CD Article: 2008 Toyota Prius

[CD_Editor]

Test Drive:


In recognition of Earth Day, Assistant Editor Jil McIntosh test drives the most popular hybrid car on the planet, the Toyota Prius.  "The Prius returned "phenomenal" mileage", she reports, but its dash controls are "unnecessarily complicated", she says.  

 More:
Read the article | View the photos | All The First Drives

[Mitlov]

The slab-sided Prius looks a thousand times better with a wide body kit:

[johngenx]

Pruis US from $21,100.  Want one?  Go buy a used US model.

[Arctic_White]

I wouldn't mind owning one of these...

[UmroAyyar]

Shoving the 'green' debate aside.

Jill's last paragraph caught my eye as I feel the same way about this car. It can stand(roll on) its ground on its own. With the equipment on offer, its quite an interesting car.

[Cortina]

All I think about is poor Sudbury On. The global foot print to make these cars is massive. Some even say more than a life span of a Hummer. But I find that hard to swollow. But one thing is for sure. it has massive global foot print goes in to making these cars.

[Mitlov]

All I think about is poor Sudbury On. The global foot print to make these cars is massive. Some even say more than a life span of a Hummer. But I find that hard to swollow. But one thing is for sure. it has massive global foot print goes in to making these cars.

If I recall correctly, the study that found that Priuses have a larger lifetime footprint than Hummers assumed a lifespan of 100,000 miles for a Prius and 300,000 miles for the Hummer.  Start with crazy enough assumptions and any result logically follows.

[ggweci]

Pruis US from $21,100.  Want one?  Go buy a used US model.

Yeah, but there are up to $4K in gov't rebates if I'm not mistaken.  Brings the starting price to ~$25.5K CDN.  Not too bad, and you dont' have to have the cash to buy one.

[safristi]

I still LOVE Toyota's VAPID ad about their GREENI_NESS....when they show a Prius look-a-like de_volvoing!!! to a series of twigs then grassy twigs then mulch... ......talk about Truthiness!!!!...... maybe a TUNDRA should show up and tear up the meadow to ADD a modicum of reality to the BLOVIATING..........


  Congrats  TOYOTA ya have fueled err FOOLED almost ALL of the GORE'ICALS all of the TIME....

[EVGirl]

As usual, when it comes to hybrids the Canadian Driver editors (Jill especially) don't seem to get it.  Then again, neither do some of the readership. 

Just look at the embarrassing references to the "Sudbury nickel mining" and the "Prius vs Hummer" just to get an an idea how behind the times and "out of phase" the thinking framework at CD is. 

Wow.   
 
Please enjoy your Gas & Diesel only powered cars as much as you can... and for your own good, leave the hybrid vehicle reviews to those who actually know enough to do it better.

Just embarrassing...   

[PJungnitsch]

If I recall correctly, the study that found that Priuses have a larger lifetime footprint than Hummers assumed a lifespan of 100,000 miles for a Prius and 300,000 miles for the Hummer.  Start with crazy enough assumptions and any result logically follows.

Exactly. The studies authors just kept changing the figures in their Excel sheet until it gave them the result they wanted.

[Cord]

As usual, when it comes to hybrids the Canadian Driver editors (Jill especially) don't seem to get it.  Then again, neither do some of the readership. 

Just look at the embarrassing references to the "Sudbury nickel mining" and the "Prius vs Hummer" just to get an an idea how behind the times and "out of phase" the thinking framework at CD is. 

Wow.   
 
Please enjoy your Gas & Diesel only powered cars as much as you can... and for your own good, leave the hybrid vehicle reviews to those who actually know enough to do it better.

Just embarrassing...   

Let me guess, you own a Prius and despite the author saying that the car "won her over" you don't like it when someone doesn't gush unconditionally about the car you drive?

Either that, or this paragraph hit a little close to home:

I have a secret to confess: over the years, I'd lost touch with the Prius, and I know it's entirely because of outside forces. Quite simply, I do not believe the resolution to our transportation and environmental issues is going to be a single, simple answer, but rather, a number of solutions, with each person picking the one that best suits his or her needs. But many people like a simple answer, and "drive a Prius" was adopted by many. Not long ago, I picked up a magazine that asked a number of celebrities what would make this world a better place. The sole automotive answer came from a woman who said, "A Prius in every driveway." That infuriated me, because not every person is the right fit for this car, and that's the type of parrot answer that doesn't help anyone.

[EVGirl]

Let me guess, you own a Prius and despite the author saying that the car "won her over" you don't like it when someone doesn't gush unconditionally about the car you drive?

Sure I own a Prius.  But it is not because of that that I find the article embarrassing to CD. 

I did a search on all the articles she has written about hybrid cars and she always was, and remains hopelessly out of touch - This is not her first hybrid review and still, an expert she is NOT.  Every single hybrid review of hers (Toyota or not) shows how little she knows and understands about these cars.  Why does she continue to review them?  I actually find her reviews of traditional cars to be quite good... so maybe she can avoid the embarrassment altogether and leave the hybrid reviews for those who are more knowledgeable.   

I am not the first one to point out this editor's problem.  A simple search in this place reveals that many have done that in the past. The search also shows what happens when REAL hybrid owners introduce their ownership experience into the discussions.  They simply got "sliced and diced" by the same kind of mentality that these editors appeal to. 

Maybe when gas gets to $1.50 - $2 a liter she and the some of the other editors will figure it out and learn to produce an informed and unbiased hybrid car review.

[rrocket]

I'm a big fan of the Prius...not just because of the excellent fuel mileage...but it's turning out to be one of the most reliable, trouble free cars on the road if the severe duty usage of Prius taxis are something to go by...

[safristi]

..a basically...$4K (or MORE???)subsidised vehicle...lauded by the Main stream Media_PHILES..that takes Taxis or Planes everywhere....and the car  drives poorly and has yet to meet it's mandate..batteries INCLUDED but not excluded from Press STORIES!!!........Holy WOODEN promises with no science behind it..........call us in 6 years............

[Cord]

Let me guess, you own a Prius and despite the author saying that the car "won her over" you don't like it when someone doesn't gush unconditionally about the car you drive?

Sure I own a Prius.  But it is not because of that that I find the article embarrassing to CD. 

I did a search on all the articles she has written about hybrid cars and she always was, and remains hopelessly out of touch - This is not her first hybrid review and still, an expert she is NOT.  Every single hybrid review of hers (Toyota or not) shows how little she knows and understands about these cars.  Why does she continue to review them?  I actually find her reviews of traditional cars to be quite good... so maybe she can avoid the embarrassment altogether and leave the hybrid reviews for those who are more knowledgeable.   

I am not the first one to point out this editor's problem.  A simple search in this place reveals that many have done that in the past. The search also shows what happens when REAL hybrid owners introduce their ownership experience into the discussions.  They simply got "sliced and diced" by the same kind of mentality that these editors appeal to. 

Maybe when gas gets to $1.50 - $2 a liter she and the some of the other editors will figure it out and learn to produce an informed and unbiased hybrid car review.

I'm sure the author can defend herself just fine, but perhaps you could provide some examples of the knowledge and understanding that you feel was missing in the article.

IMO, hybrids are almost mainstream now. Each time one is reviewed it is no longer necessary to spend half the article explaining the technology. In the same way that conventional car articles no longer require an explanation of internal combustion, hybrid car articles can now focus on how they work as cars rather than as science projects. This makes sense for a car site. Perhaps you're looking in the wrong place if all you want is validation about how great hybrids cars are.

I believe that as hybrids move further into the mainstream they will start to lose cachet with the planet-saviours who will then move on to some other visible cause.

[PJungnitsch]

I was just browsing through the CR Car blog and they had some comments on the Prius. Very similar to this review, it's a good car, but not perfect by any means. That annoying beeping when backing up, etc. Some of them here:

[mmret]

Let me guess, you own a Prius and despite the author saying that the car "won her over" you don't like it when someone doesn't gush unconditionally about the car you drive?

Sure I own a Prius.  But it is not because of that that I find the article embarrassing to CD. 

I did a search on all the articles she has written about hybrid cars and she always was, and remains hopelessly out of touch - This is not her first hybrid review and still, an expert she is NOT.  Every single hybrid review of hers (Toyota or not) shows how little she knows and understands about these cars.  Why does she continue to review them?  I actually find her reviews of traditional cars to be quite good... so maybe she can avoid the embarrassment altogether and leave the hybrid reviews for those who are more knowledgeable.   

I am not the first one to point out this editor's problem.  A simple search in this place reveals that many have done that in the past. The search also shows what happens when REAL hybrid owners introduce their ownership experience into the discussions.  They simply got "sliced and diced" by the same kind of mentality that these editors appeal to. 

Maybe when gas gets to $1.50 - $2 a liter she and the some of the other editors will figure it out and learn to produce an informed and unbiased hybrid car review.

Self righteous? You should register that nick. You'll fit right in.

[TrentP]

I never really thought about this...  but I think I see EVGirl's point.

After reading her post, I did a little search on previous hybrid car threads it all makes sense now.  
All of the hybrids reviewed by these CD editors were evaluated from the perspective of traditionalists - people who love cars and the "fun" of driving.  That is why, their hybrid reviews are poorly executed and lack much information that they always fail miserably in reporting into what these cars can REALLY do.
From the point of view of the typical hybrid drivers, these reviewers can't help but to look like average knuckle-heads.  

EVGirl, don't bother with these folks.  Let them be.  If you notice, they all have cars that track at way more than 110 Grams of CO2 per Kilometer.  Do you think they care?  No, of course not !!!  There's no point!!!

Hybrid car sales will keep on rising and at some point they'll will give way to plug-ins and other EV-only power trains.  When that happens we will all be pleased to know that their fossil thinking had nothing to do with it.  


Happy EV-ing  

[Demosthenes X]

Trent and EV-Girl, you've spent a lot of time and effort to say nothing.  You claim that the author is out of touch, but either won't or can't say how.  The feeling I get is that you're annoyed that she didn't gush over the Prius - I'm not quite sure how a reviewer not being gung ho about a certain car is "embarrassing", but there you are...