Toyota Prius
Update: 2013 BMW ActiveHybrid3
So while the big news has been on the recent crop of hybrid racecars and hypercars, the gas-electric revolution has finally come to one of our favorite, everyday awesome sports sedans—the BMW 3-Series.
Update: 2013 Kia Rio — Transmission
Overall, the inclusion of a manual gearbox on the Rio SX is a win for enthusiasts who are looking for cheap, well-equipped, economical, and fun-to-drive transportation.
Driven: 2013 Ford C-Max Energi
There’s a very real chance the Ford C-Max Energi won’t be for you. Frankly, that’s okay, as this isn’t a car that’s meant to appeal to the masses (at least not yet). Instead, it’s a car for pioneer consumers—those who need to be on the bleeding edge of what’s possible in four-wheeled motivation. So while not everyone’s going to love the C-Max Energi, it’s likely to develop quite a dedicated following.
Quick Drive: 2012 Toyota Prius C
But being small is part of the point. Its diminutive size makes the Prius C ideal to drive in urban environments. It is superbly easy to park, and to maneuver in heavy stop-and-go traffic or the tight confines of a parking lot. Its city gas mileage is slightly better than its bigger brother (53 miles per gallon versus the Prius liftback’s 51), but suffers a bit on the highway (46 versus 48 mpg). That’s the same average fuel economy as the standard Prius, which is as good as it gets without going all-electric—undoubtably the nameplate’s most famous attribute and greatest draw. In all, the C makes efficient work of in-town commutes, and feels right at home at the slower speeds of city traffic.
Quick Drive: 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-In Hybrid
The three-hour charge time is downright reasonable when compared to a Volt or Leaf, which can take anywhere from nine to 13 hours to recharge (based on our experience). And like the Volt, there’s absolutely no sense of range anxiety, as once the battery is drained, the car becomes a standard, fuel-sipping Prius hybrid.
Quick Drive: 2011 Honda Insight
I could sit here all day and bash the Honda Insight, but frankly, it would be a bit too easy. So instead, I’m going to offer some suggestions on ways to make the Insight better. Deep down, I know Honda can build a hybrid that could get the fuel economy of the Toyota Prius, while delivering a better driving experience. Here’s how.
Graphed: Fuel Economy Of Efficient Vehicles
As we drive the Lexus CT200h (and enjoy it for the most part), we’re reminded of some of the other fuel misers we’ve driven and responded to favorably (again, for the most part). We decided to compare a handful of these cars side by side, to get a visual understanding of how they perform.
Driven: 2011 Chevrolet Volt
The Volt is, first and foremost, a properly enjoyable car to drive. Ignore the on-board readouts and your fuel economy, and the Volt will happily dust other cars away from the lights, thanks to the 273 pound-feet of torque generated by its electric motor. This instant-on torque gives the Volt a feeling of immediacy that might be unfamiliar to the owner of a conventional car.
Geneva 2011: Toyota Previews Three-Row Prius+ For European Market
At the Geneva Motor Show, Toyota has unveiled a new member of the Prius family of hybrids to be sold in Europe. The Toyota Prius+ is a three-row, seven-passenger vehicle, and is Toyota’s first non-plug-in hybrid to use lithium-ion batteries.
2010 World Car Of The Year Winners: It’s A Volkswagen World
On April 1st at the New York International Auto Show, the sixth annual World Car Awards were handed out and the Volkswagen Group made out handsomely.
Detroit 2010: Hyundai Blue-Will Concept Takes The Stage
The Hyundai Blue-Will, while only a concept, looks to rival the Toyota Prius and Chevrolet Volt when it hits the streets in production form. The details on this funky concept are pretty impressive — being able to net up to 55 miles per gallon in its combined EV and internal combustion forms.
Hyundai Debuts Blue-Will Plug-In Hybrid Concept Ahead Of Detroit Auto Show Reveal
Under the bright lights of the Detroit Auto Show (which is only one week away), Hyundai will be unveiling its first ever plug-in hybrid, the Blue-Will. And while the show car is only a concept at this point, it showcases the future technologies that Hyundai could implement into its full lineup, such as roof-mounted solar cells, lithium polymer batteries, touch-screen controls, and drive-by-wire steering.
Driven: 2010 Tesla Roadster Sport
How many Elons do you have on your Rolodex or Blackberry, hmm? Elon Musk, chairman, product architect, and CEO of Tesla Motors is the only Elon we know. His name just gets cooler and rarer by adding the Musk.
Toyota Announces Prius Plug-In Hybrid Lease Program
We knew it wouldn’t be long before we’d see a plug-in version of the Toyota Prius, the world’s most well-known hybrid vehicle. Today, Toyota has officially launched the Prius Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) lease program, which will provide 600 examples of this car for testing in Japan, Europe, and the United States. These cars will be leased to commercial, government, and universities for testing on how PHEV vehicles exist in real-world use.
Driven: 2010 Toyota Prius
It has become almost passé to criticize Toyota products for being rather soulless, yet utterly effective, to drive. Prius, especially in the ubiquity that it has earned in its last generation, has toiled famously under the “appliance” descriptor—serving up masses of consumers with a high-mileage, low-effort driving experience. And while enthusiast-minded detractors everywhere may take issue with the very notion, the good people at Toyota Motor Corporation are well aware of their cars’ snoozing reputation and are far more willing than one might expect to create a different identity for their brand.
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