Toyota rolls out new Prius hybrid

Sales of hybrid and electric cars generally fall when gasoline prices are low

A case of Frack You, Planet, I'm OK?

Hybrids make so much sense in Japan. Gas is over 5$ a gallon (if I didn't screw up the conversion) and I rarely do under 50mpg in mine and it can seat seven with loads of room. It just makes sense here if you drive a lot on street levels. If you do a lot of highway driving, a good clean diesel is probably the better option, even in Japan.

The article is talking about gas prices in the US. But yes, gas still isn't that cheap here in Japan. It's better than in 2008. I think there's still a market for them in Japan. Last time I was in the US, I was surprised at the resurgence of the giant pickup truck. They are HUGE and hugely popular in the rural west.

Toyota should've offered AWD version on Prius. In the past, AWD systems used to be quite heavy, and this would have a noticeable impact on fuel economy. Lighter new engine and transmission technology is making up for that disadvantage. Take a look at the Mazda CX-5 which is available in either FWD or AWD. There is only a one mile-per-gallon difference between the two. Is one mpg a significant hit to take for better all-weather performance?

nationwide were at $2.39 per gallon

Nationwide? $2.39? gallon?

Why is this story written like this on JapanToday?

Hats off to Toyota and all carmakers giving buyers options other than straight hydrocarbon burners. Petroleum is a valuable resource and is used in making so many important items; we’re wasting too much of it as fuel for our vehicles. We’ll always have to burn some, just hope we can find ways to burn less.

They need to make some more stylish looking hybrids if they want the sales.

The Prius V wagon with the panoramic sunroof is hard to beat in style and mpg. Best competitor is the VW Golf Sportwagen (Diesel).

-but can they fend off the Tesla Model X: http://www.autoblog.com/2015/09/04/telsa-model-x-spy-video-bosch-48-volt-hybrid/

Diesel is the way to go, especially in Japan since the fuel price is about 30% lower.

I'd say it is true mostly if you do a lot of highway driving. On the stop and go Japanese style of driving, a hybrid would be my first choice but only if you drive more than 25-30 minutes at a time. If you are a home maker, and only drive to the market and back, then a hybrid or diesel doesn't make any sense financially. Having a clean idle car (stopping when at a light or an intersection) is the best.

Take a look at the Mazda CX-5 which is available in either FWD or AWD the biggest differance is the torque, the 2.2L clean diesel Mazda engine makes around 420Nm or torque, similar to a small block V8 gasoline engine, diesel also has around 20% more energy per liter compared to Gasoline. add to that the cheaper price of diesel in Japan. and diesels generally rev a lot lower than gas engines, it a no brainer

Someone please tell me where you can purchase gas for $2.39 a gallon in California. If so I can tell you the pick 6 lottery numbers!

Sure, the torque is the main thing, it kicks ass. I went and tried an Attenza wagon diesel before I decided on my newest car last year and it was really great, not fighting you on that. But most people in Japan are better served with a small petrol engine with clean start/stop cycles. They are much cheaper to buy and use.

I also like the fact that diesel runs a lot cooler than a petrol engine so it is much safer when driving in the forest for example (not starting forest fires) but it is about 4 to 5 thousand dollars more than a gasoline engine when you buy it, and that's a really large investment.

Either way, any car you buy right now will be a lot better on gas/diesel than most cars were even 6 years ago. Such an amazing difference.

Our Prius α could never be accused of being torquey. Over 28,000 km in the last 18 months we've averaged 20km/l - 47 US mpg (56 UK) - in the traffic-light infested Kanto burbs, where regenerative braking and stop/start come into their own. On European roads, though, give me a diesel any day.

This seems a very US-centric piece. In the UK, the Toyota Auris Hybrid is being promoted more than the Prius at the moment. (Is that model available outside Europe?) A women I know who just bought one says she is getting 80mpg. She previously had a Prius and says the Auris is far better.

nationwide were at $2.39 per gallon

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Aby nationwide usually exclude Western states. Here in Vegas vicinity, still more than $3.01 traffic reporters on TV tell every day. They tell where you can get cheaper gas of cheapest 3 locations.

This seems a very US-centric piece. In the UK, the Toyota Auris Hybrid is being promoted more than the Prius at the moment. (Is that model available outside Europe?) A women I know who just bought one says she is getting 80mpg. She previously had a Prius and says the Auris is far better.

The Auris Hybrid has been re-badged under Toyota's 'youth' alt brand Scion and is being sold under the moniker "iM".

http://www.scion.com/cars/iM2016/

Thanks, Cyronik. I smiled at the "youth" branding. The women with the Auris I mentioned is not exactly in that category. :-)

" Gas is over 5$ a gallon (if I didn't screw up the conversion) a"

Did the conversion the other day. I got less than 4 bucks a gallon. Somewhere in the 3.60 range. Reason? The dollar is way up and J gas prices, which were 1.50 in 2011, are only about 1.30 now. Three cheers for high gas taxes.

A curious person might note that there was a time when J gas prices were about three times those of the US. Now they are only about 1.5 times, if that.

And one might suggest that a good diesel vehicle would be preferred to a Prius, but I would not do that. Diesel is just not that cheap compared to unleaded, and the gas mileage is usually a bit worse. And a Prius is just not a costly vehicle anymore. Nice new technology for last year's prices.