The Road Beat - Toyota Prius AWD-e, An off-road hybrid?
Words and Pictures by Larry Weitzman
As most of you know I am not a big fan of electric vehicles. They are expensive to build and have
limited utility creating range anxiety. If Tesla didn’t have government and utility subsidies of about 25
percent of the purchase price, they would have folded long ago. Even though their stock is over $240 a
share and their market cap nearly equal to Ford’s, they have yet to turn a real profit and that’s with
receiving $two Billion in government subsidies directly and indirectly in the last six or seven years. Over
the last five years losses totaled over $3 Billion including the income from subsidies. And that’s not
counting discounted electrical rates to the purchaser, another expensive ratepayer subsidy.
But, the Prius AWD-e hybrid is a different animal. You will never run out of electrons because of
its 1.8L 96 hp (at 5,200 rpm) four-cylinder engine tucked under the hood that meshes perfectly using a
CVT transmission with its three-electric motor/generators of 31, 71 hp and 7 hp respectively. But the
maximum combined hp is limited to a total of 121 hp which will not exactly create escape velocity.
Outside the Prius looks right out of the Jetsons. To call it beautiful would be an overstatement,
but if you want to be recognized as driving a hybrid, saving the world, then this is your ride. From the
rear, it somewhat reminds me of a 1959 Chevy with its aircraft carrier flight deck. While it may not look
sleek with its big, busy front end, its coefficient of drag is a minimal 0.24. While a compact car in size
(180LX69WX58H inches), inside dimensions are mid-size.
Electricity is provided by an on-board Nickel-Metal Hydride battery of about 1.3 kWh. It is
charged by the engine, but mostly be regenerative energy from coasting and braking. The battery
powers a front axle electric motor primarily and the rear motor from 0-6 mph and then as necessary up
to 43 mph. So Prius operates as an AWD vehicle full time at very low speeds and when necessary at
speeds up to 43 mph.
As to performance, the AWS-e averaged 9.91 seconds in 0-60 mph runs which is very
comparable to a regular Prius. Passing times in hybrid mode from 50-70 mph was 5.49 seconds and the
same run up a 6-7 percent grade lengthened that time to 9.92 seconds, again very comparable to the
current Prius Prime which averaged 9.71/5.38/10.20 seconds. The CVT has a gear called “B” and it really
does a nice job of recharging the battery and controlling speed in a long downgrade.
But here is the deal, it feels spunkier than those times reveal, even when pure electric. In normal
or even somewhat aggressive driving the Prius will surprise you, especially from 10-50 mph. Yeah, sure
there isn’t much left after 70-75 mph, but the Prius is not about racing and if you compare it to the
sedans of the 1970s or earlier, the Prius rocks pretty good.
But buying a Prius AWD-e is about minimizing gasoline energy use which it does admirably.
Hybrid highway full economy is just a bit better than the EPA data which indicates fuel economy
numbers of 52/48/50 mpg city/highway/combined. At 70 mph, the Prius averaged 53 mpg in two, two
way runs. In 120mile trip during late morning rush hour, Prius averaged 55.9 mpg. Overall fuel economy
in over 400 miles averaged 52 mpg. In 53 miles of aggressive driving including all acceleration testing the
Prius averaged 47.9 mpg. That is remarkable. However, the fuel tank in remarkably small at 10.6 gallons.
Handling will surprise most drivers as it could be called nimble. Sure, standard rubber is tall and
comparatively skinny 195/65X15 tires, but it has fully independent suspension. And while certainly not a
Mini-Cooper, it acquitted itself well when pushed in the twisties. Steering, however, has an unusual
rubbery feedback, like there is some sort of robotic system in charge. I just overpowered it. As “Dirty
Harry” said, “A man got’s to know his limitations. Ditto for the Prius. It certainly exceeded my
expectations and what I thought its limitations would be.
Prius rides superb. It is a supple well controlled ride best demonstrated when leaving a driveway
that had 45 degree angled four inch curbs as it absorbed the bump better than most every vehicle ever
tested and equaling the best such as a Lexus RX450h. It’s a bit cushy, but I doubt any Prius buyer will
take his car to the race track or ever participate in a traffic light grand prix. Prius buyers are interested in
comfort, quiet and technology. it’s so quiet, tire noise becomes a bit apparent. However, when
ascending grades the engine becomes a bit intrusive as it races at high rpm a result of the CVT. At the
end of a long uphill grade, I thought a newly stitched shirt would also pop out of the glove box. It sure
sounded like it. While wind and engine noise are well subdued on level driving, tire noise can be an
issue on coarser roads. Maybe it is the low rolling resistance tires. I’ll take one mpg less fuel economy
and quieter tires.
As a leader in technology, Prius has all the safety features and four-wheel disc brakes with every
acronym. Headlights were excellent.
Inside is a Toyota quality interior with top quality materials. The comfortable seats were done in
Toyota’s quality SofTex leather like material and were quite comfortable. Rear seating is also decent.
Trunk is huge. Instead of a conventional binnacle in front of the steering wheel it uses a centered dash which
uses letters and digits that are too small, but the info that is accessible is amazing, not just fuel
economy, but daily driving fuel economy, a driver’s rating system for economical driving and so much
more. It is quite the “entertainment system.”
Pricing for this line of plug in hybrids starts at $28,820 for the Prius AWD-e plus930 for the boat
from Japan. My tester had an #800 HUD display $899 alloy wheels and a few other small items bringing
the total to $32,195 all in.
But, heBut, here’s the deal. This AWD Prius is about half the price of an AWD EV and it costs less to
drive, about 6 cents a mile. An EV where I live costs from about nine cents in winter a mile to 12 cents in
the summerre’s the deal. This AWD Prius is about half the price of an AWD EV and it costs less to
drive, about 6 cents a mile. An EV where I live costs from about nine cents in winter a mile to 12 cents in
the summer. And there is no range and refueling anxiety. Case closed. EVs can’t compete.
Specification and performance figures below.
Specifications
Price $27,965 to about $36,000
Engine and motors
Gasoline: 1.8L Inline four cylinder DOHC, 16 valve 96 hp @ 5,200 rpm
105 lb.-ft. of torque @ 3,600 rpm
Electric Three motor/generators 31 hp and 30 lb.-ft. of torque, 71 hp and 120 lb.-ft. of torque and 7 hp
and 40 pounds of torque.
Battery 1.3 kWh NMH battery with an output of 25 hp.
Transmission
Continuously Variable
Configuration
Transverse front engine and motors/front wheel drive
Dimensions
Wheelbase 106.3 inches
Length 180.0 inches
Width 69.3 inches
Height 58.1 inches
Track (f/r) 60.2/60.6 inches
Ground clearance 5.1 inches
Fuel Capacity 10.6 gallons
Passenger volume 93.1 cubic feet
Cargo volume 24.6 cubic feet
Weight 3,375 pounds
Wheels 15X6.5-inch alloy
Tires 195/65X15
Turning circle 33.5 feet
Coefficient of drag 0.24
Performance
0-60 mph 9.92 seconds
50-70 mph 5.49 seconds
50-70 mph uphill 9.92 seconds
Top speed Estimated at 115 mph
Fuel economy EPA rated at 52/48/50 mpg city/highway/combined. In suburban driving expect 52-55
mpg and on the highway (level) at legal speeds 53-55 mpg.
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