Cars

Base MSRP price range: Car Type: Fuel efficient hatchbacks

$23,015 - $39,525
CR overall score
What's this? 80
Highs Fuel economy, transmission, rear
seat, access, turning circle, crash-test results, 88
reliability.
80
Lows Steering feel, rear visibility.
53
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Full Track Report

IV 4-cyl CVT
The Prius continues on with several small improvements. It's a little wider and heavier, and it feels
more substantial than the last version. It averages the same 44 mpg overall as the previous Prius
and it remains the most fuel-efficient car you can buy. Highway mileage is slightly improved, but city
mileage has dropped a bit. A firm, steady ride; a more versatile driving position; and improved rear
seating are pluses. A larger engine compensates for the added weight but doesn't boost
performance. A five-door wagon version is new for 2012. Close

Performance

Ride comfort & noise: The ride is firm and well controlled most of the time, but some road bumps and broken
pavement can punch through as quick, sharp pitches. The highway ride is civilized and mostly steady. While the
cabin stays quiet in non-taxing situations, the engine thrums loudly when accelerating hard and some road noise
creeps in as well.
Handling: Handling is sound but unexceptional. The body usually leans little while cornering and the steering is
responsive but almost devoid of feedback, similar to a video-game controller. The tight turning circle allows great
parking maneuverability. The Prius proved utterly secure at its limits, predictable and forgiving despite only fair tire
grip. ESC kept the car on its chosen path, helping it post a commendable speed through our avoidance
maneuver.
Powertrain: The four-cylinder engine and electric motor combine to provide adequate acceleration, but the
engine works hard while merging into highway traffic or while climbing hills. The CVT automatic transmission is
very smooth. At slow urban speeds, the car can operate on electric power alone. A selectable EV mode lets it run
electric-only for about a half-mile of stop-and-go traffic.
Braking: Stopping distances were short in all conditions and the pedal action felt natural even when it was
managing the car's regenerative-braking capability.
Headlights: Low- and high-beam lights reach a good distance ahead and to the sides with very good intensity. A
sharp cutoff at the top of the low-beam pattern can reduce the range of visibility over dips. Moderate amounts of
stray light upward can illuminate precipitation in poor weather, reducing visibility.
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More detail

Acceleration: The 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, combined with the electric motor, provides adequate
acceleration, but can be taxed when merging and climbing hills. The Prius can propel itself on electric power
alone at low speeds. An EV button lets it stay in electric mode at stop and go traffic up to about half a mile.
Fuel economy is 44 mpg overall, same as the previous generation, but the new Prius is actually more frugal
when cruising. City driving is a bit less economical, though. The larger engine compensates for the added
weight but doesn't bring quicker acceleration. Close

Transmission: The CVT automatic transmission is very smooth.

 Routine Handling: The Prius handles soundly but is unexceptional. Body lean is kept in check for the most
part. The steering is appropriately responsive. Although its weighting is decent, it's largely devoid of feedback;
some testers even described it as reminiscent of a video game. Agility and driving enjoyment are not what the
Prius is about. Turning circle, however, is conveniently tight at 37 feet.

Emergency Handling: The Prius was secure at its limits. Despite only fair tire grip, the ESC kept the car on its
chosen path in a predictable, forgiving way. It also posted a commendable 52.5 mph through our avoidance
maneuver and inspired confidence.

Braking: Stopping distances were short in the wet and dry. Although the brake pedal has to modulate
regenerative braking as well as the hydraulic brakes, it still feels quite normal.

Comfort and Convenience

Driving position: The new interior brings some pluses and minuses. The driver's seat now has a generous height
adjustment and head, leg, and foot room are good, but the big, swoopy center console can intrude on tall drivers'
knee room. The steering wheel now tilts and telescopes, but several drivers still found the wheel to be too far
away. The view to the front and sides is inhibited by short windows and thick pillars, and the rear view is hurt by
thick pillars and the horizontal bar that divides the rear window. The fact that the rear wiper clears only the top half
of the window doesn't help, either.
Seat comfort and access: The leather seats are firm and have reasonable lateral support and a welcome power
lumbar adjustment, but the short cushions lack sufficient thigh support. The rear has generous leg room and is
spacious and quite comfortable for two adults, but three is a squeeze. Access is easy to the front and rear.
Controls and gauges: The gauges are legible, most controls are simple to use, and the automatic climate
system works well, but some eccentricities evoked complaints. The digital display cluster is to the driver's right
and is far away at the base of the windshield. Conventional climate and radio knobs have replaced the touch
screen, which had a nice color display showing fuel use. In comparison, the new mileage-computer screen looks
dated and is hard to navigate. Oddly, the seat-heat button is hidden on the floor below the center console.
Interior fit and finish: The Prius has a well-assembled interior and almost all panels fit together flawlessly.
Interior plastics are hard to the touch, whereas the previous generation had a mostly soft-touch dash. The
headliner looks cheap.
Cabin storage and cargo room: The Prius has moderate cabin storage facilities. Cargo space beneath the rear
hatch is reasonably good, and the 60/40 rear seatbacks fold down to extend it further.
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Safety

Safety belts: There are five sets of lap-and-shoulder belts. The front pair has pretensioners and force limiters.
Air bags: In addition to the usual front air bags, there's a knee bag for the driver. Side air bags protect the front
occupants and curtain air bags cover the front and rear side windows. The front passenger's frontal air bag won't
deploy if a sensor system detects that the seat is unoccupied or if there is a child-sized person in the seat.
Head restraints: The adjustable front head restraints remain sufficiently tall even when they're lowered. They are
active to further mitigate whiplash injury in a rear crash. The fixed rear restraints are tall enough to protect an
adult in the outboard seats but the center-rear restraints must be raised.
Crash-avoidance systems: Antilock brakes and electronic stability control are standard. Adaptive cruise control,
a pre-collision system, and a lane-departure warning system are available on top-trim models.
Driving with kids: Front- and rear-facing child seats can be secured using the belts alone in any rear position.
The outboard seats have lower-LATCH anchors, but they're hard to access. Three top-tether anchors are
provided.
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Reliability

We expect reliability to be much better than average, according to our latest subscriber survey.