Selasa, 07 Februari 2017

Toyota Prius IV in Test

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We Germans must be quite stubborn and backward. Globally, the Toyota Prius is a huge success, the sales charts look like charts have to look like: exponentially increasing. But in Germany? The exact opposite. In 2009 almost 4,500 units were sold, which is not exhilarating, but Prius is already the maximum. Since then, the figures have been continually downhill, and in 2015 the hybrid car has arrived at a staggering 563. By the way, one reason for this is competition from the Auris, which has a hybrid rate of 55 percent. On 20 February 2016, the fourth Prius generation will be launched. In the first year, it is expected to sell 1,960 times. Whether this can work, we have explored in our test.



Longer - and ugly
Although the Prius is the first car (for the C-segment Toyota New Global Architecture) based on the new tnga-C platform: The characteristic basic forms were preserved, as well as the wheelbase. However the overhangs grew, whereby the car grows by eight centimeters to little parking-friendly 4.54 meters. Visually, the car looks quite similar to the fuel cell car Mirai, which is not a compliment - I have not yet met anyone who finds the new Prius more beautiful than the old one. But there are cars that do not hurt that, because everyone says: Well, he does not look, but ... And then follows a property which, compared with the unsightly appearance, appears all the more radiant. One example is the practical Fiat Multipla. The Prius is, of course, the economical hybrid drive.



Without recharging
the hybrid system remained basically the same, the Prius is still a power split full hybrid without recharging. Why not switch to the trendy plug-in system, Toyota spokesman Thomas Schalberger explains as follows: A plug-in is only environmentally friendly when it is charged daily, and who does not have a single-family house with garage is difficult. The people buy such cars anyway, if there is a state premium for it, but they drive the car with an empty battery, like a normal gasoline. Sounds plausible, right? In addition, Toyota will bring a plug-in version of Prius to the homeowners at the end of 2016.



Weaker
The layout of the drive has not changed and Toyota will remain in the old-fashioned nickel metal hydride battery. A lithium-ion battery would not bring great benefits, it says, but a higher price and more aftermarket costs (for example, for disposal) bring with it. However, the overall performance of the engine changed, falling from 136 to 122 hp. You have to let that melt on your tongue for a moment. Because less performance than before, there are only a few new cars. Prius customers shake but only the head and murmur something of PS-madness. At the lowered system performance is mainly the electric drive motor (MG2, the Prius has two electric machines, the other works mainly as a generator and starter), which now has ten horsepower less. The 1.8-liter petrol engine was only one horsepower weaker.



The Missing PS do not hurt
We could still go a bit with the technology, with the improved gasoline engine, the reduced electric components, the new multi-shaft geared. But it's time for practice, right? So: The vanished 14 hp (over ten per cent anyway) you can not feel. The Prius accelerates subjectively not badly, and that the sprint value has worsened by 0.2 seconds, would be a catastrophe with a Lamborghini, here it really does not matter. In addition, the Prius continues to drive only about two kilometers purely electrically, but it can now be moved to speed 70 only with current instead of 50 km / h, and you can even sail to speed 110.



During acceleration, the Prius sounds tormented
So the Prius accelerates acceptable, even though, sounds somewhat forced. This is due to the gearbox, which still behaves similar to a CVT: if you give gas, groan the car up and restores only when the desired tempo is reached. As with the new RAV4 Hybrid, Toyota has weakened this rubber band effect, but it is by no means the whole thing. And it lacks the momentum, the driving pleasure of a turbodiesel. But driving pleasure is just what the typical Prius customer likes to do, which falls into the same category as the bad PS-madness, which can be observed in normal cars.



3.0 liters per 100 kilometers
, the typical Prius customer, if we quite understand it will come especially environmentally friendly and low consumption from A to B. Here there is progress, because the standard consumption sank vigorously, from 3.9 to 3.0 liters. If you have experienced the nineties, you probably sigh and think: oh, the three-liter car ... Even more powerful is the hybrid drive its strengths in the city, where the standard consumption is only 2.9 liters , While a comparable diesel model is already in the EU consumption of five liters. In practice, we needed 4.7 liters, as usual, according to the board computer. It can also be 6.2 liters, if you drive highway, even if the tempo is moderate. On the subject of fuel consumption, Toyota spokesman Schalberger gladly tells an anecdote of a Berlin taxi driver, who reports after the change from a "fairly widespread diesel model" to the Prius of drastically lowered fuel prices: instead of eight to nine liters of diesel he would need now only about five Liter of petrol. And the brake discs and pads would only have to be replaced very rarely.



LG now firmer
What the Prius customer also wants at least the Japanese and the American, is a comfortable suspension. This is also offered by the car, and German drivers can look forward to more roll stability than before - even if the Prius area is not the winding country road, but the big city.



Center console in the style Sanitary
And inside? Here I have to go back to the painful design theme. In the cockpit is the ... let's say the polarizing design continues. The center console of white piano lacquer plastic is particularly disturbing. The glossy white material, together with the cup-like shape, simply reminds you too much of the bathroom or the toilet. I could make friends with the rest; If you drive a car longer, you can see the cockpit anyway soon. It is a pity, however, that the chic three-dimensional displays of the Prius III have disappeared and that the parking brake still needs to be operated by foot. The speedometer is still in the middle, and the head-up display, which has hitherto been touching single-color turquoise directional arrows, is now multicolored. Also important is that you sit almost six centimeters lower than before, but still looks good over the bonnet. And the seats are okay for this kind of car, too soft I did not find them.



More trunk
in the rear I have enough space. In spite of the rearward-dropping roof line - which helps to achieve the excellent cW value of 0.24 - remain a few centimeters above my head, and in front of the knees is more than enough space. As the battery now fully fits under the rear seat, the luggage compartment has increased: Instead of 445 to 1,545 it is now 501 to 1,633 liters. As usual, the payload (now 340 kilos) is significantly lower than a diesel model (VW Golf 2.0 TDI: 487 kilos). The geometry of the luggage compartment is somewhat different from that of a normal rear hatchback because of the flat tailgate, bulky furniture is probably not quite as easy and you need a little more momentum to close the door. But also one can live with it.



1.300 euros more expensive, more wizards
What should customers like less - I imagine them as cost-conscious - is that the Prius was more expensive. The base trip rises by 1,300 to 28,150 euros. But you get something for it. The basic equipment includes a "Toyota Safety Sense Package" with the new radar-based distance control, with an anti-collision system, automatic fade-in and fade-out and traffic sign identification. LED headlights are a series, as well as a key-free access and start system, a two-zone climate control system and a cordless charger for smartphones.



The competition is more expensive
, the higher price loses its horror and the fact that the competitors are more expensive: The VW Jetta hybrid will cost 34,650 euros, the Ford Mondeo Hybrid 35 475 euros, the new Hyundai Ioniq is still no price announced. The same applies to plug-in hybrids à la VW Golf GTE (36,900 euros). A diesel compact is, of course, for less money. Just as an arbitrary example: the Kia Cee'd 1.6 CRDi with 136 hp costs 20.190 euros and consumes only 3.6 liters - of the cheaper diesel fuel. 




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