2010 Prius hits competitors where it counts with over 50 MPG

Toyota has a large and loyal following of drivers who have purchased the Prius and it’s still enjoying darling status with the media. The 2010 Prius brings new efficiency with that and is a reminder that Toyota is committed to delivering on the bottom line with more miles per gallon.

The previous version maxed out at 48 mpg in the city and 45 mpg on the highway. The 2010 Prius pushes those numbers even further up to 51 city and 48 highway. Couple that with a more powerful engine for better acceleration and Toyota definitely is stretching toward drivers who were holding out for a car that combines fuel efficiency with conventional convenience.

Qualifying as a “Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle and an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle in California,” according to the San Francisco Chronicle, Toyota is setting the standard for mainstream fuel efficiency right now. But some drivers like to inflate their numbers even further, claiming 70-100mpg if they drive ultra-conservatively. That’s unlikely considering the EPA’s estimates are based on conservative driving already.

Some of those claims may derive from a quick glance at the MPG rating on the console, which fluctuates when the driver coasts and accelerates.

Right now the 2010 Prius qualifies for tax credits (Oregon), though that may not be available for long. The government is doing what it can to promote new car sales and move the new generation of cars onto the freeways.

A bigger engine in this version of the Prius makes it more digestible to drivers accustomed to good acceleration:

A larger, more-potent 98-horse Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder gas engine teams with an electric motor for a net 134-horsepower total. (Note that the sum of the engine and motor power are not equal to the total system power because the operation of the engine and motor cannot be maximized in the same operation range.) This is a 24-horsepower advantage over the previous system.

Ford and GM recognize that fuel efficiency is a key part of purchase habits now, and both are aggressively pursuing their own hybrid and fuel efficient vehicles. The recent 2010 Ford Fusion and the upcoming Chevy Volt at least put them back in the race.