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Test Drive: 2006 Toyota Prius

Not Too Nimble, Not Too Quick Either

By James R. Hood
ConsumerAffairs.com

July 14, 2006

Prius Test Drive • Joe Benton Road Tests the 2006 Prius • Jim Hood's Reaction • Joe Enoch's Observations • More About the Prius ... --- Photo: Joe Benton and Prius Pug Chester, ready to roll

My Prius experience was pleasant if unexciting. It seems a serviceable little car that is probably an ideal errand-runner or daily in-town commuter, although it's not something I'd like to drive everyday on the types of urban freeways traversed by many commuters.

First the good points: The Prius is one of those cars that seems to have more room inside than it does outside. There's plenty of legroom, good headroom, etc., although it's a little tight in the elbow room department - not very wide, in other words. Sort of like an MGB, though the comparison stops there.

On the negative side of the ledger, the Prius has the numb steering we've come to expect of Toyota, GM and other "family car" manufacturers. The handling is not nearly as crisp as you'd expect from a small car, but what makes this OK is that the acceleration isn't very good either, so it's hard to get yourself into big trouble without really working at it.

While puttering around Washington's cluttered suburban streets, I tried to measure the Prius' 0-60 performance but invariably ran out of time, clear roadway and/or green lights before hitting the magic number. Let's just say it's more than 10 seconds and leave it at that.

The rather anemic pick-up may explain the "Prius Rage" phenomenon on Los Angeles and Northern Virginia freeways, where van and SUV drivers angrily allege that Prius drivers are putting along at 55 or so in the car pool lanes, mesmerized by their miles-per-gallon read-out. I suspect they're going about as fast as they can and hoping for a strong tail wind.

Like Joe Benton, I found that overweight men with crew cuts who were driving Hummers and Dodge Rams festooned with NRA stickers seemed to aim for me. What's that all about, guys? Real men don't drive Priuses?

My personal verdict: The Prius is a gadgeteer's delight. It seems like it might be shockingly economical to operate. My Alfa Romeo sports sedans literally burn about three times as much gas as the Prius, and demand premium to boot. Sure, they're neck-snapping fast at getting from one $50 fill-up to the next but, let's face it, they are an anachronism in today's oil-starved, traffic-choked world.

Fortunately, I live two stoplights from the office so I'm able to indulge my vices. But if I had a daily commute of any distance, the Prius might be something I could get used to, though I'd hate to upset those morons in the Hummers.

You think they'd feel any better about a Mini Cooper?

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