), just overall a fantastic buy. I’m a car guy but I wouldn't mind dailying one at all because I just like them so much. The drivetrain engineering is impressive.
Arc I just bought a 2008 with under 80000 miles on it first 7800 it turned out to be $10,000 so after warranty dealer fee taxes and Gavin shirts but still not bad
Bought a 2004 Prius for $2,300 with 211k miles on it, recently turned 230k. Runs great, gets 45mpg mixed, and if I'm on the highway (my girlfriend lives over 100 miles away), I'll get 50mpg+ cruising on the highway at 65mph. I use the car for Uber and people are constantly surprised about the age/mileage because it looks 'new' and 'modern'. I moved 120 miles in the car with 4 trips, fit everything in the back from a Harbor Freight Tool Box, to 4 truck tires. I think I used $60 of gas total, which was still 1/3rd the price of renting a UHaul for one trip. The car has amazing AC and Heat that kicks in almost instantly, never got stuck in the snow, never had issues with it. For the $2,300, I'm getting a car with awesome gas mileage, a 'modern' look, automatic climate control, (aftermarket) backup camera, and awesome safety features. It's almost like a modern car, but for 1/10th the price.
I have you all beat, but I give God the credit. A 2008 Prius with 220k miles, full Toyota service records from the website and looks almost new for $2800. Everything was replaced by Toyota accept the HY Battery. Thanks GOD.
A year is not that long. You're only awake for 9 months of it. 40% of that you're drunk chasing women down the street and the rest of the time you just waste.
I own a gen 2 for my 100 mile commute every day, if anything ever happened to it I would absolutely buy another. For the price they pay for themselves in a year due to my mileage. I also own an 800rwhp C6 Z06, C6 vert and 4th gen Z28. No rookie to power, but no shame in my game to drive my Prius.
Prius and sporty in a same sentence? lol . I have a 2008 Prius and seeing it as the ugly duckling. Aside from the looks, it's comfortable to drive, reliable and economic. Accelerates "from zero to sixty miles in a week" :)
Sporty? So many folks equate a small car with being a sporty car. My sister has owned a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation Prius and I rode in 2 of them....maybe all three. To me they are typical Toyota products in that they are usually indistinguishable from one year to the next. I am considering buying one (main reason why I am watching this,) but what is holding me back is how NOT sporty these cars are to drive or look at. I keep telling people that Toyota needs to combine the looks of the MR2 with the fuel savings of the Prius but those folks keep telling me no one buys a car like the MR2 expecting to save money at the pump.
Indeed, they are silky smooth, can't even feel the road practically, a big change from my VW Golf that tells me exactly where every crack and bump is and how high they are LOL
Yes ..same as mine with 131k so far drives like a new car...not even have to change the brakes yet ...only oil change and tires and HID head lights ounce
I have two Gen 2 Prius; and they have been marvelous. Recently on a vacation with the 2008 with 190,000 miles on it the RED TRIANGLE on the dash lit up; this while we were climbing a grade and soon after the positive traction control light and check engine light as well. The car drove well in any case and we got to our vacation home after +50 miles and a steady 60 mph. The O'Reilly Auto parts store analyzed the diagnostics and it showed a P0A93 coolant pump defect. BUT the inverter pump is not a part in stock at auto parts stores. The dealer 20 miles away had one but their service department could not install it for a week and it would have cost $500 at the least. Enjoyed the weekend beach stay. I decided to take the car it home, staring at the TRIANGLE OF DEATH, as the route was all highway and I figured the airflow at speed would cool the inverter. ALAS! It got home. I got a replacement pump for $30 next day from Amazon. With YOU TUBE tutorials, screw driver and 10mm socket I got the pump replaced and warnings reset. For my other Prius I got a spare pump that will be in the car.
Absolutely brilliant post dear Marek!. The classic hybrid is still the first choice. Not everyone has a house with an outside socket, the price/performance ratio is better than by the E-car and has no problems with the range.
I get 50 to 55 mpg on my 2010 toyota prius. I always drive around or at the outskirt of my city and sometimes just driving around for 8 to 9 hrs just to see some nice places even to coastal towns in northern california. I love northern california a lot since we also have good weather all year round. I go places 3x a week and i can't just stay home i get bored so i drive around even in a prairie. I am amazed how beautiful northern california is...with rolling hills, national parks like yosemite, sequioa giant trees, historical sites , plus it is less populated so it is just so nice to drive around. I am excited to go camping with my prius.
3rd gen is far and away the best looking Prius so far. Before and after are just fugly. Fun Fact... The 3rd gen Prius is faster 0-60 than the first Corvette produced.
The new Priusses are far too expensive.The old Prius(es?), on their side, seem to be a master choice for someone looking for a second hand car.It ages pretty well and the reliability is amazing.
Overpriced? My Prius was $22,000 new, in 2004. It has the quality of a Camry, gas and electric motors, big pack of expensive hybrid batteries, big digital touch screen interface, push button start, and keyless entry.There is no other car that this well equipped for the money.
Which is why they make EXCELLENT 2nd hand vehicles. Buy them 2nd hand when they come off their leases, and if you get a well maintained unmolested high spec model (SATNAV, Voice command technology et al), you've got yourself one hell of a bargain that's barely been run in! Bought my 2008 Prius in June 2013, nothing broke, nothing's gone wrong, and 4.5 years later, it drives just as well as it did when I first got behind the wheel. The 2nd generation model interior reminds me of a Next Generation Star Trek Shuttlecraft - especially the cockpit. Absolutely love mine to bits.
True, the sticker price seems to steadily go up in price, and my gen. 3 has burned oil at around 1quart every 1000-1500 miles since it had 80000 miles on it! Others have had similar issues that Toyota will not acknowledge, so they need to work on some things.
A good friend's Mom has a Gen 2 Prius, that convinced me to want one. We got a Gen 3 Prius, and I think we're gonna love it. I don't think the Gen 4 is as pretty as the others. But I do think the plug in is a very good idea, especially if you have solar power on your rooftop.
Generation one had 300,000 miles. Bought the 2019 Prius Prime. Seats are comfortable and 130 mpg average. Very quiet ride too. I can turn on the electric AC in Phoenix before getting in the car.
I love my Prius it’s black and gen 2 just like the one in the video. I like the way the interior is and its design. It looks like something from the jetsons 😂
I have a 3rd gen. I like it but now I’ve never driven a 2nd gen. I’d consider a Prius plug-in but I’m more excited about full electrics like the Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro
I had the 2003 (still 1st gen), and it was the car that got me into hybrids! Though I will say, it is not the best generation for colder climates. I live in Maine, USA, and it gets really cold. I would have a hard time turning on the car in the winter.
Thank you! Nice review video!! And it has generated some very interesting comments - just sorry that So Many Very Interesting Comments are cut off for the lack of a "More" button??? Dang!
I currently drive a MB W124 400E ( V8 engine) from 1993....However after watching a bunch of youtube vides about the Prius, I want either a 2nd or 3rd generation!!!!!
Nice review of all four, Marek. 👍 I just bought a P3 a couple of days ago, and am excited about having it and learning to drive it, though for many years, I have lifted my foot and coasted to distant stops. I’m getting rid of my behemoth Subaru Legacy Turbo (16 mpg around town, max 20 mpg on the freeway😩) and already feel good about my Prius. 😀
2:15 "Give me AC/DC" I dieded a little bit when i heard it :P Fajnie posłuchać takiego gadania po angielsku, masz całkiem dobry akcent i wymowę. Na polskim nagraniu słyszałem takie naleciałości z angielskiego, ale to nie przeszkadza. Łapka w górę ;)
Hey Marek! I just wanted to say that i really like your reviews! You test all the "normal cars" that we normal people of europe drive or want to drive! Carwow and Carbuyer and some other carreview channels feels more like they do their review after a script and many of the channels only try out the supersporty cars that we never will afford. You are more about saying what you want and freebasing if you know what I mean. I think I can speak for all when I say, WE LIKE IT! ....Well I like it👍 Keep up the good work! You are the best! Best regards
Another great video Marek, but can I pick up on a small aside you made in the video. I owned a 3rd gen Prius for 5 years and I kept regular fuel consumption records. Many times I ran tests on the consumption with air-con on and air-con off. I tried tests at steady motorway speeds, tests that ran for 4 weeks, summer/winter etc., etc., and guess what. On that Prius the air-con on or off had absolutely no measurable effect on fuel economy. So OK, UK weather does not have big temperatures swings but I still think the old days of a compressor running off the fan belt has created a myth that your little aside perpetuated. I found the outside temperature had the most effect, short trips in winter could be v. bad. My average consumption for the 5 Jan-Mar quarters was 50.1mpg (UK) and for the 5 Jul-Sep quarters it was 55.3mpg(UK). I think that's 5.6 and 5.1 litres/100km.
I understand your point, however Toyota people told us (and you'll see this in most EVs) that AC eats into pure electric range. And as the objective of this "eco-challenge" was to use as little petrol as possible, we needed to extend the pure electric range. That said, I never realised trip computers can be so far off the real fuel economy figure, but they can. Sorry for speaking in L/100km rather than MPG. My trip computer showed 1.8 L/100 km after 114 km on B roads. However Toyota had its own device plugged into the on-board computer, and it read 1.4. Interestingly enough another team finished the race with 1.6 on their trip computer (so I thought I lost), and it turned out their real fuel economy was 1.5.
Anne & Bill Dew: Wish your whole comment had shown up on this page. There was no "More" button and I am pretty interested in what you were saying here. Try posting again?
I own a 2008 UK Prius Tspirit and it’s the best vehicle I have ever purchased. I call it “The Spaceship”......you take one look at the flight deck and all becomes clear - they were certainly channeling a “Star Trek Shuttlecraft” when they designed the Prius 2nd generation. Yes, it’s true; I managed to get my highest mpg figures in the summer of 2013, when I was able to squeeze 66.4mpg out of my Prius, managing to get 634 miles out of the 45 litre petrol tank. I had the A/C going for at least half the time - usually (always) on my commute home. Right now, I have 63.3mpg on the Multifunction Screen, and that’s using the Airconditioning every trip, including when standing in traffic. The A/C compressor is powered entirely by the high voltage (HV) traction battery. Talking about the vehicle’s capability to travel purely on electricity (especially if you have a high spec model with the EV button), you really can’t get the best mpg out of a standard Prius Hybrid (not PiP or PHEV) by forcing it into EV mode. You let the onboard computers decide when the vehicle might want to do that (slight downward slopes, and even if not, when the vehicle has a “Green” fully charged HV battery, and needs to burn off some energy). While a light foot and adhering to the principles of hypermiling will increase your mpg dramatically, you don’t have to drive in EV mode to accomplish this. In my case, the Prius II vehicle will utilise to EV mode when you’re in slow moving traffic congestion; ideally the type where you’re crawling along using the 67bhp electric motor and stopping till you get through the traffic lights (all the while using your A/C). Your warmed up engine will be off, and normally, a moderately charged HV pack will get you through such moments, with you finally clearing the junction before the engine kicks in again, propelling you along, while simultaneously charging up the HP pack to replenish the energy you used in congested traffic. If that isn’t amazing, I don’t know what is. I also judiciously use my cruise control when commuting early in the morning. Useful on flat roads, and for holding your speed when coming down a hill, without touching your brakes, when traveling at 30mph or more. Not very economical going up a hill, though I regularly do that too, especially if I’m on an “Average Speed Cam Zone” highway. Very useful indeed. Basically, the whole package seems to work together nicely, when I let the onboard computers (and cruise control a.k.a. Auto throttle) handle throttle control where it is safe to do so. Why “The Spaceship”? Pulse and glide - just like a spacecraft does. Exploit downhill or downward inclines, to speed up and use the built up energy to crest the next hill. Like an aircraft, usually you use thrust to climb, and as you cruise down the other side of the hill, the engine noise disappears to a tick over or even MECO (main engine cut off) - as regenerative braking kicks in (CC masters this well) and recharges your HV battery pack. On a flat road, you can travel along quickly and STILL stick to the laws of “hypermilius” 🙄🤣. Hypermiling does NOT mean driving mega slow and being a liability to everyone else on the road - though, coasting to a halt (using partial regen) will always wind up the Boy Racers behind you, infinitely obsessed with racing from traffic stop lights to traffic stop lights, braking at the last millisecond. Nobody should be driving like that, regardless of what car (or Prius) they are driving. The Prius; a lot more than a common car, a little bit less than a road going 23rd century Shuttlecraft. Probably the biggest misunderstood technologically advanced vehicle on the road today. Fortunately, other motorists irrational fears means there are always enough brilliant 2nd hand Prius bargains available for us highly intelligent 🤓 and discerning folk. 😊👍 p.s. Apologies for rambling on for so long! 🤭
You can see instantly the massive back seat size difference between 1 and 2. Gen 2 has a downright huge back seat. 2 6 footers can comfortably sit on the same side and not complain.
It's hard to believe that 1997 was 20 years ago! It's hard to believe I've grown older by 20 years since 1997! Soon it will be time to die. And we will run out of oil.
Gen 2 is the most reliable for major failures, I like the gen 3 because the biggest failure with head gasket is pretty easy for me to repair as a mechanic and the hybrid traction batteries last much longer than the gen 2.
They are all good. I have known at least one person (usually more) who has owned a Prius since they first came out. No one has ever ragged on it. One friend just got rid of his '06 because the radio died! THE RADIO DIED! Only reason! 350,000 miles on it! He got a quote on replacing the radio and it was more than the car was worth! I recently totaled my '04 Civic (another great car) and bought my first Prius.
Very nice historical review of the different Generations of the Toyota Prius! If you want compare the fuel consumption of 5 - 5.5 litre of the first generation Prius with a Diesel car, you should consider that Diesel fuel has an about 13 - 15 % higher energy content per litre than gasoline, so this consumption would be equal to a Diesel car with 4.4 - 4.8 litre per 100 km consumption! This fact is not known to many people.
Irrelevant, when you had to pay for a hybrid more, than for an equivalent diesel, and you would never do enough city miles to offset the price difference.
Nice video, but you missed some key points.... Gen 3 is actually quite peppy...if you activate power mode. Likewise, NO PRIUS was designed to run far in EV only mode. It's really intended for moving in a parking lot. The on board system monitors accelerator input, speed, and load on the electric motor. When certain parameters are crossed, the ICE kicks in automatically. Most "sluggishness" of a hybrid mode drive is the system trying to conserve fuel consumption. Put it in power mode and you don't have any issues, but at the cost of optimal fuel conservation. The Gen 3 PIP (Plug-In Prius), was an extra battery and an updated protocol to allow more torque output from the electric motor before the ICE was forced to kick in. Even then, it really only benefited people using it for in-town driving. At the extra cost of $3,000 (ouch), a PIP was actually more money than an entry-level Lexus hybrid which many felt was a better car once that amount of money was being spent. This was a reason why the high-trim Prius didn't seem so popular. Prius feels "cheap" because it's designed to eliminate as much weight as possible to save gas. The Lexus version has a more "solid" and luxurious feel, but at a cost on gas mileage. I test drove a Gen 4 when it came out. I was not too impressed, but one issue is that as they make small changes, sometimes they eliminate features that improve the experience. I test drove a 2012 and liked it, but found getting in and out difficult without adjusting the seat each time. Later, I test drove a 2013, and they made the steering wheel "flattened" on the bottom...facilitating easy entry and exit without adjusting the seat. That and a standard touch-screen interface on all trim levels made it one worth buying. The Gen 4, while looking more sporty, felt more "cramped" than the Gen 3 (personal preference), and they went to glossy surfaces throughout the interior which showed fingerprints and smudges like crazy...a definite "do not buy" issue if you're OCD about cleanliness. Surfaces should hide dirt, not draw attention to it.
I have a 2015 Gen 3 and love it. I get an average of 49.5 miles / gallon, but as of lately I'm learning new techniques and one day I was out as got over 60 Miles / gallon. Also on City streets, I've learned a technique that keeps it on EV while doing up to 40 mph.
@@dianastamos4439 it's really kind of hard to tell and not show, but it's gotta be in the city and you have to have a good amount of battery. At stop lights or stop signs after you've been stopped and you put the gas pedal down to gain speed again, once the speed is reached that you want to go, let the foot off of the pedal for a second and gently put your foot back on it. The EV mode will kick in and stay on EV for up to 40 mph. Also use the same technique of letting go of the gas pedal when reaching the speed on freeways and putting it back down lightly and you're gas mileage should improve, unless you're going up hills. In my experience this has helped allot and I also use cruise control a bit when I drive on freeways. I'm a UBER / LYFT driver, so I drive a lot and anyway I can save on gas is a good thing.
PHEV's are a great option if you do mostly city driving. They don't do so well compared to normal hybrids or small diesels on the highway. All of the extra weight of the larger battery packs tends to lower their efficiency. But they're still better than gas-only cars due to the more efficient drive train and aerodynamics. IE: The 2018 Chevy Cruze (Gasoline) gets about 37MPG highway. The 2018 Chevy Volt gets 42MPG highway. These cars are built on the same frame, but the Volt gets better MPG. Though the Cruze diesel gets 52MPG highway.
I've had many of the 1st gen, they are the best looking, don't look like a spaceship, although I do like the other ones, I prefer the smaller gen1. In fact, I like the Prius C and will be buying one soon, as they are lighter and better and smaller, more like the gen1, but technically way better. The 2nd was the best tech, most reliable.
Don't understand why the wanna be (billy big riggers) driving their little boy Ram diesel truck feel the need to poke fun at these awesome cars.. I work as a Heavy duty diesel mechanic and drive my Prius everywhere. I also own trucks but don't need a truck to get to work everyday.. plus the money saved on fuel.. pays for a nice vacation every year!
I just got back in the Prius V. Divorcerapists stole my first one. Sure I was saving money driving the 2K $2K MGM but I found I wasn't driving as much I was always worried about the transmission going out. Fuel cost meant no trips> 100 miles. I'm converting my car into a camper so I can travel for food and fuel cost. The AC is battery operated so you can leave it running and the engine turns on and off to charge the battery. Maybe 10 minutes an hour depending what temperature you select.
Well, maybe..............but the Tesla is pretty amazing as well. Toyota will eventually be selling pure electric vehicles. They have learned a lot from developing hybrid systems, so their electric cars should be amazing, and don't forget they have a car with hydrogen fuel cell power.
Thanks for this comparison. I am thinking of getting a prius, and was confused about all the models. Not so much anymore. I’d love to go all electric with a Tesla...but they are still out of my price range. Eventually i will get one. But for now, i think a Prius might be a good compromise.
So glad you survived the future now that were are here in July 2019. Yes, we are seeing more hybrid cars and my prediction for the future is we will see (and drive) more hybrids, including the new 48 volt mild hybrids. If you do a lot of city driving a plug-in hybrid might be worth the extra cost and some cities in Europe & UK require EV mode cars now or in the near future, or you will pay dearly to use your regular fuel powered vehicle.
I believe plug-in hybrids are a best buy in this day and age. Until EVs reach an average range for Golf-sized-vehicles of 400 km, the charging times get to 10-min-to-80%, and the prices go to current ICE prices, only the bold pioneers with money can drive EVs. For the rest of us there are regular hybrids, and for the in-between guys there are plug-in hybrids. Best buy, but still kinda expensive.
I own a 2009 Prius and I love my car. It has over 128,000 miles now and I just paid around $420 labor for 2 hours at Earl Stewart Toyota in North Palm Beach, Fl to replace a Hybrid Water Pump! Because of this extremely high labor cost I will no longer bring my car to the dealership and will learn all I can to fix my car myself!
honestly i have replaced a 2004 Corsa 1.7 cdti and a BMW X3 E83 2.0 d 150 hp with two Toyota Auris' hybrid (2015 and 2016). Will sell the maintenance happy BMW and keep the Corsa for old times sake. the thing with the HSD is - there's no flywheel, no brush alternator/starter motor, no belts to power the accesories, no torque converter, no clutches whatsoever - these were all parts you needed to replace in your german car, eventually. It's simple, reliable and efficient, just perfect for the hardcore eastern european trafic conditions. i do love my hybrids, and my mom also prefers it over the bmw suv (and that's a big deal)
Overall good review of Prius over the generations, but you should say in your description that you only only focus on the Prime in Generation 4. I enjoyed learning about generations 1-3, but not sure why you did not bother to cover the generation 4 regular Prius Hybrids.
idk who told you it was over $5K, you can get a Fel-Pro head gasket, new EGR, water pump, etc. all under $3K at a certified hybrid repair shop. And you'll never have to worry about the head gasket or water pump again. Just clean the EGR every 80-100K
My 2015 Prius C now has done 266,000 km it has been serviced every 10,000 km by the dealer I bought it from New still does 4.5 L per hundred kilometres still has 70% of its original brake pads I get 100,000 km out of a set of Michelin tyres the car is brilliant the only things I’ve replaced been to headlight bulbs
The 2nd generation was by far the best in terms of reliability , style and design. Like many cars today, they tampered too much with a great design, just to make it "new" and they have gotten less reliable and even less efficient with each generation. Perhaps the 2nd gen was just too good and they had to muck it up. The 4th generation looks absolutely horrendous.
I had a 3rd gen ran it up to 290k had zero problems TIL recently with a Battery fault still if u don’t use Toyota to fix it doesn’t cost that much to fix
Funny because you couldn't order it like that from the factory. 17x7 wheels only came on the Plus, Persona, or the 5, and the Solar Sunroof could only be optioned on the 3 or 4, which have 15x6 wheels. You could put 17x7s aftermarket onto a 3 or 4 Solar Sunroof Prius, but Toyota should have said screw weight ratings and offered the Solar Sunroof on the 5.
Great video, nice to see all the generations as they evolved. Couple things. 3rd gen should be able to EV up to 42-45 MPH, That's US MPH. Also.. when talking about fuel consumption in the US. Keep in mind our Gallon is 20% smaller than used in the UK. So our MPG numbers are always 20% less than what's reported or talked about in Europe. Often cause some confusion. In 3rd gen Prius. We get 51mpg city and 48hwy. That's as a good or better than any TDI from VW that we ever got here... Mix with Toyota reliability vs VW' pretty terrible reliability and the Prius is your best choice.. if you want a high MPG car. Of course we love our big V8 powered cars.. and that's not likely to change.. with fuel at $2.50 a gallon.
Great video as always. I vote regular hybrid for me because where I live I can hardly imagine proper infrastructure being put in place for charging my would be phev...
A 2nd gen Prius I want to buy has Ectopia low resistance tires. The test drive was noisy and I felt every road irregularity even though I was doing my best to avoid obvious ones.. A 3rd gen test drive with Hankook low resistance tires was notably quieter and smoother, even seeking every rough spot. I fear the 3 ground clearance is too low for my recreational needs. I'll need every inch. And the cabin is less comfortable. Road conditions, weather and roads were pretty much the same. Is there a low resistance tire choice to resolve this road noise / ride problem for the 2 - like replacing the new Ectopias with a set of Hankooks, or is it something relating to the car itself or to the generation? Though I put a set of all season Pirellis from Costco on my current 'ride for good rain traction, noise and ride issues very notably improved. I need Help!
This latest Prius looks like they have finally got it right, especially with the plug-in version. This could be charged on off-peak night electricity or by wind generator owners for near zero cost. The great advantage of this over a pure electric vehicle, like the Nissan Leaf, is the range. I could jump in it at any time and drive 300 miles with no worries about charging it. The economy figures you achieved are very impressive and far superior to previous generations which didn't impress at all.
Still an idea in development. For it to be viable, the cars need to be able to drive further than 40 or 50 kilometres; they need to be able to travel 400-500 kilometres, but batteries are heavy and not the way to go. Hydrogen cell is far more interesting, but distant - I find the Toyota Mirai far more fascinating. However, for now, the Prius and spin-offs at least provide diesel levels of fuel economy whilst reducing pollution and strain on the drive train (starter motor, long-lasting brakes etc.)
Hydrogen is a very expensive fuel, it's mass produced for all sorts of industries and if there was a cheaper way to do it - it would've been done. You needs loads of energy to extract it from water particles.
looking to get a prius because i like being out alot except i can waste 40$ of gas in one or two days wich stinks but with a prius i can save like 75% of that not sure if i should fork up 10K tho would the first or second model save me money or should i go with the one with the solar panel as i do like the cool and heat feature it has
I have owned a 2007, 2010, 2012, 2017 and have just bought another 2010. I have never had one problem with any of them and would recommend them all. I must say that the 2017 is more refined. Regardless of which year Prius you buy, you will enjoy it for many years to come.
People wouldn’t believe but I I have used 4 prius in my life and it’s the best car for me. I have 2016 now and I’m more than happy. Ugly? Noup I don’t think so just less air drag in pro of gas prices
Prius traction batteries thrive when used daily. If you plan on driving a car once a week, your traction batteries will fail sooner. Also, keep the battery cooling intake clean from lint/pet hair. 2nd generation Prius have good aftermarket traction battery suppliers.
Excellent review, I never thought you would actually, ever, drive and review my car. I knew you would love it! Yes, I'm speaking about the first gen Prius :D. For the money it sells nowdays as second hand, it's an excellent city and short trip cruiser! Beside the fact that your friends don't laugh looking at your car, as it looks quite normal-ish. Btw, isn't the test example a 2000-2003 (facelift) generation? I think I read somewhere the 1997-2000 pre-facelift wasn't sold in Europe.
This is a Toyota Motor Poland employee's car, so it could have been imported for training purposes. But you're probably right. It must be a facelifted model.
As wikipedia also states: "The first generation Prius (NHW10) was available only in Japan, though it has been imported privately to at least the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.", so it was manufactured only for right hand drive. Also the facelift changed the rims, bumper and tail lights style, as exterior cosmetics. So the model you tested was definately manufactured after 09.2000. So basically the car you drove was just about 15 years old, more or less :) Anyway they hold together quite good over time, nonetheless. This is a car that confirms the saying: "they don't manufacture cars like they used to", although the first gen Prius was forced to be flawless, otherwise it would be dead before it's birth.
I LOVE the idea of a Prius with a generator that is genius. Toyota is missing on a huge stream of cash flow. There is ONE more target market they are not catering to. The RV market. Design a car that 2 people can sleep in no potty just sleep they can shower all over the place sleeping is all that counts. Cooking we can figure that out too we just need a quality sleep space for 2. You hit that target market you will sell these cars faster than you can build them. People seek out vans to buy I tell them don't go for a van get a Prius stay out the deep woods and go to the popular places the car can go to. Would be nice to have a Prius that could have air added to some shocks or something jack the car up about 10 inches that would be wonderful to get down some of these low roads. We would know to drive on the regular roads in order to get that MPG we need to drop it back down.
I'm not sure if a hybrid RV is what the world wants, but I read an interesting article somewhere about the future of autonomous vehicles in the context of RVs. If we're talking fully autonomous, which does not require the driver to be present behind the wheel, one could imagine such a car roaming across the continent, stopping only for gas and supplies. The owner would not need a permanent address. Probably he would not even need to stop at camping sites, because the car would just keep moving.
OK, don't get me wrong, but the situation you're describing here is what I would call a niche. A niche whose needs could be catered to by some innovator, perhaps with experience such as yours. In Europe we have "vans", which by US standards probably would not deserve a toolshed status, but there are some conversion kits, which turn a family/business van into a more hospitable living space. Some are DIY projects, but there are companies specialising in this type of conversions. Regular Prius is not ideal, but perhaps a Prius V would make a better case for conversion into a camper van. Check this out: ruclips.net/video/r9GFnmkHOHU/видео.html ruclips.net/video/ieSManw9PJY/видео.html ruclips.net/video/4gU85P3XBjA/видео.html ruclips.net/video/kbL2ZsWs2oE/видео.html ruclips.net/video/L4g9VlbhVxU/видео.html ruclips.net/video/U1snQpVzOcs/видео.html
There's a little grey rectangle with 3 dots if you are on a phone. You have to be really finicky to click it just right, or it will open up a reply box instead. It's annoying :)
I have a 2012 Prius with 114,000 miles. Bought it with 7 miles on it. I get 52 mpg in town and 48 on the highway. Just put the third set of tires on it at 100,000 miles. Haven't even had to change a headlight or tail light on the thing. Just oil changes, tire rotations and air filters. Best most reliable car I've ever owned. If that's "just in development" then I'm fine with that.
This only lower mileage. Mine is from 2013 :-) I have separate summer/winter tires, so I'm still using the original set at 60K+
Very low miles, they will go beyond 500,000 if you maintain them. I have a highlander my sister has a camry, Toyota is amazing :P
I’m sorry you own a prius
i just picked up an 08 with 185k miles
heres hoping they hold up to the age.
Stan Sullivan ha others can say other wise 50k and ur battery died lol
Real car guys don't hate on the Prius.
I love the technology!
@@aspecreviews yea, they are really nice
Actually, i hate prius when the driver hit me like 2 years ago and the driver is lady but basically i like prius back again now😂😂😂😂
🤣🤣 you should hate the driver
I hate Priuses no matter what they use it as.
My 2012 Prius is by far the best car I have owned. It’s been 10 years and 3 months since I purchased it new. So, far not a single failure or repair, other than tires, oil and filter changes, air filters. But no actual mechanical failures. The main battery is still going strong. It has about 94,000 miles. Brakes still good. One thing is the really great engineering-no fan, air conditioner, power steering or water pump belts, (all directly driven by electric motors), no gear meshing or un meshing, no clutch or torque converter. Everything is tight at all times, coupled by electromagnetic fields (motors). The CVT is not the usual conical pulley and belts like in other cars (which are very wear prone), but a system of planetary gears. It’s a truly ingenious system.
2nd gen is the ultimate used car. Average asking price is $3500 and they are insanely reliable. 250k is considered low miles for one. Hatch practicality, great MPG, pretty cool tech features (keyless start and proximity entry, central touch control for the stereo, climate, etc, digital cluster), just overall a fantastic buy. I’m a car guy but I wouldn't mind dailying one at all because I just like them so much. The drivetrain engineering is impressive.
Arc I just bought a 2008 with under 80000 miles on it first 7800 it turned out to be $10,000 so after warranty dealer fee taxes and Gavin shirts but still not bad
Arc agree second generation have more room than 3 rd generation
Bought a 2004 Prius for $2,300 with 211k miles on it, recently turned 230k. Runs great, gets 45mpg mixed, and if I'm on the highway (my girlfriend lives over 100 miles away), I'll get 50mpg+ cruising on the highway at 65mph. I use the car for Uber and people are constantly surprised about the age/mileage because it looks 'new' and 'modern'. I moved 120 miles in the car with 4 trips, fit everything in the back from a Harbor Freight Tool Box, to 4 truck tires. I think I used $60 of gas total, which was still 1/3rd the price of renting a UHaul for one trip. The car has amazing AC and Heat that kicks in almost instantly, never got stuck in the snow, never had issues with it.
For the $2,300, I'm getting a car with awesome gas mileage, a 'modern' look, automatic climate control, (aftermarket) backup camera, and awesome safety features. It's almost like a modern car, but for 1/10th the price.
I have you all beat, but I give God the credit. A 2008 Prius with 220k miles, full Toyota service records from the website and looks almost new for $2800. Everything was replaced by Toyota accept the HY Battery. Thanks GOD.
My dad bought a prius in 2006 and it still runs smooth. 190k miles yet the battery on it is starting to die out.
1997 and they still managed to put a touchscreen in the car. Toyota really was ahead of the competition at that time...
Gen 1 is cute.
Gen 2 has a soul.
Gen 3 feels robotic.
Have yet to try the Gen 4.
It's hard to believe that 1997 was 20 years ago
ruclips.net/video/FoGa9JXfA7I/видео.html
Exactly! hahaha
Yeah, well said, it's like you and me have been around for a long long time
Lolol
A year is not that long. You're only awake for 9 months of it. 40% of that you're drunk chasing women down the street and the rest of the time you just waste.
I own a gen 2 for my 100 mile commute every day, if anything ever happened to it I would absolutely buy another. For the price they pay for themselves in a year due to my mileage. I also own an 800rwhp C6 Z06, C6 vert and 4th gen Z28. No rookie to power, but no shame in my game to drive my Prius.
Its amazing how smooth and quite Prius are. Besides sporty, it just ticks every needs box. Awesome car.
Prius and sporty in a same sentence? lol . I have a 2008 Prius and seeing it as the ugly duckling. Aside from the looks, it's comfortable to drive, reliable and economic. Accelerates "from zero to sixty miles in a week" :)
Sporty? So many folks equate a small car with being a sporty car. My sister has owned a 2nd, 3rd, and 4th generation Prius and I rode in 2 of them....maybe all three. To me they are typical Toyota products in that they are usually indistinguishable from one year to the next.
I am considering buying one (main reason why I am watching this,) but what is holding me back is how NOT sporty these cars are to drive or look at.
I keep telling people that Toyota needs to combine the looks of the MR2 with the fuel savings of the Prius but those folks keep telling me no one buys a car like the MR2 expecting to save money at the pump.
he said BESIDES, guys
Howard Kerr can yall read??? Lol he said BESIDES
Indeed, they are silky smooth, can't even feel the road practically, a big change from my VW Golf that tells me exactly where every crack and bump is and how high they are LOL
No Prius is bad. They all are champs in reliability!!
14 years with our prius no problem until this week the HV battery time to fix it and get another few years cheers guys
So my used Prius 2 is considered brand new at 130k miles. How awesome.
Yes ..same as mine with 131k so far drives like a new car...not even have to change the brakes yet ...only oil change and tires and HID head lights ounce
I have chance to buy a 2014 with 151k for 4,500 should I do it? It’s good condition. Mint interior. One owner.
I have two Gen 2 Prius; and they have been marvelous. Recently on a vacation with the 2008 with 190,000 miles on it the RED TRIANGLE on the dash lit up; this while we were climbing a grade and soon after the positive traction control light and check engine light as well. The car drove well in any case and we got to our vacation home after +50 miles and a steady 60 mph. The O'Reilly Auto parts store analyzed the diagnostics and it showed a P0A93 coolant pump defect. BUT the inverter pump is not a part in stock at auto parts stores. The dealer 20 miles away had one but their service department could not install it for a week and it would have cost $500 at the least. Enjoyed the weekend beach stay. I decided to take the car it home, staring at the TRIANGLE OF DEATH, as the route was all highway and I figured the airflow at speed would cool the inverter. ALAS! It got home.
I got a replacement pump for $30 next day from Amazon. With YOU TUBE tutorials, screw driver and 10mm socket I got the pump replaced and warnings reset.
For my other Prius I got a spare pump that will be in the car.
Absolutely brilliant post dear Marek!.
The classic hybrid is still the first choice. Not everyone has a house with an outside socket, the price/performance ratio is better than by the E-car and has no problems with the range.
The video should be titled "Is there a bad Prius?"
I get 50 to 55 mpg on my 2010 toyota prius. I always drive around or at the outskirt of my city and sometimes just driving around for 8 to 9 hrs just to see some nice places even to coastal towns in northern california. I love northern california a lot since we also have good weather all year round. I go places 3x a week and i can't just stay home i get bored so i drive around even in a prairie. I am amazed how beautiful northern california is...with rolling hills, national parks like yosemite, sequioa giant trees, historical sites , plus it is less populated so it is just so nice to drive around. I am excited to go camping with my prius.
I'm on my second prius, and will most likely own a 3rd and 4th. This car just makes sense to me.
3rd gen is far and away the best looking Prius so far.
Before and after are just fugly.
Fun Fact... The 3rd gen Prius is faster 0-60 than the first Corvette produced.
@Louis G No it isn't.
I disagree the 2020 model is just gorgeous, inside and out!
The new Priusses are far too expensive.The old Prius(es?), on their side, seem to be a master choice for someone looking for a second hand car.It ages pretty well and the reliability is amazing.
Overpriced? My Prius was $22,000 new, in 2004. It has the quality of a Camry, gas and electric motors, big pack of expensive hybrid batteries, big digital touch screen interface, push button start, and keyless entry.There is no other car that this well equipped for the money.
In Europe, a new Prius will cost you around 35.000$ and will easily reach more than 40.000$ with top specs and equipement....
Which is why they make EXCELLENT 2nd hand vehicles. Buy them 2nd hand when they come off their leases, and if you get a well maintained unmolested high spec model (SATNAV, Voice command technology et al), you've got yourself one hell of a bargain that's barely been run in! Bought my 2008 Prius in June 2013, nothing broke, nothing's gone wrong, and 4.5 years later, it drives just as well as it did when I first got behind the wheel. The 2nd generation model interior reminds me of a Next Generation Star Trek Shuttlecraft - especially the cockpit. Absolutely love mine to bits.
True, the sticker price seems to steadily go up in price, and my gen. 3 has burned oil at around 1quart every 1000-1500 miles since it had 80000 miles on it! Others have had similar issues that Toyota will not acknowledge, so they need to work on some things.
22k in 04 was not 22k in todays dollars
As a Portuguese (and also an European) driver, I find this video to be really helpful.
Thank you!
I have a 2009 Touring edition, that is AWESOME and very reliable.Averaging 48 - 52 MPG.LOVE IT!!!!
There are many ppl in the U.S.A. who us their Prius for camping. Climate control is a big plus for hot or cold nights.
It's basically like having a generator. Although the battery does get used to low levels before the engine comes on if you leave it in ready mode.
Climate control ? does he mean air conditioning ?
@@leewe2015 heat and AC, yes.
Do they leave it on all night?
@@bigd3721 I do. Only uses less than a half gallon of gas in 8 hours.
We owned a third generation and now own a fourth generation. Love the difference in the two. Looking now at 2019 soon.
Im absolutely in love with my plugin prius 2020! it's a marvellous piece of technology!
I like the 2nd gen the most
Erick Martin Sucre agree more room and space.3rd generation sucks .no room.4 generation sucks too.
@@pierlouis7325 3rd Generation Feels More Like A Facelift Rather A New Model...
Years?
Pier Louis
The 2nd gen is really good but the third gen is way better. I should know because my dad had both. The 4th gen is quite nice too.
@DM - 05DC - Riverside PS (1281) But how easily can one find them under $3K?
Excellent review and great witty remarks, made my day. Thank you!
A good friend's Mom has a Gen 2 Prius, that convinced me to want one. We got a Gen 3 Prius, and I think we're gonna love it.
I don't think the Gen 4 is as pretty as the others. But I do think the plug in is a very good idea, especially if you have solar power on your rooftop.
Generation one had 300,000 miles. Bought the 2019 Prius Prime. Seats are comfortable and 130 mpg average. Very quiet ride too. I can turn on the electric AC in Phoenix before getting in the car.
gen 1 most trouble free gen
I love my Prius it’s black and gen 2 just like the one in the video. I like the way the interior is and its design. It looks like something from the jetsons 😂
Yes, my first impression when I drove the Prius was this thing is just so stinking cool
I have a 3rd gen. I like it but now I’ve never driven a 2nd gen. I’d consider a Prius plug-in but I’m more excited about full electrics like the Hyundai Kona and Kia Niro
I had the 2003 (still 1st gen), and it was the car that got me into hybrids! Though I will say, it is not the best generation for colder climates. I live in Maine, USA, and it gets really cold. I would have a hard time turning on the car in the winter.
It's called a Prius Prime in the USA I get 32 miles per charge. Great car we also have solar panels so the power is clean.
Love the Prius! Our family has had five of them!
Thank you! Nice review video!! And it has generated some very interesting comments - just sorry that So Many Very Interesting Comments are cut off for the lack of a "More" button??? Dang!
I currently drive a MB W124 400E ( V8 engine) from 1993....However after watching a bunch of youtube vides about the Prius, I want either a 2nd or 3rd generation!!!!!
my and the wife each have a hybrid Auris (3rd gen), 2011 and mine 2016 Touring Sports. Wouldn't dream to change to anything else for the next 10 years
My list
1.First generation prius
2.2009 prius
3.2017 prius
I really like your videos. Your videos are gorgeous. Keep going. 👍
Nice review of all four, Marek. 👍 I just bought a P3 a couple of days ago, and am excited about having it and learning to drive it, though for many years, I have lifted my foot and coasted to distant stops. I’m getting rid of my behemoth Subaru Legacy Turbo (16 mpg around town, max 20 mpg on the freeway😩) and already feel good about my Prius. 😀
2:15 "Give me AC/DC" I dieded a little bit when i heard it :P
Fajnie posłuchać takiego gadania po angielsku, masz całkiem dobry akcent i wymowę. Na polskim nagraniu słyszałem takie naleciałości z angielskiego, ale to nie przeszkadza. Łapka w górę ;)
Great video editing! Lots of B-Roll and very compelling! :-)
Hey Marek! I just wanted to say that i really like your reviews! You test all the "normal cars" that we normal people of europe drive or want to drive! Carwow and Carbuyer and some other carreview channels feels more like they do their review after a script and many of the channels only try out the supersporty cars that we never will afford. You are more about saying what you want and freebasing if you know what I mean. I think I can speak for all when I say, WE LIKE IT! ....Well I like it👍
Keep up the good work! You are the best!
Best regards
Another great video Marek, but can I pick up on a small aside you made in the video. I owned a 3rd gen Prius for 5 years and I kept regular fuel consumption records. Many times I ran tests on the consumption with air-con on and air-con off. I tried tests at steady motorway speeds, tests that ran for 4 weeks, summer/winter etc., etc., and guess what. On that Prius the air-con on or off had absolutely no measurable effect on fuel economy. So OK, UK weather does not have big temperatures swings but I still think the old days of a compressor running off the fan belt has created a myth that your little aside perpetuated.
I found the outside temperature had the most effect, short trips in winter could be v. bad. My average consumption for the 5 Jan-Mar quarters was 50.1mpg (UK) and for the 5 Jul-Sep quarters it was 55.3mpg(UK). I think that's 5.6 and 5.1 litres/100km.
I understand your point, however Toyota people told us (and you'll see this in most EVs) that AC eats into pure electric range. And as the objective of this "eco-challenge" was to use as little petrol as possible, we needed to extend the pure electric range.
That said, I never realised trip computers can be so far off the real fuel economy figure, but they can. Sorry for speaking in L/100km rather than MPG. My trip computer showed 1.8 L/100 km after 114 km on B roads. However Toyota had its own device plugged into the on-board computer, and it read 1.4. Interestingly enough another team finished the race with 1.6 on their trip computer (so I thought I lost), and it turned out their real fuel economy was 1.5.
Anne & Bill Dew: Wish your whole comment had shown up on this page. There was no "More" button and I am pretty interested in what you were saying here. Try posting again?
I can see a "Read more" which is clickable ....
Thanks for your reply. Appreciating the rest of your comment. Could be I stayed up a little too far into the wee hours. lol
I own a 2008 UK Prius Tspirit and it’s the best vehicle I have ever purchased. I call it “The Spaceship”......you take one look at the flight deck and all becomes clear - they were certainly channeling a “Star Trek Shuttlecraft” when they designed the Prius 2nd generation.
Yes, it’s true; I managed to get my highest mpg figures in the summer of 2013, when I was able to squeeze 66.4mpg out of my Prius, managing to get 634 miles out of the 45 litre petrol tank. I had the A/C going for at least half the time - usually (always) on my commute home. Right now, I have 63.3mpg on the Multifunction Screen, and that’s using the Airconditioning every trip, including when standing in traffic. The A/C compressor is powered entirely by the high voltage (HV) traction battery.
Talking about the vehicle’s capability to travel purely on electricity (especially if you have a high spec model with the EV button), you really can’t get the best mpg out of a standard Prius Hybrid (not PiP or PHEV) by forcing it into EV mode. You let the onboard computers decide when the vehicle might want to do that (slight downward slopes, and even if not, when the vehicle has a “Green” fully charged HV battery, and needs to burn off some energy).
While a light foot and adhering to the principles of hypermiling will increase your mpg dramatically, you don’t have to drive in EV mode to accomplish this.
In my case, the Prius II vehicle will utilise to EV mode when you’re in slow moving traffic congestion; ideally the type where you’re crawling along using the 67bhp electric motor and stopping till you get through the traffic lights (all the while using your A/C). Your warmed up engine will be off, and normally, a moderately charged HV pack will get you through such moments, with you finally clearing the junction before the engine kicks in again, propelling you along, while simultaneously charging up the HP pack to replenish the energy you used in congested traffic.
If that isn’t amazing, I don’t know what is. I also judiciously use my cruise control when commuting early in the morning. Useful on flat roads, and for holding your speed when coming down a hill, without touching your brakes, when traveling at 30mph or more. Not very economical going up a hill, though I regularly do that too, especially if I’m on an “Average Speed Cam Zone” highway. Very useful indeed. Basically, the whole package seems to work together nicely, when I let the onboard computers (and cruise control a.k.a. Auto throttle) handle throttle control where it is safe to do so.
Why “The Spaceship”? Pulse and glide - just like a spacecraft does. Exploit downhill or downward inclines, to speed up and use the built up energy to crest the next hill. Like an aircraft, usually you use thrust to climb, and as you cruise down the other side of the hill, the engine noise disappears to a tick over or even MECO (main engine cut off) - as regenerative braking kicks in (CC masters this well) and recharges your HV battery pack.
On a flat road, you can travel along quickly and STILL stick to the laws of “hypermilius” 🙄🤣. Hypermiling does NOT mean driving mega slow and being a liability to everyone else on the road - though, coasting to a halt (using partial regen) will always wind up the Boy Racers behind you, infinitely obsessed with racing from traffic stop lights to traffic stop lights, braking at the last millisecond. Nobody should be driving like that, regardless of what car (or Prius) they are driving.
The Prius; a lot more than a common car, a little bit less than a road going 23rd century Shuttlecraft. Probably the biggest misunderstood technologically advanced vehicle on the road today. Fortunately, other motorists irrational fears means there are always enough brilliant 2nd hand Prius bargains available for us highly intelligent 🤓 and discerning folk. 😊👍
p.s. Apologies for rambling on for so long! 🤭
You can see instantly the massive back seat size difference between 1 and 2. Gen 2 has a downright huge back seat. 2 6 footers can comfortably sit on the same side and not complain.
It's hard to believe that 1997 was 20 years ago! It's hard to believe I've grown older by 20 years since 1997! Soon it will be time to die. And we will run out of oil.
We have virtually limitless hydrogen to replace the oil so no big deal.
Still got plenty of oil.
Gen 2 is the most reliable for major failures, I like the gen 3 because the biggest failure with head gasket is pretty easy for me to repair as a mechanic and the hybrid traction batteries last much longer than the gen 2.
I became obsessed with the 1st gen when i saw it in person once
They are all good. I have known at least one person (usually more) who has owned a Prius since they first came out. No one has ever ragged on it. One friend just got rid of his '06 because the radio died! THE RADIO DIED! Only reason! 350,000 miles on it! He got a quote on replacing the radio and it was more than the car was worth! I recently totaled my '04 Civic (another great car) and bought my first Prius.
The 4th generation is so beautiful ! I love his futuristic look.
Very nice historical review of the different Generations of the Toyota Prius! If you want compare the fuel consumption of 5 - 5.5 litre of the first generation Prius with a Diesel car, you should consider that Diesel fuel has an about 13 - 15 % higher energy content per litre than gasoline, so this consumption would be equal to a Diesel car with 4.4 - 4.8 litre per 100 km consumption! This fact is not known to many people.
Irrelevant, when you had to pay for a hybrid more, than for an equivalent diesel, and you would never do enough city miles to offset the price difference.
Nice video, but you missed some key points....
Gen 3 is actually quite peppy...if you activate power mode. Likewise, NO PRIUS was designed to run far in EV only mode. It's really intended for moving in a parking lot. The on board system monitors accelerator input, speed, and load on the electric motor. When certain parameters are crossed, the ICE kicks in automatically. Most "sluggishness" of a hybrid mode drive is the system trying to conserve fuel consumption. Put it in power mode and you don't have any issues, but at the cost of optimal fuel conservation.
The Gen 3 PIP (Plug-In Prius), was an extra battery and an updated protocol to allow more torque output from the electric motor before the ICE was forced to kick in. Even then, it really only benefited people using it for in-town driving. At the extra cost of $3,000 (ouch), a PIP was actually more money than an entry-level Lexus hybrid which many felt was a better car once that amount of money was being spent. This was a reason why the high-trim Prius didn't seem so popular. Prius feels "cheap" because it's designed to eliminate as much weight as possible to save gas. The Lexus version has a more "solid" and luxurious feel, but at a cost on gas mileage.
I test drove a Gen 4 when it came out. I was not too impressed, but one issue is that as they make small changes, sometimes they eliminate features that improve the experience. I test drove a 2012 and liked it, but found getting in and out difficult without adjusting the seat each time. Later, I test drove a 2013, and they made the steering wheel "flattened" on the bottom...facilitating easy entry and exit without adjusting the seat. That and a standard touch-screen interface on all trim levels made it one worth buying. The Gen 4, while looking more sporty, felt more "cramped" than the Gen 3 (personal preference), and they went to glossy surfaces throughout the interior which showed fingerprints and smudges like crazy...a definite "do not buy" issue if you're OCD about cleanliness. Surfaces should hide dirt, not draw attention to it.
I have a 2015 Gen 3 and love it. I get an average of 49.5 miles / gallon, but as of lately I'm learning new techniques and one day I was out as got over 60 Miles / gallon. Also on City streets, I've learned a technique that keeps it on EV while doing up to 40 mph.
locdasmoke How?? I have the same gen and I’d love to know. 😊
@@dianastamos4439 it's really kind of hard to tell and not show, but it's gotta be in the city and you have to have a good amount of battery. At stop lights or stop signs after you've been stopped and you put the gas pedal down to gain speed again, once the speed is reached that you want to go, let the foot off of the pedal for a second and gently put your foot back on it. The EV mode will kick in and stay on EV for up to 40 mph. Also use the same technique of letting go of the gas pedal when reaching the speed on freeways and putting it back down lightly and you're gas mileage should improve, unless you're going up hills. In my experience this has helped allot and I also use cruise control a bit when I drive on freeways. I'm a UBER / LYFT driver, so I drive a lot and anyway I can save on gas is a good thing.
locdasmoke Thank you so much for taking the time to explain this!!! I’ll definitely try it!
Ur the best reviewer of cars! Best prius video ive seen! (Ive seen allot lol) ur the best! Great host
PHEV's are a great option if you do mostly city driving. They don't do so well compared to normal hybrids or small diesels on the highway. All of the extra weight of the larger battery packs tends to lower their efficiency. But they're still better than gas-only cars due to the more efficient drive train and aerodynamics. IE: The 2018 Chevy Cruze (Gasoline) gets about 37MPG highway. The 2018 Chevy Volt gets 42MPG highway. These cars are built on the same frame, but the Volt gets better MPG. Though the Cruze diesel gets 52MPG highway.
I drive the P2 and I love it. It saved me a lot of money.
I've had many of the 1st gen, they are the best looking, don't look like a spaceship, although I do like the other ones, I prefer the smaller gen1. In fact, I like the Prius C and will
be buying one soon, as they are lighter and better and smaller, more like the gen1, but technically way better. The 2nd was the best tech, most reliable.
So many people hate this car. Why are they even watching a video about them.
can't believe the fuel mileage, envious
There are trolls hating every RUclips video. I wish they'd get lives.
they really love it
@@demiller74 same here
Don't understand why the wanna be (billy big riggers) driving their little boy Ram diesel truck feel the need to poke fun at these awesome cars.. I work as a Heavy duty diesel mechanic and drive my Prius everywhere. I also own trucks but don't need a truck to get to work everyday.. plus the money saved on fuel.. pays for a nice vacation every year!
I drove gen 2 and 3 and liked the 3 better. Just me
I had the 3rd (2009) version, but i'm driving the 2nd generation now and it s to me the best Prius.
2009 is second gen not third
I just got back in the Prius V. Divorcerapists stole my first one. Sure I was saving money driving the 2K $2K MGM but I found I wasn't driving as much I was always worried about the transmission going out. Fuel cost meant no trips> 100 miles.
I'm converting my car into a camper so I can travel for food and fuel cost. The AC is battery operated so you can leave it running and the engine turns on and off to charge the battery. Maybe 10 minutes an hour depending what temperature you select.
Do a drag race of all of them and see who wins
Dylan Verkler by the that ends I would have a beard
But you'd have money in your bank to visit a barber, unlike if you were showing off in a gas guzzler.
Terrific video!
This is the greatest car in the history of cars!
Well, maybe..............but the Tesla is pretty amazing as well. Toyota will eventually be selling pure electric vehicles. They have learned a lot from developing hybrid systems, so their electric cars should be amazing, and don't forget they have a car with hydrogen fuel cell power.
Yes!
It's the most innovative definitely. I have a Generation 1 and I love it!
Thanks for this comparison. I am thinking of getting a prius, and was confused about all the models. Not so much anymore. I’d love to go all electric with a Tesla...but they are still out of my price range. Eventually i will get one. But for now, i think a Prius might be a good compromise.
Prius 2 is the beautiful Prius!
So glad you survived the future now that were are here in July 2019. Yes, we are seeing more hybrid cars and my prediction for the future is we will see (and drive) more hybrids, including the new 48 volt mild hybrids. If you do a lot of city driving a plug-in hybrid might be worth the extra cost and some cities in Europe & UK require EV mode cars now or in the near future, or you will pay dearly to use your regular fuel powered vehicle.
takes a real car person to appreciate the technology in a Prius
Marek is hilarious at times.
I believe plug-in hybrids are a best buy in this day and age. Until EVs reach an average range for Golf-sized-vehicles of 400 km, the charging times get to 10-min-to-80%, and the prices go to current ICE prices, only the bold pioneers with money can drive EVs. For the rest of us there are regular hybrids, and for the in-between guys there are plug-in hybrids. Best buy, but still kinda expensive.
I love the gen 1 it's awesome!
I own a 2009 Prius and I love my car. It has over 128,000 miles now and I just paid around $420 labor for 2 hours at Earl Stewart Toyota in North Palm Beach, Fl to replace a Hybrid Water Pump! Because of this extremely high labor cost I will no longer bring my car to the dealership and will learn all I can to fix my car myself!
You know what we call people who want to drive fast with Powerful engines etc? Children.
honestly i have replaced a 2004 Corsa 1.7 cdti and a BMW X3 E83 2.0 d 150 hp with two Toyota Auris' hybrid (2015 and 2016). Will sell the maintenance happy BMW and keep the Corsa for old times sake.
the thing with the HSD is - there's no flywheel, no brush alternator/starter motor, no belts to power the accesories, no torque converter, no clutches whatsoever - these were all parts you needed to replace in your german car, eventually. It's simple, reliable and efficient, just perfect for the hardcore eastern european trafic conditions. i do love my hybrids, and my mom also prefers it over the bmw suv (and that's a big deal)
Love my Prius :)
Overall good review of Prius over the generations, but you should say in your description that you only only focus on the Prime in Generation 4. I enjoyed learning about generations 1-3, but not sure why you did not bother to cover the generation 4 regular Prius Hybrids.
The 3rd Gens are notorious for blowing head gasket (EGR valve) and premature timing cover oil leaks. Both repairs can cost more than $5k to fix.
idk who told you it was over $5K, you can get a Fel-Pro head gasket, new EGR, water pump, etc. all under $3K at a certified hybrid repair shop. And you'll never have to worry about the head gasket or water pump again. Just clean the EGR every 80-100K
I love the looks of the first and second gen
My 2015 Prius C now has done 266,000 km it has been serviced every 10,000 km by the dealer I bought it from New still does 4.5 L per hundred kilometres still has 70% of its original brake pads I get 100,000 km out of a set of Michelin tyres the car is brilliant the only things I’ve replaced been to headlight bulbs
Gen 2 is my favorite for the interior and driving position and visibility.
I had never seen the first prius before ... thank you Polish!
My pleasure!
The 2nd generation was by far the best in terms of reliability , style and design. Like many cars today, they tampered too much with a great design, just to make it "new" and they have gotten less reliable and even less efficient with each generation. Perhaps the 2nd gen was just too good and they had to muck it up. The 4th generation looks absolutely horrendous.
I actually like this car
I had a 3rd gen ran it up to 290k had zero problems TIL recently with a Battery fault still if u don’t use Toyota to fix it doesn’t cost that much to fix
I think the 2013-2015 is the best looking specially with the moonroof and the bigger hubcaps
Funny because you couldn't order it like that from the factory. 17x7 wheels only came on the Plus, Persona, or the 5, and the Solar Sunroof could only be optioned on the 3 or 4, which have 15x6 wheels. You could put 17x7s aftermarket onto a 3 or 4 Solar Sunroof Prius, but Toyota should have said screw weight ratings and offered the Solar Sunroof on the 5.
@@Nathan_Jay oh wow did not know this, I swear I once saw a 2013-2015 with the moonroof and bigger wheels
Great video, nice to see all the generations as they evolved.
Couple things. 3rd gen should be able to EV up to 42-45 MPH, That's US MPH.
Also.. when talking about fuel consumption in the US. Keep in mind our Gallon is 20% smaller than used in the UK. So our MPG numbers are always 20% less than what's reported or talked about in Europe. Often cause some confusion.
In 3rd gen Prius. We get 51mpg city and 48hwy. That's as a good or better than any TDI from VW that we ever got here...
Mix with Toyota reliability vs VW' pretty terrible reliability and the Prius is your best choice.. if you want a high MPG car.
Of course we love our big V8 powered cars.. and that's not likely to change.. with fuel at $2.50 a gallon.
Great video as always. I vote regular hybrid for me because where I live I can hardly imagine proper infrastructure being put in place for charging my would be phev...
The MK4 Prius is one if the best cars ever made IMHO
My favourite is the 3rd gen
i bouht myself an 2009 prius third-generation last day. and i love to drive it
A 2nd gen Prius I want to buy has Ectopia low resistance tires. The test drive was noisy and I felt every road irregularity even though I was doing my best to avoid obvious ones..
A 3rd gen test drive with Hankook low resistance tires was notably quieter and smoother, even seeking every rough spot.
I fear the 3 ground clearance is too low for my recreational needs. I'll need every inch. And the cabin is less comfortable.
Road conditions, weather and roads were pretty much the same. Is there a low resistance tire choice to resolve this road noise / ride problem for the 2 - like replacing the new Ectopias with a set of Hankooks, or is it something relating to the car itself or to the generation?
Though I put a set of all season Pirellis from Costco on my current 'ride for good rain traction, noise and ride issues very notably improved.
I need Help!
This latest Prius looks like they have finally got it right, especially with the plug-in version. This could be charged on off-peak night electricity or by wind generator owners for near zero cost. The great advantage of this over a pure electric vehicle, like the Nissan Leaf, is the range. I could jump in it at any time and drive 300 miles with no worries about charging it. The economy figures you achieved are very impressive and far superior to previous generations which didn't impress at all.
And you can refill it at petrol stations as well as plug in stations :)
Hey don't bash my Gen3 dude )=
:)
=)
Gen 4 is the BEST Prius by far. Prius perfected.
Still an idea in development. For it to be viable, the cars need to be able to drive further than 40 or 50 kilometres; they need to be able to travel 400-500 kilometres, but batteries are heavy and not the way to go. Hydrogen cell is far more interesting, but distant - I find the Toyota Mirai far more fascinating. However, for now, the Prius and spin-offs at least provide diesel levels of fuel economy whilst reducing pollution and strain on the drive train (starter motor, long-lasting brakes etc.)
How efficient are fuel cells? Where do we get hydrogen from?
You can't refill at home with hydrogen, but with batteries you can.
Hydrogen is a very expensive fuel, it's mass produced for all sorts of industries and if there was a cheaper way to do it - it would've been done. You needs loads of energy to extract it from water particles.
There's also the storage issue. It can leak though materials because the atoms are so small, and of course, it's explosive when mixed with air ;p
looking to get a prius because i like being out alot except i can waste 40$ of gas in one or two days wich stinks but with a prius i can save like 75% of that not sure if i should fork up 10K tho would the first or second model save me money or should i go with the one with the solar panel as i do like the cool and heat feature it has
I have owned a 2007, 2010, 2012, 2017 and have just bought another 2010. I have never had one problem with any of them and would recommend them all. I must say that the 2017 is more refined. Regardless of which year Prius you buy, you will enjoy it for many years to come.
People wouldn’t believe but I I have used 4 prius in my life and it’s the best car for me. I have 2016 now and I’m more than happy. Ugly? Noup I don’t think so just less air drag in pro of gas prices
Prius traction batteries thrive when used daily. If you plan on driving a car once a week, your traction batteries will fail sooner. Also, keep the battery cooling intake clean from lint/pet hair. 2nd generation Prius have good aftermarket traction battery suppliers.
Excellent review, I never thought you would actually, ever, drive and review my car.
I knew you would love it! Yes, I'm speaking about the first gen Prius :D.
For the money it sells nowdays as second hand, it's an excellent city and short trip cruiser!
Beside the fact that your friends don't laugh looking at your car, as it looks quite normal-ish.
Btw, isn't the test example a 2000-2003 (facelift) generation? I think I read somewhere the 1997-2000 pre-facelift wasn't sold in Europe.
This is a Toyota Motor Poland employee's car, so it could have been imported for training purposes. But you're probably right. It must be a facelifted model.
As wikipedia also states: "The first generation Prius (NHW10) was available only in Japan, though it has been imported privately to at least the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.", so it was manufactured only for right hand drive. Also the facelift changed the rims, bumper and tail lights style, as exterior cosmetics. So the model you tested was definately manufactured after 09.2000.
So basically the car you drove was just about 15 years old, more or less :)
Anyway they hold together quite good over time, nonetheless.
This is a car that confirms the saying: "they don't manufacture cars like they used to", although the first gen Prius was forced to be flawless, otherwise it would be dead before it's birth.
I LOVE the idea of a Prius with a generator that is genius. Toyota is missing on a huge stream of cash flow. There is ONE more target market they are not catering to. The RV market. Design a car that 2 people can sleep in no potty just sleep they can shower all over the place sleeping is all that counts. Cooking we can figure that out too we just need a quality sleep space for 2. You hit that target market you will sell these cars faster than you can build them. People seek out vans to buy I tell them don't go for a van get a Prius stay out the deep woods and go to the popular places the car can go to.
Would be nice to have a Prius that could have air added to some shocks or something jack the car up about 10 inches that would be wonderful to get down some of these low roads. We would know to drive on the regular roads in order to get that MPG we need to drop it back down.
I'm not sure if a hybrid RV is what the world wants, but I read an interesting article somewhere about the future of autonomous vehicles in the context of RVs. If we're talking fully autonomous, which does not require the driver to be present behind the wheel, one could imagine such a car roaming across the continent, stopping only for gas and supplies. The owner would not need a permanent address. Probably he would not even need to stop at camping sites, because the car would just keep moving.
OK, don't get me wrong, but the situation you're describing here is what I would call a niche. A niche whose needs could be catered to by some innovator, perhaps with experience such as yours. In Europe we have "vans", which by US standards probably would not deserve a toolshed status, but there are some conversion kits, which turn a family/business van into a more hospitable living space. Some are DIY projects, but there are companies specialising in this type of conversions.
Regular Prius is not ideal, but perhaps a Prius V would make a better case for conversion into a camper van.
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Another Very Interesting Comment cut off for the lack of a "More" button??? Dang! What's with that?
More! Joy : )
There's a little grey rectangle with 3 dots if you are on a phone. You have to be really finicky to click it just right, or it will open up a reply box instead. It's annoying :)
3rd gen here 👌🏼
I want to see Toyota make a hybrid sedan, like the Gen 1.