2011 Toyota Prius Malaysia Reviews & Ratings, Expert Car Reviews on LIVE LIFE DRIVE

Toyota is one of a kind in offering such advanced hybrid technology. Spacious, comfortable and powered by the smooth, flexible and frugal drivetrain, the 2011 Toyota Prius is now an absolute steal with its duty-exempted price tag.

2011 Toyota Prius quick specs

Body Style	Hatchback
Class	Mid-size Family
Assembled	-

Engine Range	-
Fuel Options	-
Seating Capacity	5

2011 Toyota Prius ratings (overall rating : 4.5/5.0)

Styling
Handling
Comfort
Quality + Reliability
Performance

Roominess
Running Costs
Value for Money
Equipment
Environment

Styling

Despite being an all-new model, the Toyota Prius retains the distinctive look of its predecessor. Other than a couple of styling elements here and there, the 2011 Toyota Prius keeps the sweeping, streamlined profile, in part to maintain a low drag coefficient at just 0.25, and in part because many customers would prefer a shape pioneered two car-generations ago by the first Toyota Prius. By not changing much appearance-wise, Toyota is in fact catering to customers who may be more concerned with appearing “green” than anything else.

Handling

While the Toyota Prius is hardly a car designed or expected to call winding roads a second home, it is good to know that the 2011 Toyota Prius now handles in a surprisingly well-balanced manner, gripping strongly through corners and steering precisely for an electric setup. The light steering also ensures that city driving feels effortless. But the lack of steering feedback limits confidence when you are going for it, while the body control could be tighter, too. Commendably, the process of regenerative braking is undetectable at the brake pedal.

Comfort

The ride feels supple and controlled over rough road surfaces, and remains settled on the highway. While running on electric power alone, the 2011 Toyota Prius is remarkably quiet. Engine, wind and road noise are kept to a low level during cruising. But hard acceleration brings forth a drone from the petrol engine. Inside, the comfortable front seats adjust for height, and the steering adjusts for height and reach. The large digital display at the dash-top provides loads of information in a clear, understandable manner, while all controls are clearly labelled and intuitive to use.

Quality + Reliability

The fabric seats and plastic everything else, including the dashboard, do not attempt to hide the fact that the 2011 Toyota Prius is no luxury vehicle. That said, the materials are excellent in quality, put together by a high standard of fit-and-finish we have come to expect from Toyota. A light-coloured interior would however feel more suited for a family car such as the 2011 Toyota Prius. Toyota is renowned for building bombproof cars, so the Prius' long-term reliability should really be the last worry on your mind.

Performance

The 2011 Toyota Prius uses a petrol engine, based on Toyota's 1.8-litre VVT-i unit but without the variable valve lift, that produces 98 bhp. The electric motor generates 20 percent more power than before, spinning up to 13000 rpm and producing 80 bhp. Overall, the drivetrain develops 134 bhp, with a 0-100 km/h time of 10.4 seconds. At low speeds, the 2011 Toyota Prius runs using the electric motor alone. As speed increases, the petrol engine joins in discreetly and smoothly. The electric motor still helps out when needed, contributing to a flexible, punchy performance that the previous Toyota Prius lacked.

Roominess

The 2011 Toyota Prius is a consummate five-seater that provides impressive head- and legroom front and rear. Rear headroom is not lacking despite the sloping roofline. The flat floor at the back adds to the feeling of spaciousness. Cabin storage compartments are adequate and there is a hidden tray on top of the spare wheel. The 445-litre boot is well-sized, and can be expanded via the 60:40 split-fold rear seats, although the boot floor is a little high.

Running Costs

Under Japan's long-established 10.15 mode fuel cycle system, the 2011 Toyota Prius returns an out-of-this-world figure of 38 km/litre. Real-world fuel consumption is likely to be significantly higher, hence returning a much smaller figure. Like for fellow Toyota models, servicing and repairs should be affordable. Resale values should remain very competitive, too, considering the Prius' limited availability and strong image, not to mention the Toyota badge.

Value for Money

The 2011 Toyota Prius is one of a kind, without an obvious segment competitor. Yes, there is the Honda Insight, but the Toyota Prius is more advanced in terms of hybrid technology. While the first two generations catered to a niche segment, the latest Toyota Prius aims to go mainstream. And why not? It makes a spacious, comfortable family car for five, powered by the “greenest” drivetrain available, which proves to be smooth, flexible and frugal. So, while it struggles to meet the headline fuel economy, the 2011 Toyota Prius still makes an absolute steal with its duty-exempted price tag.

Equipment

The 2011 Toyota Prius comes with standard items including 15" aluminium wheels, front and rear fog lamps, retractable side mirrors with turn signal, rain-sensing wiper, leather steering wheel with audio and air-conditioning switches, head-up display, cruise control, power windows (auto up-down/anti-jam), 8-speaker audio system with radio/CD/MP3/WMA and AUX jack. Safety kit includes 7 airbags (front/front side/driver knee/curtain), active front headrest, braking controls (ABS, EBD, BA), Traction Control (TRC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC).

Environment

The 2011 Toyota Prius is as “green” as it is economical to run. Emitting 89 grams/km of carbon dioxide and with a fuel economy that is way above average, the 2011 Toyota Prius is easily the cleanest car on the market.

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2011 Toyota Prius Review

2011 Toyota Prius at a glance