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| Road Test: Toyota Prius (2004-) |
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| Small Family |
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Toyota Prius Gallery
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| DRIVING RATING: |
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It'll take a while to get used to the Prius; the sequence for the keyless ignition process, for example, is less than intuitive, and the foot operated parking brake takes a bit of getting used to.
Some of the controls are not initially obvious; a lot of buttons are clustered on the steering wheel (air-con, audio controls, phone etc.), and there are unfamiliar functions on the gearshift lever (B, for engine braking and to boost the regenerative braking).
But otherwise, all-round vision is good, even looking rearwards through the split rear screen and around the thick front pillars, the driving position is excellent and the touch-screen displays are thoroughly user-friendly.
The electric power steering feels a little imprecise and artificially-weighted at low speeds, but is much better once you get going; it's direct and responsive, and inspires fast cornering. The chassis and suspension are not set up to be excessively sporty, but draw a good balance between comfort and precision, and despite the height and shape of the Prius, body roll and wallowing is well controlled. This shows that clean cars don't have to be dull and worthy.
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Introduction This is no ordinary family hatchback. Sure, it's roomy, attractive... |
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