Prius more economical than my CDTI

[andrew e]

Currently (due to me trying to recreate the scence from the Spy who loved me) I am driving a rental Prius - I paid for an equal grade automatic courtesy car on my insurance policy.



Anyway, forgetting the risible eco-warrior babble, and treating it as a large automatic family car, it works well, bar the rubbish rear vision (it has a civic-esq split rear tailgate glass). Comfy, a good driving postion, plenty of elbow room etc. However I thought the petrol power might be a bit damaging on the back pocket.

This morning having just pootled locally in it - (which is quite unerving as you just press the "start" button, and it makes no noise - you just accelerate away like a refined bumper car, upto 15/20 MPH when you hear the engine kick in) I gave it a run to work. A 65 mile run each way, on which 10 miles either way are national speed limit B roads and the middle part was taken at 85 MPH (with as usual plenty of stuff passing me) on the cruise control.

The result from real world driving - as opposed to rolling road block eco driving! - was 44 MPG, 1 MPG less than my similar configuration automatic Vectra. Obviously thats computer, so having brimed it at 05:30 this morning I will brim it again later for the truth.

It really is a tempting proposition.... no sub 2000 RPM lethal dead spot either!

[bindex]

I suspect that when the batteries in the Prius do need replacing they'd be quite expensive?

Otherwise a surprisingly quiet and refined car, but not as economical as you'd first think.