2010 Toyota Prius Hybrid Review

As the best selling hybrid in the world, the Toyota Prius has high expectations for its new model to be introduced this summer. Toyota has sold over 1 million Priuses since its introduction and now the Prius is slated for replacement. The new 2010 Toyota Prius offers significant upgrades over the outgoing model and improved fuel efficiency.

The 2010 Toyota Prius is a hybrid vehicle. It is powered by a 1.8 liter gasoline engine that is paired with a 27kW electric motor. The combination of gasoline power and electric power makes this vehicle a hybrid. The electric motor is powered by an advanced nickel metal hyrdride battery pack. The electric motor contributes a significant amount of power to the overall package allowing the Prius to operate under electric only mode for a portion of the time.

The Toyota Prius combines hybrid technology and aerodynamic design to achieve great fuel economy numbers. The EPA rates the Prius at 51 mpg city and 48 mpg highway. Many hybrid models can consistently achieve better gas mileage than the EPA numbers suggest. Some journalists were able to achieve more than 70 mpg in a recent ride and drive of the 2010 Toyota Prius.

The Toyota Prius has many other updates that make it a more enjoyable car to drive. The handling is improved over previous models and the cabin offers better isolation from road noise. Further improvements for the new Prius include a larger interior with more space for occupants, and a virtually seamless transition from electric to gasoline modes. The 2010 Prius carries an upscale cabin and most features and amenities expected. Particularly interesting to hybrid buyers is the instrument panel which displays real time gas mileage numbers and helps the drivers achieve betters overall gas mileage through its various displays.

The 2010 Toyota Prius is a low priced hybrid. Though Toyota has not finalized all pricing at this time, they have announced that they expect to sell the Prius hybrid around $23,000. However, Toyota may later introduce a lower priced Prius to compete directly with the new 2010 Honda Insight.

What the 2010 Prius brings to the hybrid market is a vehicle with strong quality and reliability as well as exceptional resale value. It also brings tremendous fuel economy in a mid-size vehicle that can easily fit four occupants or squeeze five in all for a price tag that undercuts many traditional mid-size sedans.

The new Prius is not a dramatic step forward in hybrid technology, but it is an improvement on an existing model that was stellar to begin with.