New Toyota Prius hybrid debut: better design, more power

 

Prius 5: precursor become obsolete?

It's been 25 years since Toyota began marketing its innovative hybrid device, the famous HSD and its unique E-CVT technology. The commercial success and image were so great that the term hybrid was synonymous with Toyota for a long time, with the background sounding of advanced technology, and therefore of technological advance over the competition.

Finally a desirable Prius ... Toyota had to be scared to offer a product with a minimum of aesthetics

However, here is that after four generations of Prius (and incidentally the massive arrival of the electric car), Toyota puts the cover again and again without there being any capacitive evolution or almost... So it would seem that the Japanese brand has abandoned any idea of ​​innovation and technological progression, because the only advance here is to have abandoned the mild hybrid. Worse, it does without the light hybrid which is for many a more ecological and intelligent solution to the heavy rechargeable hybrids, more energy-consuming to manufacture and forced to have to charge at the outlet to maximize efficiency.
We can therefore say it, the Prius 5 has its buttocks between two chairs and seems to offer only a half-hearted solution. Its theoretical electric range of 60 km is a little difficult in 2022/2023 and its CVT-style driving pleasure is well below what electric cars offer (. The battery therefore goes from 8.8 (Prius 4 Plug-In) to 13.6 kWh.

For my part, I see the HSD as being totally obsolete and outdated because it offers limited convenience and consumption that is nothing extraordinary these days (and I'm sorry to offend lovers of this device). To limit damage, the power is increased to 223 cumulative hp, with a 148 hp thermal and a 160 hp electric motor.
Toyota should have tried to keep its brand image technologically advanced by going electric several years ago. The loss of time on hydrogen will also undoubtedly have negative consequences in the future. And we can therefore conclude that no one is immune to failure and mistakes, because even the world's leading manufacturer can make colossal blunders which nevertheless seemed obvious.

The rear has a serious air of Dodge Charger

Style: The Marks of Trauma

The Prius 4 having made a monumental oven compared to previous generations, the brand shows by this new style that the trauma was great. Because on top of their boundless confidence, they went very far on the fourth generation, believing that they could afford anything (confidence when you hold us...). The result was catastrophic, sales did not follow because many competitors had also arrived with hybrids, but attractive and desirable hybrids! The success of the previous Prius is based, it seems, on a virtual monopoly on the side of hybrid cars, which has been lost over time (especially since competitors offer machines that are much more fun to drive from a point of view). amenity view).

Here is why this fifth generation contrasts with the previous ones by using a much more standardized (well almost) and attractive style. We can indeed recognize the rather successful aspect of its design even if the rear may please a little less.

As for the interior, it takes up the idea of ​​Peugeot and its i-Cockpit, which therefore consists in positioning the counters above the steering wheel and not inside the rim.