2010 Toyota Prius Features

By: Rob Adams
Staff Writer
Published: Oct 28, 2009

Toyota Prius Features Come With Solar Panel and Price Affordability

Toyota Prius delivers one of the highest MPG ratings on the hybrid market. This isn't a new Toyota Hybrid, but a third-generation design which has several improvements. The volume and climate controls are redundant with a nifty new feature on the steering wheel known as the Touch Tracer Display. The overall quality in the cabin is top-notch and the car is actually fun to drive.

The TV commercial pretty much says it all. The 2010 Prius hybrid achieves more than 51 miles per gallon and offers an affordable price for the mainstream consumers. The Toyota Hybrid is still a top-selling car in most countries around the world.

The Prius Hybrid is powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor. The overall output is 136 horsepower and features up to three primary modes for different driving conditions. The hybrid vehicle features an Eco Mode feature that can increase fuel economy.

Prius has a continuously variable transmission (CVT) that sends power to the front wheels. The one thing to note about these new automobiles is that you do not want to perform any maintenance without an advanced engineer degree. The CVT is way too technical and not your typical transmission from a conventional car.

The vehicle price is $22,000, depending on what features you have loaded, which is very reasonable. Some of the added features include the mounted solar panel sunroof. This collects energy from the sun and powers the ventilation system. This will keep the vehicle cool when sitting in direct sunlight.

The Prius 2010 model achieves higher mileage than its previous cars. It does have a combined mileage of 50, but some drivers are reporting higher mileage when using slower acceleration. Even so, this car does have the best proven mpg rating.

In comparison to its predecessor, the newer model offers a larger and more powerful gasoline engine. However, the bigger engine actually helps the highway mileage because it funs at 15 percent lower rpm. For some vehicles, it's important to find out the rpm to determine the average mileage you can achieve.

If you haven't taken a test drive, we encourage you to do so. You will learn more about the Toyota Hybrid and experience all its features than we can write about. You should contact your local dealer and find out what times are better to take the Toyota Prius out for a spin.