Consider, if you will, the plight of a firstborn. Showered with a new family’s undivided attention, firstborns are endowed with great freedom. What also comes with this talismanic role, however, is the unenviable responsibility of acting as standard-bearer for the whole family and the often undue criticism that comes with the slightest lapse in responsible behaviour.
I was the laatlammetjie of three kids, and I could get away with murder. I could steal the family Jetta every weekend with little consequence, but as I also remember, I once had to suffer several days with a broken arm before my parents even noticed my pleas for medical assistance. So it was swings and roundabouts really.
But this, as far as I can see, is the exact plight that has befallen the Toyota Prius — the firstborn of all hybrid-powered vehicles. A project so incredibly close to Toyota’s heart, gifted every possible chance to realise its dreams, yet one that’s never been far from criticism because it was the first of its kind.
But now Toyota’s new, third-generation Prius mates its electric motor to a bigger, more powerful 1,8-litre petrol engine that doesn’t need to work as hard to keep the Prius on the move, therefore making it more economical.
Improvements to the 90% redeveloped hybrid drivetrain include an exhaust heat recovery system that helps regulate temperature and a new four-cylinder engine that is fully beltless, making it more efficient and cheaper to maintain. The engine itself makes use of a new system called the Atkinson Cycle, which goes as far as controlling the level of combustion in the cylinders based on how you’re driving. And the new battery is more compact, cooled more efficiently and capable of holding more charge for longer.
It’s the whole raft of positive improvements you’d expect from a technological showcase like the Toyota Prius. But like all parents three children down the line, Toyota has lightened up on the little one as well.
The interior, though still on the creaky side, is ergonomic. There are two specifications to choose from, Advanced and Exclusive, separated only by leather seats, satnav, a high-tech energy monitor and a self-parking system. The entry level does display all the same energy monitor information but through a less intricate command centre, making it cheaper than the previous-generation Prius.
Acceleration is understandably benign through the CVT gearbox but it does feel quicker than the old one.
And be in no doubt: the CO2 emissions of 94g/km and combined cycle fuel consumption of 4,1-litres/100km are class-leading.
The Toyota Prius ranges in price from R326 700 for the Advanced to R370700 for the Exclusive.