Review from an Owner of a Toyota Prius

Pros and Cons People Discover after Purchasing Toyota’s Hybrid Car

Oct 16, 2008

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Thousands of Americans hold down a spot on a waiting list for their turn to own the most fuel-efficient car on the market. Martha Whisman recently moved up to slot number one and purchased a 2009 Toyota Prius. Suite 101 writer, Marcy Paulson, sat down with the new Prius owner to determine whether all the hype is warranted.

On the Waiting List for a Toyota Prius

Martha Whisman: I got on the list in June. Finally, a dealer called with a color I wanted in the middle of October.

MW: Obviously the economy. I like that it’s a very comfortable car to ride in, too. It’s got two large glove compartments, nice storage space between the seats, two cup holders, and more storage under the radio.

Features and Gadgets of the Toyota Prius

MP: Now that you’ve had a chance to get used to the car, what gadgets do you appreciate?

MW: The two screens showing how the engine and battery are working together are probably the most important. They tell you how to tailor your driving to get the best gas mileage.

The energy screen updates every five minutes to show your average miles per gallon and how much you replenished the battery. You also see your current miles per gallon.

On the consumption screen, you see an overhead view of the engine, the electric motor, the battery and the wheels. Arrows demonstrate whether the battery is being drained or replenished, and whether the electric motor or the gas engine is being used. Interconnecting lines tell you what’s going on at any given second. If you’re seeing a green line from the electric motor to the battery, the car is recharging itself. If you’re seeing a yellow line, the car’s drawing from the battery to run the electric motor. If you’re seeing orange, the car is using both the electric and gas engines. And if you’re seeing red, the car is being powered only by gas.

Three other gadgets I definitely like on the Prius are its iPod ready stereo, the camera that shows where I’m backing up, and the smart key that can open the doors and start the car all from the bottom of my purse.

MW: Previously, I drove a Dodge Caravan and I’d gotten used to the auto lock feature that locked the doors when the van reached 15 miles per hour. The Prius doesn’t do that, so I’m trying to remember to do it myself.

I also loved the way the Caravan’s lights turned themselves off automatically when the car had been off for a while. I really wish the Prius did that, because on this car, it’s much more serious if your battery runs down than it is on a regular car.

MW: The Prius has two batteries, and you really want to know what you’re doing to recharge the right one. Apparently, if you make a mistake, you can mess up the battery and damage the car. I’ve heard a lot of people say you follow the owners manual and it works fine, but I’ve also read horror stories about people doing it wrong.

MW: The Prius has a bladder rather than a gas tank. That makes it harder to get an exact reading for miles per gallon, because depending on the temperature; the bladder will hold more or less gas. They tell you not to top off the bladder. It’s just something you have to get used to.

MPG and Hypermiling in a Toyota Prius

MW: The gas mileage is amazing. I thought if I was lucky, I’d hit the 45-48 mile per gallon average, but my first tank averaged 66, and the second looks like it’s going to average in the high fifties. You can easily get better mileage than they promise if you play the hypermiler game.

MP: So, I take it you’ve changed your driving habits since purchasing a Prius?

MW: I’m paying attention to the screens and trying to drive as the car tells me.

One big change I’ve made is anticipating stops and coasting to red lights. Once I’ve given it gas, I don’t want to waste that gas by braking.

I check my tires fairly often and over inflate them just a tad. Also, I let the vent blow, but I don’t use the air unless it’s horribly hot.

A new technique I’m experimenting with is called “pulse and glide.” If I want to average 40 miles an hour, I accelerate to 45 and let it glide back to 35. The mileage per gallon averages higher than if I just held the pedal down at 40. I think that’s because when the car’s running off the battery, it’s not using any gas at all. Also, I’m getting decent mileage when I step on the gas, because the car’s still using the battery. So, the average of the two is higher than constantly using a little gas and a little battery.

Martha Whisman is enthusiastic about her new purchase. She advises anyone considering the Toyota Prius to stake out a waiting list of a dealer with no restrictions or nonrefundable fees. “What could it hurt?” she asks. She then advocates the shoppers take time while waiting for their turn at number one to do some research and take a few test drives.

The copyright of the article Review from an Owner of a Toyota Prius in Buying a Car is owned by Marcy Paulson. Permission to republish Review from an Owner of a Toyota Prius in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.