Toyota Prius: A History of the Ugly Duckling of Hybrid Cars

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Some people choose to drive a Toyota Prius. And some people make fun of the Prius and those who drive one. In case you’re not familiar with the fairy tale The Ugly Duckling, it tells the story of a duckling that starts out “ugly” because it looks different from the other ducklings. When the duckling grows up, it turns out to be a beautiful swan.

Whether you think swans are prettier than ducks or not, the argument can be made: The Toyota Prius might not look as nice as other hybrids, but it’s a good car once you get to know it. And it’s had serious staying power.

The Toyota Prius was the first mass-produced hybrid car

2004 Toyota Prius | Toyota/Getty Images

The Toyota Prius has an interesting history. In 1997, the first commercially available Prius rolled off the line and headed to dealer showrooms in Japan. It would be another few years before the Prius made its way to the global market. The first U.S. Prius became available in August 2000. By then, it was facing stiff competition from other hybrids. In 2003, Toyota released the first of the second-generation Prius, maintaining the “triangle silhouette” of the initial design. Later releases would continue to use that design.

The first Prius uses essentially the same technology as present-day Prius hybrids: a combination of an electric motor and a standard, gasoline-powered engine. The motor starts the engine and performs many basic functions, switching to gas power for speed and as needed, Car and Driver reports.

These design features, together with a body emphasizing fuel efficiency, continue to make the Prius efficient and subjectively ugly. Sure, the early Prius looks weird. More recent iterations look more like a standard four-door but still different. Many things about this car have changed, but the cheese wedge shape has not.

The Prius: Debatably ugly, admittedly slow

More problematic than looks: The Toyota Prius also tends to be slow. That’s because its designers continue to place fuel efficiency ahead of acceleration. By the numbers, the Prius takes almost twice as long to get from 0 to 60 mph as a standard sedan: about 10 seconds versus about 5 to 6 seconds. A few seconds might not seem like much, but you’ll probably notice it when driving a Prius — or driving behind one.

The hybrid wars: Novelty, competition, and sales

Stiff competition in the hybrid market, along with the Prius’ less-than-stellar reputation, has shown in U.S. sales numbers. They’ve steadily declined over the years, GoodCarBadCar shows. Let’s not forget competition from plug-in hybrids and electric cars, too.

At the peak of its success, the Prius sold over 200,000 new cars each year. Recent years show sales well under 100,000. Driven by these losses, Toyota continues to attempt to improve and diversify its Prius lineup to appeal to U.S. consumers.

Toyota Prius upgrades over the years

The Toyota Prius received its first upgrades before even entering the U.S. market. A larger body and improved horsepower were designed to make the car more attractive. More recent design changes have continued this trend. And now the Prius offers various models and options, including the most fuel-efficient and affordable standard model, the Eco, and all-wheel drive options, Toyota shows. 

In addition to these options, there’s also the most expensive model in the lineup: the Prius Prime, a PHEV that’s even more fuel-efficient than the hybrid models while lacking even more acceleration and handling. That’s because it uses a heavy lithium-ion battery to power the motor. But this battery can go farther on a single charge, relying less on the gas engine.

And that is what you call knowing your target market and aiming directly for it while ignoring everyone else on the metaphorical road. If nothing else, this could sum up all there is to love and hate most about the Toyota Prius: The most expensive model you can buy is more fuel-efficient than, slower than, and as “ugly” as the cheapest option. It also boasts some infotainment bells and whistles, but we know what the Prius is really about: fuel efficiency, fuel efficiency, fuel efficiency.

RELATED: The 2021 Toyota Prius Only Made It to No. 2 on This List of the Most Fuel-Efficient Small Cars

The post Toyota Prius: A History of the Ugly Duckling of Hybrid Cars appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

The Polestar 2 Impresses by Stripping Down to the Basics

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Many automakers try to spice up their EVs with glitz and glam, but some brands prefer to keep it simple. That’s the case with the Polestar 2, a complex car with a simple, elegant design. Though it might not be the best EV of the year, the latest Polestar model offers something unique to the segment. 

The Polestar 2 was a contender for 2021 Car and Driver EV of the Year

2021 Polestar 2 | VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Unfortunately for the brand, the Polestar 2 didn’t win Car and Driver‘s EV of the Year award. That distinction went to the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, and it won for many reasons. Not only do its numbers stack up well, but it’s also a fun car to drive and ride in. For those reasons and more, the Mach-E won because it’s the model that can convert consumers to EVs right now.

That said, the Polestar 2 didn’t perform poorly in C/D’s contest. After all, the EV marketplace has plenty of competition nowadays. You’ll find cheap options like the Nissan Leaf, luxury models like the Audi e-tron, and, of course, beloved Tesla EVs. In fact, after intensive testing, Car and Driver gave the Polestar an accolade for being the “simple machine.” 

The 2021 Polestar 2: Simple on the outside, powerful on the inside

Car and Driver summed up the Polestar 2’s design by saying that it “seemingly draws from modernist architecture, with a palette dominated by gray tones reminiscent of concrete and steel.” This “clean design” essentially makes this EV look like “tomorrow’s Volvo.” Furthermore, by boasting a uniquely simple design, the new Polestar easily separates itself from the EV pack.

That said, the Polestar 2 shares something with many other EVs, and that’s performance. Thanks to its two electric motors, this model makes 408 hp and 487 lb-ft of torque. Those impressive specs allow the Polestar to go from 0 to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds, and it also handles well. 

What it doesn’t do too well, however, is travel far. Its 75-kWh battery gives it a max range of about 233 miles, but Car and Driver got a lower range during its 75-mph highway fuel-economy test. In that evaluation, the Polestar 2 went only about 200 miles on a full charge — a disappointing number. 

Stiff competition abounds

But the Polestar 2 is still a worthy choice for many drivers. “By combining otherwise strong performance with clean design, Polestar offers a practical alternative to its more audacious electric competitors,” C/D said. Indeed, there are quite a few audacious rivals, and Car and Driver tested many of them. 

For example, C/D also tested the Porsche Taycan 4S, which starts at over $110,000 and delivers the numbers to justify the high price. It can zip from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and has a max range of about 227 miles. But, of course, the Polestar 2, starting at $61,000, is more practical than the Taycan 4S.

In addition to testing three Tesla models, Car and Driver also evaluated the Volvo XC40 Recharge. Volvo owns Polestar, so the 2 was essentially the second Volvo that C/D tested. But unfortunately for the premium Swedish automaker, Car and Driver didn’t like the Recharge much, especially compared to the Tesla Model Y.

RELATED: What’s Stopping the Polestar 2 From Being More Popular?

The post The Polestar 2 Impresses by Stripping Down to the Basics appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Failures That Will Make You Flunk Your DMV Driving Test Automatically

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Taking your driver’s license test with the DMV can be exciting, but it can also be very stressful. If you succeed, you will have the freedom of driving a vehicle on the open roads, but the test is designed to ensure you can do so safely under different conditions to protect you as well as other drivers on the road. While most driving tests work on a point system that gives you a bit of flexibility in small driving errors you may make along the way, there are a few things you can do that are guaranteed to send you home, waiting another day to retake the test.

Distracted driving

2021 Ford F-150 | Ford

One of the worst things you can do during a driving test — and on the road in general — is to pull out your cellphone while behind the wheel. While it may be tempting to check notifications or answer text messages when you’re driving. You may just be reaching over to change the song, but most instructors suggest the best way to take your driving test is with no music, and no potential distractions — but, doing something that is illegal in most states, such as texting while driving, is definitely frowned upon while taking your driver’s license test.

Hitting another vehicle, pedestrian, or object

A car driving down the street
A car drives on a street after heavy thunder storm | Dominika Zarzycka, NurPhoto, Getty Images

It goes without saying that hitting another vehicle, or worse, a biker or pedestrian, means that you won’t be getting successful markings on your driver’s license test. In both the driving and parking portion of the test, hitting another vehicle is typically an immediate grounds for dismissal from your driving test — not to mention a ding on your insurance.

Your vehicle fails to meet basic safety requirements

In many states, unless you are attending classes in which a vehicle is provided for use of the DMV test, students are required to bring their own vehicle in which to take their driver’s license test. While you can take the test in any type of car, from a Bugatti to a Nissan, there are some standards of safety that must be adhered to. While the standards may vary by state, having working headlights, taillights, brake lights, seatbelts, and airbags are basic requirements — though it it important to check with your state DMV to see if there are additional expectations so you can be sure to bring a vehicle that will pass the inspection. If your vehicle doesn’t pass this inspection, you won’t be passing your license test, either.

The best way to ensure you pass your driver’s license test is to practice and pay attention, and to ensure that your vehicle is up to the set safety standards. Thought it may seem trivial, or even annoying, for new drivers, these tests and regulations are set in place to ensure your safety and the safety of the drivers, pedestrians, and others around you.

RELATED: Best First Project Cars to Build With Your Teen Driver

The post Failures That Will Make You Flunk Your DMV Driving Test Automatically appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

The Ineos Grenadier Is the Coolest Off-Roader You Can’t Buy Yet

by Gabrielle DeSantis

You’d be forgiven for not really knowing the name Ineos. The brand isn’t exactly an established maker of SUVs and cars like BMW or Volkswagen. Ineos is a massive chemical company. Because of that, their founder, Jim Ratcliffe, has quite a lot of money that he uses to do a great many things. For example, the brand runs a successful pro-cycling team. And sponsors a sailing team. And sponsors the Mercedes Formula 1 team. However, what they aren’t known for is their automobiles. The new Ineos Grenadier SUV promises to change that.

Ineos wants to shift the status-quo

Ineos’ logo on the 2020 Mercedes Formula 1 car | Bryn Lennon via Getty Images

If you want evidence of Ineos’ commitment to changing the automotive space rather than just sponsoring it, you can look no further than the ladder-frame chassis of the Ineos Grenadier. In the brand’s own words the ladder-frame chassis is the “backbone of any serious 4X4.” They’re right. Nearly every off-roader worth its salt has been pinned down by a ladder-frame chassis, all the way back to the famous Defender.

However, Ineos isn’t looking to shift the status quo by doing something radically different. No, the Ineos Grenadier is to be a distillation of what everyone is supposed to want in an off-roader. Fortunately, it appears that the brand has simply done what they think is best, rather than ask everyone else. Usually, that line of thinking results in a product that can feel a little too “corporate” if you know what I mean.

The Ineos Grenadier is a new chapter for the brand

The interior of the new Ineos Grenadier, with aircraft-like switches on the ceiling
2021 Grenadier SUV | Ineos

There’s nowhere that this line of thinking is more evident than the interior of the Grenadier. The new off-roader will feature some hand tech to help those who like to get out away from it all. First, there’ll be pre-wired auxiliary switches. Now, what that means is that, for example, if you want to add a winch, no problem. The Grenadier already has the wiring handled, so the addition of a winch, normally a complicated multi-step process, is now somewhat plug-and-play.

There’s also going to be something called “Pathfinder mode”. This feature is for those types who really like to get lost. Really lost. Basically, it’s a Hansel and Gretel-style trail of breadcrumbs. Your in-car GPS is the one leaving them, which gives you a set of navigation points to follow home should you end up well and truly off the beaten path. Of course, there are also expletive-ready grab handles should your driver be… less than skilled.

Big performance and smart thinking

The rear of the Grenadier on a trail, with a special "crash dummy" style livery
2021 Grenadier SUV | Ineos

All in all, the Ineos Grenadier looks like one of the more promising off-road offerings to come up this year. It promises to be plenty capable, and the design team has clearly put a lot of effort into the usability of the vehicle. It’ll be interesting to see just how the Grenadier stacks up against the similarly-minded 2021 Ford Bronco and more importantly, the Land Rover Defender.

RELATED: The 2021 Land Rover Defender Can’t Stop Winning This Year

The post The Ineos Grenadier Is the Coolest Off-Roader You Can’t Buy Yet appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by