Extended Test Drive

[Seamaster73]

The good people of Toyota GB have loaned me a Prius T4 for four days to test drive, ahead of potentially ordering one as a replacement company car. It was delivered on the dot at 9am this morning in pristine condition. First registered in September, this example has 2000 miles on the clock.

Today I did a 200 mile round trip. Initial impressions are mixed.

The good: Fuel economy great, around 65mpg in mixed driving. Excellent ride and handling (very well damped). Spacious enough to accommodate my lanky (6'4") frame. Equally spacious for rear seat passengers. Integrated bluetooth handsfree works well. Clever cabin storage space. !Removed! packet company car tax calculation. No creaks or rattles!

The not-so-good: Rear visibility. Disappointing seats (squabs too short, with insufficient thigh support). Not very impressed by the alacantara-style upholstery which I don't forsee ageing well (I'd spec leather). Dark grey interior (pity we don't have the choice US punters get). Some incredibly cheap-feeling plastics in the cabin (the unlined glovebox is awful and would disgrace a Korean car half the price). Doors shutting sound like a tea tray being dropped. Road noise (17" wheels/tyres?) intrusive at motorway speeds. Boot compartment/floor/storage areas are like a Krypton Factor jigsaw puzzle. Head-up display is a pointless gimmick.

Three more days to see how we get on. Right now, I remain in two minds about ordering one.

[Jan&tone]

The good: Fuel economy great, around 65mpg in mixed driving. Excellent ride and handling (very well damped). Spacious enough to accommodate my lanky (6'4") frame. Equally spacious for rear seat passengers. Integrated Bluetooth handsfree works well. Clever cabin storage space. !Removed! packet company car tax calculation. No creaks or rattles!

agreed - i'm 6'6" and have no problem in the front or back of the car and mine has no creaks or rattles (only the wife chattering)

The not-so-good: Rear visibility. Disappointing seats (squabs too short, with insufficient thigh support). Not very impressed by the alacantara-style upholstery which I don't forsee ageing well (I'd spec leather). Dark grey interior (pity we don't have the choice US punters get). Some incredibly cheap-feeling plastics in the cabin (the unlined glovebox is awful and would disgrace a Korean car half the price). Doors shutting sound like a tea tray being dropped. Road noise (17" wheels/tyres?) intrusive at motorway speeds. Boot compartment/floor/storage areas are like a Krypton Factor jigsaw puzzle. Head-up display is a pointless gimmick.

Three more days to see how we get on. Right now, I remain in two minds about ordering one.

Rear visibility. I had the same problem until I saw on here a comment about re-positioning the interior mirror, you can play with the double knuckle joints and make the position higher - this gives us tall guys better rear visibility (the normal position is for short people, not us proper sized guys

I'm surprised about the seat squab comment, I find them very comfortable, didnt have the leather 'cos i had it in my last avensis and didn't like it.

I do like the split glove box, I find it quite useful to have two parts and the unlined bit doesn't bother me at all, i just keep a duster in there to stop things rattling

Equally with the boot, the storage bit under the main floor is great for keeping stuff in that would otherwise clutter up the main boot area, handbooks, plastic stuff that you put over the windscreen to stop frost, all the normal detritus that takes up space but there's nowhere in normal cars to put it...

head up display - amazing!!!! no need to look at the speedo now to see what you are doing, it's in front of you where it should have been for the last 40 years.... i have the eco display in it as well and leave the dashboard on the 5 minute consumption display.....

Road noise. Agreed, it can be intrusive and i think that you are right, it is the low profile tyres on the 17inch wheels, either that or the crap road surfaces they put on motorways these days. I regularly use the a12 between Chelmsford and Marks Tey and they have put a few hundred yards of some new surface on there, the car is absolute silent over it, no road noise at all as I'm sure others have noticed... if all roads were surfaced with whatever they've used there - wow!!! probably horrendously expensive and wont be used anywhere else, but.....

Hope this helps somewhat...

[Seamaster73]

After a couple of days with the Prius, I'm really warming to it. Its relaxed nature suits my driving style, and I've adjusted to the interior. It's not "awful", just different. Those plant-derived recycled/recyclable "bio plastics" are not what I'm used to, but I suspect I'll be seeing them in every car in due course.

It'll come down to the sums in the end — but I don't see why I couldn't enjoy owning one for the next three to four years, while trousering a few extra quid in the process. I've always loved a quirky car (my current car is an A Class), and this one has quirks to spare. The final decision isn't yet made, but it's definitely on my shortlist as the car to beat.

[r04drunner1]

Hey Seamaster, is your demo T4 Orion Blue? If so, it's probably the same demo that my friend and colleague got for 5 days to try it out.

I've had my Prius T4 a couple of months now. I found the ride a tad hard on the 17 inch wheels, but adjusting the tyre pressure down to the manufacturer's recommended level helped.

The T4 has the leather steering wheel, that is one nice wheel to hold. I especially like the soft touch silver parts, they have a really nice feel to them.

I thought the same as you about the plastic interior at first, but now I am more "into" it. And I love the sidestick controller aka gear lever. Feels like I am flying the Starship Enterprise!

I have to disagree about the HUD, I find it's brilliant for keeping an eye on the MPH and also the HSI. And I love the high tech feel it gives to the car.

These extended test drives are a great idea, they certainly give you the chance to get a good sense of how the car will appeal (or not) as an ownership proposition.

Have you had any comments from onlookers / colleagues?

R04drunner1

[Seamaster73]

My loaner was a September-registered example in silver.

A few friends and family members experienced the car while I had it, and the response was uniformly positive.

I was rather sorry to hand the key back. I'm 99% certain I'll be ordering one.

[kithmo]

I have to disagree about the HUD, I find it's brilliant for keeping an eye on the MPH and also the HSI. And I love the high tech feel it gives to the car.

R04drunner1

The HUD is even more useful if you have the NAV, it displays a 3D picture as you approach roundabouts, showing which exit to take.

[r04drunner1]

Wow! Nice pic!

[Seamaster73]

...Some incredibly cheap-feeling plastics in the cabin (the unlined glovebox is awful and would disgrace a Korean car half the price).

...the unlined bit doesn't bother me at all, i just keep a duster in there to stop things rattling

Apologies for bringing this thread to life, but just in case anyone hasn't already thought of it, a 99p rubber car mat from Tesco cut to size does what Toyota should have done in the first place. No more rattling of the contents of the glovebox(es).

[Sagitar]

I have to disagree about the HUD, I find it's brilliant for keeping an eye on the MPH and also the HSI. And I love the high tech feel it gives to the car.

R04drunner1

The HUD is even more useful if you have the NAV, it displays a 3D picture as you approach roundabouts, showing which exit to take.

WHS - in town driving, when streets are close together, the distance to turn display and the turn now arrow are a godsend

[Seamaster73]

I have to disagree about the HUD, I find it's brilliant for keeping an eye on the MPH and also the HSI. And I love the high tech feel it gives to the car.

R04drunner1

The HUD is even more useful if you have the NAV, it displays a 3D picture as you approach roundabouts, showing which exit to take.

WHS - in town driving, when streets are close together, the distance to turn display and the turn now arrow are a godsend

In my brief experience I've found quite the opposite. At roundabouts the generic diagram projected by the HUD is often very misleading.

[r04drunner1]

Apologies for bringing this thread to life, but just in case anyone hasn't already thought of it, a 99p rubber car mat from Tesco cut to size does what Toyota should have done in the first place. No more rattling of the contents of the glovebox(es).

Nice tip, cheers mate!

[Doesn'tExist]

The good: Fuel economy great, around 65mpg in mixed driving. Excellent ride and handling (very well damped). Spacious enough to accommodate my lanky (6'4") frame. Equally spacious for rear seat passengers. Integrated Bluetooth handsfree works well. Clever cabin storage space. !Removed! packet company car tax calculation. No creaks or rattles!

The not-so-good: Rear visibility. Disappointing seats (squabs too short, with insufficient thigh support). Not very impressed by the alacantara-style upholstery which I don't forsee ageing well (I'd spec leather). Dark grey interior (pity we don't have the choice US punters get). Some incredibly cheap-feeling plastics in the cabin (the unlined glovebox is awful and would disgrace a Korean car half the price). Doors shutting sound like a tea tray being dropped. Road noise (17" wheels/tyres?) intrusive at motorway speeds. Boot compartment/floor/storage areas are like a Krypton Factor jigsaw puzzle. Head-up display is a pointless gimmick.

Must admit that we found the leather of much cheaper looking qualities than the alcantara and it ended up the only option that we didn't take so far it has survived the chocolate, crisps, drinks very well, oh and some squashed red grapes :) Can't say road noise is intrusive, it is perhaps more noticeable as other parts of the car are very quiet, a 'problem' I had with my double glazed BMW, the only noise that was nociteable were the wheels/tyres but that was because everything else was inaudible. The head-up display is one of my favourites actually, having the satnav directions on it is priceless, absolutely love it.

However I totally agree with everything else, and to be honest we downgraded to this size vehicle and class and we thought we could live with the foibles and cutting corners in the other areas, but no...they start annoying me more and more and more...And my wife even more so. We've got a RR Evoque on order now, to be delivered in March. Can't wait to get rid of the Prius cheap running costs or not, recycled dash or not, too cheap, rattly etc for our liking.

[Jan&tone]

The good: Fuel economy great, around 65mpg in mixed driving. Excellent ride and handling (very well damped). Spacious enough to accommodate my lanky (6'4") frame. Equally spacious for rear seat passengers. Integrated Bluetooth handsfree works well. Clever cabin storage space. !Removed! packet company car tax calculation. No creaks or rattles!

The not-so-good: Rear visibility. Disappointing seats (squabs too short, with insufficient thigh support). Not very impressed by the alacantara-style upholstery which I don't forsee ageing well (I'd spec leather). Dark grey interior (pity we don't have the choice US punters get). Some incredibly cheap-feeling plastics in the cabin (the unlined glovebox is awful and would disgrace a Korean car half the price). Doors shutting sound like a tea tray being dropped. Road noise (17" wheels/tyres?) intrusive at motorway speeds. Boot compartment/floor/storage areas are like a Krypton Factor jigsaw puzzle. Head-up display is a pointless gimmick.

Must admit that we found the leather of much cheaper looking qualities than the alcantara and it ended up the only option that we didn't take so far it has survived the chocolate, crisps, drinks very well, oh and some squashed red grapes :) Can't say road noise is intrusive, it is perhaps more noticeable as other parts of the car are very quiet, a 'problem' I had with my double glazed BMW, the only noise that was nociteable were the wheels/tyres but that was because everything else was inaudible. The head-up display is one of my favourites actually, having the satnav directions on it is priceless, absolutely love it.

However I totally agree with everything else, and to be honest we downgraded to this size vehicle and class and we thought we could live with the foibles and cutting corners in the other areas, but no...they start annoying me more and more and more...And my wife even more so. We've got a RR Evoque on order now, to be delivered in March. Can't wait to get rid of the Prius cheap running costs or not, recycled dash or not, too cheap, rattly etc for our liking.

You guys must be driving different Prius' to me is all I can say.

I'm 6'6", 15 srone and find the seats amongst the most comfortable I've ever had - better than the Gen2 and they were good... No rattles whatsoever (apart from the Dart tag vibrating against the windscreen which bluetac sorted) road noise is minimal - and my hearing is perfect as recently tested, i didn't specify leather on principle, I remember when leather seats were standard in all cars so I object to paying extra for it! Yes, there are things missing, like electric folding mirrors, but we knew that when we bought the car...

I have nothing but praise for the car, unlike my brother in Devon who has had his RangeRover sport for 6 months, 2 of which the car has been in the garage for a variety of faults, or my boss who's Discovery has had a leak since he bought it a year ago, the dealer refuses to even look at it!

To buy an Evoque is your choice, as far as I am concerned the Government gets as little tax as possible from me, Nil RFL, bugg*r all petrol tax.... I'm happy thankyou very much!

[Chris Dance]

I agree with Jan & Tone. Our new Gen 3 Prius is free of rattles is very quiet and is a joy to drive. As was our previous Prius Gen 2. We have done some long distances recently and found it very comfortable no back pains etc. I also cannot praise the car enough. Never had any problem with glove box rattles. All my rear seat passengers have remarked on how quiet the car is. I know somebody who has a BMW, it has oil leaks and many other problems, it is always in the garage for something.