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The second generation Prius, which debuted for the 2004 model year, has become an icon on many levels. It’s a green statement. It’s a political statement. It’s even a technology statement. I’ve been saying for quite a while now that history will look upon the little lozenge-shaped car as THE iconic vehicle of this decade, much as the 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air was the iconic car of the 1950s.
The second generation Prius was the car that brought hybrids to the mainstream. The dorky first generation car looked and felt somewhat like a science project…and the quirky original Honda Insight even more so. But Prius v2.0 boasted a really usable interior package, decent performance, and a unique look that proclaimed to the world that you were ready for something beyond the status quo.
There was just one problem: it was just so boring to drive. There was absolutely nothing rewarding about the way it drove, so it had zero appeal to anyone who actually enjoyed the act of driving. Its steering felt completely detached from the road, it rode harshly, and it squealed like a pig through corners. For the Prius fanbase, none of this really mattered much as driving appeal wasn’t the car’s point.

The latest Prius, however, takes everything that was so appealing about the prior Prius and cranks everything up a few notches. It’s got significantly better fuel economy. It’s got more space inside. It’s got even more technology. It looks a little more taut and exciting. And – shock – it’s even kinda fun to drive…as long as you specify the optional 17-inch wheels.
I won’t go into all the nitty-gritty tech details because there’s simply too much to list. Suffice it to say that the new Prius doesn’t actually bring any new breakthrough technology to the table; rather it represents greatly refined and optimized versions of technologies already seen before.
For example, much of the hybrid system is carryover from the last car, but advancements in technology as well as a new gasoline engine result in a combined EPA city/highway fuel economy rating of 50mpg. The last Prius was rated at 45mpg, so this is a 9% increase in fuel economy. At the same time, it’s noticeably quicker as well, in addition to feeling much more responsive to throttle inputs.
For me, the biggest improvement is the way it steers and handles. I took a Prius equipped with the optional and much better looking 17-inch wheels through a hilly and curvy road in Napa Valley and was shocked at how well the car hung on. Even on one particularly off-camber hairpin, the Prius just stuck like glue to the road with only a hint of understeer. Better yet, the steering, while nothing like what you’d find in a BMW, actually had some heft to it and would build effort up nicely as I progressed through those corners. That’s completely unlike the prior car, whose steering behaved much like a rheostat. I also have to point out that during this quick and spirited drive, I averaged 50mpg, as advertised. I don’t think I’ve ever had that much fun while using so little gasoline.
There are plenty of other party tricks available on the new Prius. Lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and even an amazingly effective self-parking feature (heretofore only available on the Lexus LS) are all available. My personal favorite gizmo? Sunroof-equipped models (incidentally, this is the first Prius available with one) have a solar panel embedded in the roof. This powers the interior fan while the car is parked, ensuring that you never return to a searing interior on hot days.
My only real complaint relates to the interior. Somehow, I found the old car’s interior much more space age, and it used nicer soft-touch materials. It also boasted a standard color screen on all models, further lending it a high-tech air. The new car’s interior is more conventional and finished in rock hard plastics. Curiously, it also makes a retrograde step in displaying all hybrid-related information on a low-resolution monochromatic screen.
That said, the new Prius isn’t any more expensive than the old one, with starting price at around $21,000. Combined with its greatly improved drive characteristics, the new Prius should have even greater appeal this time around.