Toyota Prius
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A hybrid car is a petrol car that also has an electric motor that powers the vehicle at low speeds or when idling, and this has been done to help reduce all those nasty fumes and emissions that make riding a bike behind a petrol or diesel powered engine hell. The most famous hybrid car is, of course, the Toyota Prius.
Toyota has worked hard to improve the plain look of earlier Toyota Prius models. The Toyota Prius is not the most eye-catching of vehicles - modesty seems to be key in its looks. However, it is pleasant to look at. Maybe, this is part of the plan with the Toyota Prius - it steps away from the show-off, look-at-me-I-go-faster-than-you mentality obvious in the very looks of some sports and performance cars.
When one understands that the leading purpurpose of the Toyota Prius is to be frugal and environmentally friendly, it is easy to forgive the car manufacturers for its modest performance statistics. The top speed of the Toyota Prius is a mere 106 miles per hour and it has a tolerable 0-62 mph time of 10.9 seconds. The maximum power available in the Toyota Prius (which would be running on petrol only at this point) is a mild 57 kW and the maximum torque is 115 Nm. If all you're interested in doing is commuting around town or cruising and sightseeing on the open road, the Toyota Prius is certainly adequate. But it is no thunderbolt. The Toyota Prius is, however, a very economical car: the 1.5 litre engine is capable of averaging 65.7 miles to the gallon - very thrifty indeed.
Sitting inside the Toyota Prius, which seats 5, you are keeping yourself safe, as well as doing your bit to save the planet - hopefully. All three rear seats in the Toyota Prius are three-pointers and Isofix child seat attachment has been provided, as have child-proof locks on the rear doors. All seats have headrests that are adjustable. The seatbelts provided in the Toyota Prius come with pretensioners and force limiters, and a warning light if the seatbelt isn't being used. Other safety features of the Toyota Prius include front and side airbags for driver and front passenger, front and rear curtain airbags, an energy absorbing retracting steering column and a head impact protection structure.
The Toyota Prius also knows how to keep itself safe. It comes with standard transponder engine immobiliser and a remote control alarm. And a "keys left in ignition" warning in case you're absent minded. The keyless entry is another safety/security feature likely to make the Toyota Prius a small yet practical family car.
Looking beyond safety, the Toyota Prius has handy 60/40 rear folding seats and a reasonable sized boot which is illuminated, comes with luggage load hooks, is fully trimmed, and comes with a tonneau cover and underfloor storage. The cabin in the Toyota Prius also has ample storage space for all those books, maps, drinks, toys and pens that families always seem to cart around with them: four cupholders have been provided plus a bottle holder in the front door storage bins. The Toyota Prius even provides a special place for the driver to store his/her sunglasses. The radio/cassette/CD player with 9 speakers will also help to keep fractious passengers entertained and calm during long drives.
Practical, economical, safe and eco-friendly, the Toyota Prius would make the conscientious lady or gentleman a satisfied driver.
Current model series include:
- Toyota Prius 1.5
- Toyota Prius I-Tech 1.5
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