2010 Toyota Prius Review

Toyota gives the Prius a face-lift even Joan Rivers would find daunting. Did they get it right?

Let's face it, the Toyota Prius is the hybrid, the one that wrote the book in consumers’ minds about what they are and that they're practical. Here's the new one, the third generation. Let's check out a quick summary of what makes it different. First of all, efficiency is a big part of the message. They've streamlined it one tiny bit more. It's now a .25 drag coefficient, slipperiest car in production for sale in North America. At the same time everything is lighter, more efficient, the power train has been massaged, that means MPG goes up a few miles per gallon -- now 50, a key number when you're going to consumers and trying to capture their imagination. It's only a few miles a gallon above the current 46, but it's a big psychological difference. Notice the difference in the look as well. The roofline has had its peak point pushed back. So it looks a little more sporty and a little less Portland granola crunchy like the current car does. On the top here another piece of technology that is also new, a solar panel. It doesn't drive the car, but it helps run accessories particularly allowing the car to ventilate itself when it's parked in hot weather. So when you get inside it's not going to be a vigillian degrees, therefore the electric air conditioner doesn't have to work so hard to cool it back down. Again, all about efficiency threaded together. [Music Playing] Inside, more fascinating, unique design. There's the goofy Prius shifter, they've moved it into a more traditional space, but it's still dainty and like no other. Check out the instrument panel. Prius has always had that, but now it's got more detail, more elaborate stuff going on and watch this, touch tracer technology. I move over to one of the steering wheel controls and they show up on the screen. Therefore, I can operate them without having to take my eyes off the road down to the wheel, it's a safety thing. Finally, this little guy is picking up a lot of cues from Lexus. You know they're moving this car upscale a bit. It's going to have adaptive cruise control available, intelligent parking assist, lane departure warning, lane keeper assistance to nudge you back in the lane. Notice how many of those kind of dropped down from Lexus. They are definitely trying to position the Prius above the newly launched Honda Insight, so it's not so much of a direct competition. This new Prius generation 3 goes on sale in the spring. [Music Playing]