Toyota Prius

Last week's rental was an interesting one. A Toyota Prius.

I've rented a Prius one other time in Chicago so it has been 3 years. Nothing has really changed except there is a backup camera.

The backup camera is kind of cool and very necessary. It is almost impossible to see out the back of the vehicle. While the backup camera is a nice feature, you also need to see out the back when you are driving down the road. The would appear to be a lot of glass in the back but the rear of the car slopes so dramatically, that visibility is bad. It creates a really bad blind spot even with my special side mirror adjustment.

The Prius is fun to drive though. It has good get up and go. The electric to gas and gas to electric modes are very seamless.

The controls for just about everything are too confusing. You can use the touch-screen to control climate, radio, display, etc. or the steering wheel has controls for about all the same stuff. But overall it is just too much.

The cruise control is very easy and logical though.

There is only a digital display for speed and it is just below the windshield. There's something about a digital speedometer that I just don't like.

I've read stories of the Prius not being good on the highway. That it is easily tossed by wind and passing vehicles. One thing I really noticed is when driving at highway speed behind a big eighteen wheeler, you really feel the turbulence.

I wasn't even that close to the truck but the Prius starts to feel like it is going to take flight. Not a good feeling.

According to the miles per gallon gauge, this one has been getting a little over 45 mpg. I'd say that was excellent especially given that it gets driven by people who haven't ever driven a hybrid before.

It is definitely a nifty car. I'd like to see what they do to update it even if it already is a futuristic car, it seems kind of been-there-done-that.