• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Auto Trends Magazine

Car reviews, industry news, & advice.

You are here: Home / New Car Reviews / Driving Green With the All-New 2016 Toyota Prius

Driving Green With the All-New 2016 Toyota Prius

July 22, 2016 by admin 7 Comments

Toyota’s popular Prius is all-new, more efficient, and offers improved handling.

2016 Toyota Prius Four

Needing no introduction, the Toyota Prius is the world’s best-selling hybrid electric vehicle, with nearly 6 million units sold since it was introduced in 1997. The US market didn’t receive the first-generation Prius until late 1999, but American consumers have been the recipient of every new model since.

The fourth-generation Prius was launched for the 2016 model year and its release comes as hybrid sales are down sharply everywhere. Even with a new model, Prius sales are down 15 percent through the first six months of the year in a market that’s up a modest 1.4 percent.

Credit $2 per gallon gasoline for hammering sales. But don’t feel sorry for Toyota — the RAV4 is now the best-selling SUV in America and the midsize Camry sedan continues to outsell all other challengers year in and year out.

Redesigned 2016 Toyota Prius

So, why launch a new model when sales have been dropping consistently over the past few years? For two reasons:

1), it was time for a new model. The previous generation had reached the end of its six-year life cycle, thus the timing was perfect. You don’t stay with an older design when consumers are looking for something new.

2), Fuel prices are never stable. Gasoline may be relatively cheap right now, but that’s likely to change. Although supply currently outstrips demand, just one global crisis can quickly change that. Besides the Prius family — composed of the standard hatchback plus three other models — Toyota has four other hybrid models for your consideration. When demand changes, Toyota will be ready.

For the current Prius, Toyota went with an even more polarizing design than ever before. The new Prius is closer in looks to the all-electric Mirai, a design theme you certainly won’t soon forget.

Is the look provocative? You bet! My wife says it is “cute,” while my car critic neighbor walked around the Prius, then said, “this is the ugliest vehicle I have ever seen!” After a week of driving, I can tell you I had my share of “was is that?” stares.

Fourth-Generation Toyota Prius

The all-new Prius is slightly longer and wider than the previous model and sits closer to the ground. As before, it is a front-wheel drive model with room for five.

The Prius’ front fascia is marked by a “smile” upper grille offset by triangular-like headlamp assemblies with an even larger lower grille opening present. The headlamps flow downward to large embrasures serving little more than a styling statement.

As for the rest of the exterior, it may seem as if the Prius’ designers took a design knife and “had at it.” Sharp cuts and curves are nearly everywhere running across the hood in two directions, along the profile, and all across the rear fascia. “Emotive” must have been the rallying cry in the Toyota design studios tasked with developing this model — although some may contend is the result of a knife fight that ended badly.

The Prius’ profile is an intriguing design featuring a sloping roof line, a rising belt line, and generous amounts of body sculpting. Alloy wheels (15 or 17 inches) are standard across the model line and are shod within low-rolling resistance tires. At the rear, similar provocative combination lights run from the mid portion of the lift gate and down its sides. As before, the lift gate is split by a built-in spoiler.

Regardless of whether you love or hate the design — is there a middle ground? — the hybrid’s visage is at once futuristic as it is athletic.

Updated Interior Design

Inside, the design drama continues, although the look isn’t entirely unfamiliar to Prius proponents.

As before, the instrument panel sits in the middle of the dashboard, stretching from the middle of both front seats. The unusual placement means the front and rear-seated passengers see what the driver sees, part of a Toyota initiative to engage everyone in green driving and thinking. The digital display numbers are large and bright — the better to see what mode you’re operating in and your fuel economy. As for controlling the unit, buttons affixed to the steering wheel handle that. In any case, the car coaches you to improve your fuel economy, offering suggestions such as “try lowering your climate setting.” Nah! When the outside temperature is 95 degrees, there is no way I’m about to sacrifice my interior comfort for a measly 0.5-gallon uptick in fuel economy.

The Prius’ center console is surrounded by black plastic material that also runs across the lower dash. A 6.1-inch display in base models becomes a 7-inch display elsewhere with electronic “tap” buttons on either side. What’s cool here is the system’s voice recognition capability — controlled by a switch mounted on the steering wheel, you can train the system to recognize your voice by completing the voice training. In any case, you can ask the system questions such as “get forecast” or “play a song” or “take me home” and more. Kudos to Toyota — no lessons were required on my part as the system understood my commands.

At the base of the center console is an odd-looking square knob fixed to a small stalk. That’s the transmission shifter, allowing you to switch to drive, neutral or rear positions. To place the Prius in park, you’ll press the “P” button to the left of the shifter. To the right of the shifter are drive mode buttons — press EV mode when you’re gliding around the lot looking for a place to park.

Toyota has a Qi-backed smartphone charger, an integral part of the compartment tub dividing the front seats. Lay your phone on top of the charger, activate the switch, and your phone should recharge. The system didn’t work for me and a Toyota spokesperson explained why — my particular iPhone needed an aluminum attachment to work. I wasn’t about to bother with acquiring one, so I connected to a USB port located next to a 12-volt/120-watt outlet behind the two cup holders and in front of the armrest/covered storage compartment.

The Prius’ interior is marked by curves, cuts, and indentations, paralleling the exterior design. All across the dashboard, between the seats, on the door panels, and pushing to the rear of the car evidence of the “knife fight” is apparent. The controls are ergonomically placed and even the vents and door handle inlays are fashioned to advance a curvilinear theme.

Storage and Green Credentials

As for storage, you get a deep glove box, the front armrest/covered storage area, and in-door pockets. All four doors come with drink holders; there are four cup holders present too, including a pair located in the middle seat position armrest on the rear bench seat. Cargo volume measures 24.6 cubic feet in base models and 27.4 cubic feet in other models. A split-folding rear seat expands storage capacity with the hybrid battery offering zero interference there.

In keeping with its green credentials, Toyota offers leather-like SofTex material across the Prius model line. It has the look and feel of leather, but no animals were harmed or killed in the manufacturing process. The material is easy to wash, durable, and feels like the real thing.

Hybrid Drivetrain and Performance

All 2016 Prius models are powered by a 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine running on the efficient Atkinson cycle. An electric motor powers the front wheels, sourcing its energy from the gasoline engine or the battery pack, sometimes concurrently.

Regenerative braking sends energy to the battery pack as well. An electronically controlled continuously variable transmission is also at work.

The 2016 Prius comes with either lithium-ion or nickel-metal hydride hybrid batteries. The lithium battery is the smaller of the two and is found in higher trim level models, enabling Toyota to stuff more equipment into these vehicles without losing fuel economy. That’s why a Prius Two Eco is EPA-rated at 58 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway for a combined 56 mpg. All other models are EPA-rated at 54 mpg in the city and 50 mpg on the highway for a combined 52 mpg. As for me, I averaged 49.3 mpg, reflecting my penchant for flooring it from time to time.

As for road manners, the Prius’ new double-wishbone independent rear suspension is a welcome feature. Handling, control, and riding comfort all benefit, with new trailing-arm bushings tuned to minimize road shock.

Thus, Prius driving can range from mild to almost wild, with more languid driving ideal for hyper-milers and spirited driving for people whose style might lean toward the Toyota 86. For one night-time excursion, I took the Prius on my favorite 24-mile twisty route to put it through the paces. The low rolling resistance tires offered little grip, but that was okay as I pushed the hybrid into every bend choosing to slow down naturally more than relying on the brakes. I can’t give you the front to rear weight distribution percentages, but I can tell you that by relocating the battery pack beneath the rear seat instead of behind it not only increased storage capacity, but it provides a more balanced model. I dare you: take the Prius out and have at it — you may find that it handles quite well.

On the safety front, the 2016 Prius offers the expected aids. Toyota now offers Toyota Safety Sense-P (TSS-P) on the Prius Three level on up, composed of a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, lane departure alert with steering assist, auto high beams, and full-speed dynamic radar cruise control. These features put the Prius on the leading-edge of safety technologies, by incorporating semi-autonomous features.

Keep These Points in Mind

There are a few demerits of note worth discussing. For one, the front visors get the job done when you’re driving directly into the sun. But if the sun is on either side of the vehicle, you’ll discover that the visors do not extend nor do they come with extenders. For sensitive eyes such as mine, this was a valid problem.

Toyota also includes a number of warnings when you close in on an object. I didn’t mind them, but what I did mind was the commercial truck-like back up beeper that sounds off every time you shift into rear gear. I believe safety-conscious Toyota went overboard here, but there is a fix — the next time you take your Prius to the dealer, ask to have it disabled. As for the spare tire, you won’t find one. Instead, a repair kit is present in an effort to help keep this vehicle’s weight down. Repair kits do nothing for you if you have a blowout, so consider investing in a spare if the thought of waiting for roadside assistance for hours while parked on a desolate road or when trapped in a scary neighborhood doesn’t appeal to you.

Prices, Packages and It’s a Wrap

The 2016 Toyota Prius is available in six trim levels — Two ($24,200), Two Eco ($24,700), Three ($26,250), Three Touring ($28,100), Four ($28,650), and Four Touring ($30,000) editions. The tested Four Touring model came with all the bells and whistles, including a $1,705 premium convenience package (HDD navigation, JBL audio system, and advanced safety features), and a $598 paint protection film package.

Add in various accessories, such as a dual USB power port rear seat charge station ($119), a LED illumination package ($349), and the special blizzard pearl paint scheme ($395), and your final price may push into the mid-$30K range. But prices are negotiable and with hybrid demand down, you can land a better deal.

The 2016 Prius is the first model based on Toyota’s New Global Architecture or TNGA. Prius enthusiasts will likely gravitate to the new one, finding the design changes a people pleaser and the fuel economy improvements a welcome change. For consumers unable to justify the added expense of a hybrid, models such as the Corolla, Camry, and RAV4 are also worth your consideration — segment leaders with the value proposition, design, and reliability Toyota shoppers can count on.


2016 Toyota Prius Four

  • Sticker price from $28,650
  • Price as tested: NR
  • Seats 5
  • 95 horsepower @ 5,200 RPM
  • 121 net system horsepower
  • 105 foot-pounds of torque @ 3,600 RPM
  • 3.17 inches bore by 3.48 inches stroke
  • Engine compression ratio: 13.0-to-1
  • Hybrid battery pack with three electric motors
  • Continuously variable transmission
  • Wheelbase: 106.3 inches
  • Length: 178.7 inches
  • Width: 69.3 inches
  • Height: 58.1 inches
  • Passenger volume: 93.1 cubic feet
  • Storage volume: 27.4 cubic feet
  • Towing capacity: Not recommended
  • EPA: 54 mpg city, 50 mpg highway
  • Regular grade gasolinel
  • Fuel tank: 11.3 gallons
  • Curb weight: From 3,050 pounds
  • IIHS safety rating: Top Safety Pick+
  • Limited vehicle warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
  • Powertrain warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
  • Corrosion warranty: 5 years/unlimited miles
  • Hybrid warranty: 8 years/100,000 miles
  • Vehicle assembly: Aichi, Japan

See Also — Substantial Luxe: 2016 Cadillac Escalade Platinum 4×4


2016 Toyota Prius Four photos copyright Auto Trends Magazine.


Filed Under: New Car Reviews Tagged With: 2016 cars, ELECTRIC VEHICLE, front-wheel drive, hybrid, lithium-ion battery, nickel-metal battery, Toyota Prius

About admin

Matt Keegan has maintained his love for cars ever since his father taught him kicking tires can be one way to uncover a problem with a vehicle’s suspension system. He since moved on to learn a few things about coefficient of drag, G-forces, toe-heel shifting, and how to work the crazy infotainment system in some random weekly driver. Matt is a member of the Washington Automotive Press Association and is a contributor to various print and online media sources.

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Performance + Efficiency = 2016 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid says:
    November 19, 2016 at 6:36 pm

    […] Toyota hybrid models include the vehicle that started it all, the Prius, and two other Prius variants — the subcompact “c” hatchback and the “v” wagon. Hybrids […]

    Log in to Reply
  2. Eight is Enough: Toyota RAV4 Hybrid says:
    February 25, 2017 at 11:25 am

    […] particularly suitable for the technology, while the smaller models are best represented through the Prius […]

    Log in to Reply
  3. The Top 10 Fuel Efficient Cars of 2016 says:
    April 7, 2017 at 7:40 am

    […] most efficient Toyota Prius is EPA-rated at 58 mpg in the city and 53 mpg on the highway for a combined 56 mpg. This model […]

    Log in to Reply
  4. Attainable Hybrid: 2018 Hyundai Ioniq — Auto Trends Magazine says:
    June 9, 2018 at 8:31 am

    […] out, Prius! The Hyundai Ioniq has you in its […]

    Log in to Reply
  5. First-Ever Toyota Corolla Hybrid Debuts says:
    July 25, 2019 at 8:34 am

    […] hybrid option. Nevertheless, with a new platform in place supporting multiple models, including the current Prius and Corolla, spreading those costs to create a Corolla Hybrid makes […]

    Log in to Reply
  6. Hypermiling Defined! says:
    August 1, 2019 at 12:05 am

    […] See Also — Driving Green With the All-New 2016 Toyota Prius […]

    Log in to Reply
  7. High Efficiency: Hyundai Sonata Hybrid — Auto Trends Magazine says:
    July 8, 2020 at 9:15 am

    […] hybrid market is still dominated by the Toyota Prius, but there are other models to […]

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • 4 Car Upholstery Cleaning Tips
  • The 14 Brands of Stellantis
  • Peugeot May Not Return to the U.S. Market After All
  • Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival

Recent Comments

  • Buying Guide: 2020 Kia Sedona — Auto Trends Magazine on Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • Highlights of the 2020 Kia Sedona — Auto Trends Magazine on Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • Minivan Surprise: 2016 Kia Sedona SXL — Auto Trends Magazine on Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • Compact Crossover Extraordinaire: Mazda CX-5 — Auto Trends Magazine on The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • Compact Crossover Extraordinaire: Mazda CX-5 — Auto Trends Magazine on Compact, Luxury SUV: 2019 Volvo XC40

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008

Categories

  • Auto Parts
  • Auto Shows
  • Automotive Career
  • Automotive News
  • Book Reviews
  • Car Tips
  • Classics & Discontinued Models
  • Commentary
  • Commercial Vehicles
  • Concept Vehicles
  • Dealers
  • Engineering & Technology
  • Fleet
  • Fun News
  • Maintenance & Repairs
  • Motorsport
  • New Car Reviews
  • New Models
  • Ownership Experience
  • Product Reviews
  • Special
  • Specifications
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

New!
Check out our Jobs Board!

via GIPHY

Subscribe to Auto Trends

Subscribe in a reader

Social Media

Visit our social media pages:
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest

Where is Matt Currently Published?

The Carolinian (new car reviews)
NAPA Know How Blog
On the Road Again

Pages

  • About
  • Authors List
  • Automotive Brochures
  • Contact
  • Industry Jobs
  • Write
    • Style Guide

Categories

Recent Posts

  • The Mazda CX-5 Brings a Premium Touch to the Compact Crossover Utility Vehicle Segment
  • 4 Car Upholstery Cleaning Tips
  • The 14 Brands of Stellantis
  • Peugeot May Not Return to the U.S. Market After All
  • Next-Generation Sedona Minivan Will Be Renamed the Kia Carnival
  • GM Launches BrightDrop, Its Commercial EV Brand
  • The Refreshed and Handsome
    Lexus IS 350 F Sport
  • What We Know About the All-New 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L
  • The All-New and Formidable 2021 Nissan Rogue Crossover
  • Fuel-Efficiency and AWD Champion: 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
  • Midsize Performance Master: 2021 Hyundai Sonata N-Line
  • Performance Hatchback: The All-New 2021 Mazda Mazda3 Turbo!
  • NACTOY Finalists For 2021 Offer Familiar and Futuristic Choices
  • Super Trooper: Nissan Titan Pickup
  • Behind the Wheel of the Popular 2021 Toyota Corolla Sedan
  • Lucid Motors Completes Arizona Factory
  • A Robust Turbodiesel Comes to the Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • Mid-Engine Masterpiece: The Eighth-Generation Chevrolet Corvette Stingray
  • Compact Performance:
    2021 Cadillac CT4-V
  • All-Wheel Drive Supplies the Nissan Altima With a Competitive Edge
  • Return of the Toyota Venza!
  • Lexus Brings a Convertible to the Gorgeous LC 500 Line
  • Stellantis Logo Revealed by Peugeot, Fiat Chrysler Ahead of Spring Merger
  • Preview: 2021 Nissan Rogue Crossover
  • How to Fix a Broken Rivian Vehicle
  • Cadillac Gets Most Things Right
    With the XT6 Crossover
  • The High Potency Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody Coupe
  • The All-New Chevrolet Trailblazer Forges Urban Paths
  • The Small Infiniti QX50 is Big on Tech and Engineering Features
  • Toyota Brings the TRD Treatment to the Midsize Camry Sedan
  • The Kia K5 Outclasses Most Competitors, Including the Departing Optima
  • Can the Toyota RAV4 TRD Off-Road Handle Tough Terrain?
  • Subaru WRX Showcases Its Performance Chops
  • Infiniti Overhauls QX80 Trims and Makes This Important Safety Feature Standard
  • Ford F-250 Super Duty and a Trail-Stomping Tremor Package
  • A Cut Above: Mazda’s Mazda3
  • The Highly Efficient Hyundai Ioniq
  • Volkswagen Atlas Revels in its Strengths
  • General Motors Deepens Partnership With Honda, Takes Stake in Nikola
  • Smart Concept: Jeep Grand Wagoneer
  • More Than an Encore: Buick Encore GX
  • Got a Recall? There’s an App for That.
  • Refreshed Nissan Titan Makes Its Case
  • BMW M235i: Not Your Typical Coupe
  • Hot Stuff: Lexus RC F Sport Coupe
  • Will the Electric Vehicle Boom Create New-Found Dependencies for Foreign Minerals?
  • Rumors? We Got Them!
  • About Bollinger Motors, EV Startup
  • Raptor Fighter: Ram 1500 TRX!
  • White Space Wonder: 2020 Nissan Rogue Sport
July 2016
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Jun   Aug »

Copyright © 2021 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in