When we first met the new Prius, Toyota used the word “sporty” a lot, which is, at face value, laughable. Its 0-60 mph time is around seven seconds, there’s not a lot of torque to use, and the tires are of the low-rolling-resistance type. However, the chassis actually justifies the term. And, here’s the thing: It’s useful. Because the chassis is tight, maintains a low center of gravity, and the steering is light and responsive, the Prius can be driven with an eye on maintaining momentum through corners.
If you’re familiar with the concept of hypermiling, that’s incredibly useful. The less speed you scrub through corners, the less acceleration you need on the other side to maintain speed for the next section of the road.
Our hypermiling wasn’t an accurate representation of a Prius’s typical use, and we suspect there’s more to be had out of the drivetrain, and the chassis can be a big help. We’ve seen reports of people getting up to 70 mpg over a tank, mostly driving on flat ground.
