DRIVEN: FIRST Impressions Of The All-New Toyota Prius — This May Just SURPRISE You

Since the Toyota Prius' launch, it's been thought of as a vehicle that was rather slow, boring and lacking any true character. It was very much so considered an appliance with a means to an end: get the best possible fuel economy in the cheapest packaging.

So, what would happen if Toyota made the Prius a bit more fun? According to a test driver for CNN, that may have just happened.

This shouldn't come as much of a surprise given that we know the company can build fun cars when it wants to (e.g., the MR2, the LFA, the Supra, FR-S, etc.). It's just interesting to read that Toyota has decided to inject that into the all-new Prius. Is the company trying to broaden its already large appeal?

What say you, Spies?

Take a look at one of the first reviews of the all-new Prius, below!


...I was surprised. When I first got into the new Prius and pulled out of a parking lot, the difference was evident right away. The steering felt sharper. I got to a sweeping entrance ramp and squeezed the gas pedal down. The Prius's new lower, wider body didn't lean way over like it was trying to see around the car in front of it. This Prius felt stable and perfectly at home on a curve unlike any other I've driven...

...Of course, the thing people mostly care about with the Prius is fuel economy. Sharper and more responsive handling is nice. The new design is important. But, just like Corvettes must get faster and Aston Martins must get better looking, Priuses must get stingier. As promised, the most fuel efficient version gets an astonishing EPA-estimated 58 miles per gallon in the city and 53 on the highway. (That's not a typo. Priuses get better fuel economy in the city.) Even the cheapest base model still gets 54 mpg in the city. That's 3 mpg better than the last-generation Prius...



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MDarringer - 12/5/2015 2:06:46 PM

0 Boost

Even if it had BMW moves it would still be a non-starter due to the ugliness.

TheSteve - 12/5/2015 2:16:33 PM

0 Boost

Amen. +1

Dexter1 - 12/5/2015 3:30:50 PM

0 Boost

This fu*king eyesore takes bad car design to a whole new level. It's shameful that these douche bags have jobs. Disgusting.

gkearns56 - 12/6/2015 6:36:19 PM

-3 Boost

Toyota seems to be putting this UGLY front end on it's cars lately. Even that once good looking 4-Runner has those awful "slits" in the front bumper. They must have hired one of the Acura beak designers who changed his M.O. to slits and odd plastic breaks in the front or rear now.

CarCrazedinCali - 12/5/2015 3:47:16 PM

0 Boost

Even worse looking than before and the narrator said the car is good for the environment which is false, it's dirtier than an efficient gas powered car.

800over - 12/7/2015 10:29:50 AM

+7 Boost

Evidence please....or wait is this the internet? Your opinion is valid if you have a keyboard.

Socalcarnut - 12/5/2015 7:33:58 PM

+3 Boost

Just to throw more flames (accurate ones), not only is it ugly...but as with the current generation...this ugly thing will be going too slow in the #1 lane on the freeway, cock blocking on the freeway, taking up two parking spaces at every shopping mall parking lot in the country, driving with blinkers on, riding the brake pedal, making sudden lane changes without blinkers, will me "mysteriously involved" in many traffic accidents...on and on and on...

MDarringer - 12/5/2015 9:37:21 PM

-6 Boost

edit: "(vestigial) cock blocking on the freeway"

W208 - 12/6/2015 5:54:32 AM

+1 Boost

Come live in Florida. There's a law that has recently been enacted that requires you vacate the left lane if you're causing traffic build-up on the highway.

Sadly, you still have everyday dicks that sit in the left lane on i95, in the two lane nowhere areas, that drive shoulder to shoulder with the car next to them for no apparent reason. Thankfully, now FHP can give you a fine for such douchebaggery.

MrEE - 12/5/2015 9:44:22 PM

-2 Boost

Prius significantly improved while others are still cannot match the previous 6 year old Prius. BMW smart to have partnered with Toyota.

Dr550 - 12/6/2015 3:28:40 PM

-1 Boost

I think the Toyota Solara and Lexus SC430 have been low points in Toyota designs. Now the "origami" phase has started.

gkearns56 - 12/6/2015 6:31:58 PM

-1 Boost

I believe the once defunk AMC Pacer had more soul than this UGLY thing. It might be reliable but it sure got the nasty funk going on in that front end. Trying way to much; even the 4-Runner got that ugly front end too.

vdiv - 12/6/2015 11:11:26 AM

+1 Boost

Someone at money.cnn.com finding the Prius fun?! GASP!

For a real review read a real article:

http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/2016-toyota-prius-first-drive-review

800over - 12/7/2015 10:14:11 AM

-1 Boost

not much of a review.

vdiv - 12/7/2015 11:46:56 AM

+2 Boost

Did you actually read the thing, click on the second page? Did you read the specs provided on the side? Did you understand the differences from the previous gen, the independent rear suspension, the lower-powered el. motor, the Eco version with Li-Ion battery? Did you understand that the new Prius being called fun is what Toyota wants you to think and Money is blindly repeating?

skytop - 12/6/2015 11:16:08 PM

+1 Boost

Is this new Prius getting more ugly every time I view it or am I just imagining it? Wow, it this car hard on the eyes!

jameswisrik - 12/7/2015 9:20:40 AM

-1 Boost

Waiting for the Miria

MrEE - 12/7/2015 6:48:16 PM

+4 Boost

from C&D review conclusion. Enough said.

"It all adds up to a Prius that looks and feels a little more normal than any previous version. But even in this age when fuel economy is steadily improving across the board, this new Prius retains its position as the most fuel-efficient car that doesn’t use a plug—and by a considerable margin. Expect the Prius to become more popular than ever."

vdiv - 12/7/2015 11:56:33 PM

+1 Boost

Not sure if the new Prius has become more normal or the normal has become more like a Prius. "Car that doesn't use a plug" is my takeaway and with over 20 plugin models available these days why settle for a Prius?