The Facts on the 2010 Prius
The good: fuel economy and reliability. I have no trouble getting an average for the entire year of the EPA rated 50mpg overall. Cold weather here in Illinois messes with my fuel economy in the Winter, but the Prius makes up for it in the Summer. Plain and simple: cold makes the electric motor less efficient, forcing the gas engine to run more, which uses more fuel. Warmer weather makes the electric motor more efficient, having the opposite effect. I bought my 2010 Prius new. As of the posting of this review, it had roughly 162k miles on it, and I’ve yet to have a mechanical breakdown- so far, living up to Toyota’s reputation for reliability. Let’s not forget hatchback versatility- makes the 2010 Prius practical for everyday living.
The bad: performance- pitifully slow car, designed to squeeze every inch out of a given amount of fuel, not to go fast. Braking is good, but not great. Handling is about average- certainly not an exceptional corner cutter. The 2010 Prius’s demure stature doesn’t allow big hauling jobs.
The summary: dependable, practical, fuel-efficient transportation that will please penny pinchers and environmentalists alike. Just be patient when passing, and don’t try to transport massive loads of cargo.