| The Prius has become the leading hybrid brand, making | | | | deliver 134 horsepower, which is on a par with other |
| it a choice for folks demanding high fuel efficiency | | | | Toyota compacts with a 1.8 liter engine. |
| along with comfort. The current Prius engine has a 1.8 | | | | The 2010 Prius engine has more power than its 2009 |
| liter V4 with 98 horsepower and 105 foot-pounds of | | | | counterpart, which had a 1.5 liter engine that delivered |
| torque. That's a relative weak engine when compared | | | | only 76 horsepower on its own and 110 horsepower |
| to the Corolla's 1.8 liter V4 which delivers 132 | | | | when combined with the electric engine. The bigger |
| horsepower. | | | | engine allows for more torque, which then allows the |
| However, people aren't buying the Prius as a | | | | engine to run at a lower rate of speed. However, even |
| muscle-car. The Prius gets 51 MPG in the city and 48 | | | | the old Prius was a solid highway car, as a 150-mile |
| MPG on the highway. It may seem odd that the city | | | | drive up Michigan's I-75 in one was as smooth as a |
| number is higher, but the electric engine does most of | | | | conventional car. |
| the work in the city, offsetting the stop-and-go nature | | | | With the added power, the 2010 Prius seems to be a |
| of urban driving; the eclectic engine idles more | | | | solid option for people who are willing to pay extra for |
| efficiently. | | | | the fuel economy. Plug-in electric cars are still a |
| The electric motor delivers 80 horsepower and | | | | work-in-progress and the proven technology of the |
| 153-foot-pounds of torque, not much weaker than the | | | | Prius is a good outlet for folks wanting to buy a hybrid. |
| gasoline engine. Working together, the two engines can | | | | |