Quite unexpectedly for many, in February of this year, Russian Toyota dealers began accepting orders for the fourth generation Prius. The Japanese took this bold step at a time when many manufacturers are reducing their model range on the Russian market or leaving it altogether.
Toyota Prius in Russia is available in a single and very rich configuration - luxury. For such a car you will have to pay 2,112,000 rubles. Quite a lot even by today’s standards and even for Toyota. For example, a Toyota Camry with a 3.5-liter V6 engine in luxury trim costs a hundred thousand less. Why is the new Prius so good if it costs so much? To find out, we went to Kazan, where the first test drive of the Prius took place, conducted by Toyota for a small group of Russian journalists.
New in 2021
Toyota is celebrating 20 years of Prius sales by offering a limited-edition version with unique exterior trim. Even though it's a 2021 model, the special edition carries the Prius 2020 Edition badge. The car gets blacked-out 17-inch wheels, headlights, B-pillars, mirror caps, and a color-coded rear spoiler. The body is available in two paint colors: Supersonic Red or Wind Chill Pearl. Only 2021 of these units will be produced.
90%
car owners will buy this car again!
- 80% Road tests
- 98% Reliability
- 90% Driver satisfaction
Other changes to the 2021 Toyota Prius:
- the more advanced Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 replaces Toyota Safety Sense;
- Android Auto is standard on all models except the Limited.
New or used car?
For 2021, Toyota is introducing the limited-edition 2021 Edition to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Prius. For other trim levels of the 2021 Prius, the manufacturer adds standard cyclist detection, traffic sign recognition and Android Auto capability. Otherwise, the 2021 and 2021 models are virtually identical. If upgrades are important to you, buy a new Toyota Prius.
How we tested the 2021 Toyota Prius
Specifications
The Toyota Prius' powertrain consists of a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor that combine to produce 121 hp. The car has enough power for most driving situations, and the transition from electric to gasoline is smooth. The engine accelerates the Toyota Prius to 100 km/h in a full 9.8 seconds. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is also standard.
There is an indicator in which the Toyota Prius is unrivaled - fuel consumption. The base Prius L Eco consumes 4.3 l/100 km combined. All other front-wheel-drive trims return 4.4 L/100 km in the city and 4.7 L/100 km on the highway, while the all-wheel-drive LE and XLE trims return around 4.6/5.0 L/100 km city/highway.
This hybrid is less engaging to drive than some competitors, but buyers still like it. The Prius comes with three driving modes: EV, Eco and Power. Critics say the Eco is quiet and efficient. Power mode slightly improves Toyota Prius acceleration, but causes engine noise due to lack of power.
Another feature advantage of the Toyota Prius is its available all-wheel drive. However, it should be noted that the rear wheels only intervene when the front wheels lose traction. So in most dry weather scenarios you will never feel them working.
Summary
The Toyota Prius Plug-in won't be purchased by most gas heads, but rest assured that if the future comes in plug-in form, it's one hell of a driving experience for the driver, even better than the Nissan Leaf. Interestingly, the new Prius feels happiest in all-electric mode and does a great job around town.
However, it's damn expensive, especially compared to a standard Prius, and the 360-litre boot is far from impressive. Unless you need the most fuel-efficient car, the standard Prius will better suit most people's needs.
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