The third generation of the nation’s best-selling hybrid, the Toyota Prius, has lost its frumpiness, is slightly more aerodynamic, has 24 more horsepower thanks to a larger engine, has better brakes and is a little more fuel efficient (but still not as much as the EPA says). The driver now has more control over the powertrain so that one of the most practical cars on the road can be fun to drive as well.

But Toyota managed to reduce rear-seat legroom by 2.6 inches even as it made the car half an inch longer. There’s still more legroom than in the Honda Insight hybrid, though, and only a little less than what’s in the Chevrolet Malibu and Ford Fusion hybrids.
An old problem remains: impaired rear visibility thanks to the horizontal bar that divides the tailgate window.
As before, the downsides to driving the Prius are few: the slight shudder as one steps on the accelerator and the gasoline engine starts; a continuously variable or stepless automatic transmission that tends to accentuate engine noise; and an electric steering system that, like many of this type, feels numb. Toyota says zero-to-60 miles per hour takes 9.8 seconds, but the Prius feels quicker than that.
On sale since June, the new Prius starts at $22,750. As before, it is roomy enough to qualify as midsize. A Prius feature most competitors lack - and was much appreciated during the recent heat wave - is an air-conditioning compressor that’s electric, not engine-belt-driven, so it keeps making cool air even when the car is stopped.
Three new buttons on the dash allow Prius drivers to choose an ""EV"" setting that keeps the car on the electric motor for about a mile and up to 25 mph; a normal ""ECO"" setting that engages the gasoline engine normally; and a fun ""Power"" setting that makes the throttle more sensitive. The suspension delivers a ride that’s comfortable but not too soft.
The 15-inch wheels look ridiculously small for the car by today’s aesthetic standards; 17s are available.
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates the Prius gets 51 miles per gallon in local driving and 48 mpg on the highway, but I averaged only 46.7 in a mix over seven days.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety calls the Prius a ""top safety pick."" Toyota cars are consistent, above-average performers in owner surveys conducted by Consumer Reports and the market research company J.D. Power and Associates, but Toyota dealers don’t do as well in Power surveys.
(Source: newsday.com)