Meet the PriusV! A hybrid that surprises us all with its many amenities and high-power functionality.
What a feeling to drive using little or NO GAS! Get the car rolling, keep the rpm's down and cruise around town on electric motor.
Check out the Toyota Site and learn how it works:
How Hybrids Work
Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive is a full hybrid because it can operate in three distinct modes–gas only, electric motor only, or a combination of the two. It doesn't have to be plugged in–ever.
Benefits of Hybrid Technology
Fewer emissions and pollutants*... More kilometres on less fuel... power and performance second to none... and a ride with the quiet smoothness of a luxury vehicle.
The Future of Hybrids
Hybrids are here to stay with the technology being integrated into more and more of the Toyota line up. At present, that includes the Prius, Prius c, Prius v, Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid.
The PriusV has become widely popular. We kept "seeing ourselves" everywhere in New England. The Yankee parsimony character trait makes the Prius hybrid a prized commodity there. We have consistently been getting over 70 km. to the gallon of fuel. What a savings. We made the 1182 km., 12 hour trip home from Cape Rosier on less than 20 gallons of gas! The savings on fuel costs and the lower polluting gas emissions alone make this car one I am happy to own. But there's more....
It looks nice, inside and out.
The center console takes a little getting used to. There is so much to watch and play with. My advice would be to read the 2" thick book on the computer system and navigate around the technology while you are safely parked. Yes, you can start it up and drive off, but it's distracting at first with so much going on in the right of your peripheral vision.
The GPS system is the best I've ever used. The maps are large enough to see at a glance and the split screen when you come to directed turns en route is very helpful.
All our "stuff" fits in, either to and from Home Depot or on our way back and forth on vacation.
The split back seats allow for customized storage.
There are a number of funny things about this car that I just have to mention. Each of the drivers in our family has walked away after parking this vehicle and LEFT IT RUNNING. When it is in electric mode, the car is virtually silent. Because it has no ignition key (just a fob you have to have close by, like in your pocket or purse) it is so easy to forget that we have to turn the car off. It only has to happen once and then you learn.
The patrons at the table next to us in a Seafood Restaurant in Maine saw we had our dog with us on the patio. They rushed off to rescue their dog from their car and brought him to lunch too.
"We left the air conditioning on so he wouldn't burn up" they said.
What is your car?
"A PriusV".
Yes, they run so silently, using no gas at all, one can leave the dog inside with the air conditioner blowing full blast and no one even notices. We've done that several times. The question becomes, "Will someone steal the car, or the dog? And which would we miss most?"
Hubby's favourite feature is the radar controlled cruise control. Let me try to explain. Just like in other cars, highway driving can be made more seamless by engaging the CC. The PriusV takes it a step further, by accommodating for traffic in front of it, either slowing down to the speed of the vehicle ahead or resuming to the set speed once the traffic allows. On one trip from home to London, Ontario, Hubby never touched the gas or the brake for over an hour.
Then there is the park assist feature. No one in our family has had the nerve to try (should I say "trust") it yet. We need to spend time with the book and a deserted parking lot to practice. Suffice it to say, when the book says the car will take over the steering wheel and gas pedal....well.....
One feature that we all love, is the blue tooth telephone and email reader. Calls come in on our cell phone and get piped over the stereo speakers. Emails get read to us as they come in by a lovely female voice, which can be a tad funny when we know the man who sent it to us. HAHAHA.
-We didn't know he had a female side! :)
And now on to the Hippie connotation. Back in the day when electric cars first came on the scene, the politically correct, environmentalists were all over them. The forerunners of today's high tech vehicles were slow, under-powered, unreliable and just plain geeky. When people found out we'd bought a hybrid, we got the "tree-hugger" monicker more than once. When people found out about our mileage, our smooth comfort ride and all the amenities, they changed their tune. No hippies here, thank you very much. Just good, common sense drivers.
Have you thought about owning a hybrid? Take a test drive and see for yourself how much fun being Green can be.
8 comments:
Your review totally makes me want one! I do a lot of driving.
What an interesting read. Just wish we could afford one. T'is a shame because I would be driving one if I could. Love the interior and the idea of quietness. I was talking about adding some of Kim Klassen's textures to my photos. I have taken many of her e-classes but I did not get on the computer this summer and forgot much of what I had learned. They are such fun to work with. I love transforming photos with them. Hope that answers your question. Thanks for the visit. genie
What an interesting read. Just wish we could afford one. T'is a shame because I would be driving one if I could. Love the interior and the idea of quietness. I was talking about adding some of Kim Klassen's textures to my photos. I have taken many of her e-classes but I did not get on the computer this summer and forgot much of what I had learned. They are such fun to work with. I love transforming photos with them. Hope that answers your question. Thanks for the visit. genie
Well, your post really made me think twice about owning a hybrid. Not that I wouldn't love a new car (I drive a 12 year old minivan we refer lovingly to as, "The Swaggerwagon". But the hybrids are so expensive and I don't think I'd save much on gas since I rarely drive out of my city. My husband on the other hand spends most of his day in the car and I'm going to show him this post! Thanks, it was a really informative, and good one. Blessings.
My BFF has a hybrid and she loves it. Its a couple of years old so it doesn't get the mileage you're talking about but its still better than my econobox. I hope you keep enjoying your new car!
I don't/can't drive (long story) but your post makes me wanna own a hybrid!
What a surprise. It's very cool and also pretty darn good looking!
A very nice car. :-)
My SIL owns a Prius, but I find it terribly uncomfortable to sit in for any length of time (and I'm only 5'7"). My husband sat in one at a car show a couple of years ago and decided that he couldn't do it because there isn't enough leg room for his 6'1" frame.
We talk about hybrids all of the time, but I think if we can ever afford to actually buy one, it will have to be in the mid sized range, maybe a Camry. We've crammed ourselves into small cars for years now (Honda, Nissan, other). We're old enough we want to be comfortable as well as responsible. lol
It is a smooth ride, and it is definitely silent. I can understand the worry over the hearing impaired and these vehicles at crossing sections.
Post a Comment