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At the risk of alienating some, I think I have found what must be the most boring car to drive. Over a week with a Prius and other then 57.1mpg I can find nothing memorable or enjoyable about it. No wonder Prius driver's drive so conservatively, there is little point in exploring the car's dynamic capabilities. It isn't particularly comfortable, it is noisy at speed (the tyre roar was very noticeable), and the handling was non-existent. Did Toyota's engineers deliberately design a car that has no emotion. I have a GR Yaris at home and it impossible to believe the same company can produce two such different cars. Am I missing something? Or is this the future and driving will no longer be enjoyable?
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This is the future.
My S Cross is an uninspiring drive but returns similar mileage. except for indicators and wipers everything else is strategically placed to make you avoid touching or looking at it while driving.
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The Prius III is a car designed for comfort and economy not excitement. It seems to fulfils those criteria according to reviews.
What is wrong with driving conservatively? There would be far fewer accidents if everyone did.
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The Prius will drive for hundreds of thousands of miles. That's what it does best. That's why so many mini cab drivers run them.
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Had a Toyota hybrid albeit a Corrolla rather then Prius as hire car on holiday.
Did all that was asked but if it were a sandwich it'd be a processed Cheddar slice in white bread.
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It's all part of the process of eliminating human 'driving'. Soon, I suppose it will be a Prius doing the driving. Already, 'changing gear', let alone 'double de-clutching', is an accomplishment more and more drivers eschew. And, judging by a local curvy road's hedge impaled by a couple of cars last week, 'steering' seems to be somewhat troublesome nowadays.
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>> And, judging by a local curvy road's hedge impaled
>> by a couple of cars last week, 'steering' seems to be somewhat troublesome nowadays.
I think I'm at the other end of the County to you but in 36 years here we've seen countless cars 'off' themselves on the double bends coming into the village.
Either excess speed or they clip the verge, over correct, and lose control.
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>> Either excess speed or they clip the verge, over correct, and lose control.
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Over correcting is extremely dangerous. People get tired, maybe have a microsleep, find themselves with two wheels on the verge. They over correct, veer across to the other side of the road and roll the car. Lots of fatalities that way.
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>> >> Either excess speed or they clip the verge, over correct, and lose control........
and roll the car. Lots of fatalities that way.>>
That would be unusual, unless you hit a tree at high speed and/or failed to wear a safety belt. About 50yrs ago I was enjoying a, ahem, solo brisk drive along a country road just south of Stoke Albany. I 'clipped the verge' on a lefthander in an unfamiliar Ford Escort, loaned by the garage which was servicing my car. Unfortunately, in the dark I failed to notice the grass verge concealed a slightly raised stone kerb. The car rolled, paralleled the roof, shattering the windscreen, but fortunately landed back on its wheels, still driveable. Much embarrassment and discomfort on returning it to the garage the following rainy day; the only injury was to my pride!
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That's an interesting point you raise CG Norwich. My mother-in-law, whose car it is, has altered her driving style since having a Prius and now is one of the "conservative" drivers I referred to. The irony being she is averaging just over an incident per annum. It is clear when watching her that she finds the car too easy (that may be the wrong word) to drive and to my mind loses concentration. She has also lost her ability to park as it usually does it for her. I am convinced the various aids have reduced her spatial awareness and response times.
Last edited by: Ex Alfa man on Wed 17 Jun 26 at 12:53
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Depends what you mean by driving conservatively. I would say it means driving within speed limits, keeping a safe distance, being patient, and generally obeying the Highway Code.
What do you mean?
Last edited by: CGNorwich on Wed 17 Jun 26 at 14:04
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I think the word might be mimsing.
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If that is what you call driving safely, legally and giving due consideration to other road users then you can call it what you like.
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>> Depends what you mean by driving conservatively. I would say it means driving within speed
>> limits, keeping a safe distance, being patient, and generally obeying the Highway Code.
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>> What do you mean?
I prefer to think in terms of attention level, observation and accommodation/defensiveness. I see a lot of people driving conservatively, i.e. slowly and for the most part safely, but quite badly. They get too close to traffic around them, obstruct other traffic needlessly by poor positioning at junctions, become rolling roadblocks, and can't control their speed using the accelerator to save their lives, always catching the car in front and then braking. Just being slow is not being cautious.
Like most people I think I'm a brilliant driver, which is corroborated by my insurance record but contradicted by the number of speed awareness courses I have been on.
Last edited by: Manatee on Thu 18 Jun 26 at 20:26
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I've never driven an older Prius so can't comment directly, however I do drive a Swace that has gen 5 1.8 Toyota hybrid running gear. However:-
>>>"It isn't particularly comfortable, it is noisy at speed (the tyre roar was very noticeable"
I find mine is very comfortable and I'm 6ft 4". I do have to drive fully back and fully down re seat. I suppose being a big chap (tall and big) I generally can't cope with over bolstered seats that many cars have these days. Refinement is generally excellent and unless you floor the throttle you don't notice the transition between electric and petrol driving. Tyre noise is more than my previous Superb but not too bad but it's shod in relatively high profile tyres(205/55/16).
>>>"Did Toyota's engineers deliberately design a car that has no emotion", "and the handling was non-existent".
I agree the hybrid gubbins encourages a rather gentler driving style but on a twisty country lane the electric boost/petrol combo is rather fun and the handling is better than expected (rear twin wishbone suspension).
Last edited by: BigJohn on Fri 19 Jun 26 at 23:00
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I could never buy a Auris, Corolla /Suzuki Swace- locally it seems that 80%+ are Taxis!
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Seems more of a recommendation than a reason to avoid.
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>> I could never buy a Auris, Corolla /Suzuki Swace- locally it seems that 80%+ are
>> Taxis!
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They seem to be able to rack up 100,000s of miles no problem. I watched a yt video about what happens to them in Japan when they fail their MoT they get sent to Mongolia.
The sheep farmers really rate them you can get 2 sheep in the back with the seats down. Quite happy on rough ground.
Toyota really know how to build a car.
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Toyota Prius III - Driving a Prius - ORB>>>
