2013 Toyota Prius virtual test drive | San Diego CA

Toyota San Diegowww.toyotasandiego.com

The Toyota Prius is now four years into its third generation. But, it's also new for 2013, in the sense that it's now family of hybrids–last year, the Prius liftback was joined by the Prius C hatchback and the Prius V wagon, as well as the Prius Plug-In Hybrid, thus spinning a sub-brand off from the original nameplate.

The five-door Prius Liftback is the core of the Prius lineup, and by far its best-selling member. Its high tail, vertical rear, split rear window, and overall profile make it an iconic and a shape that's been instantly recognizable since 2004. It's all in service of lowering the drag coefficient, to minimize the energy used to push it through the air at speed. It's the same look the Prius has worn since the 2010 model year, when it emerged as a slightly sleeker iteration of the green icon. There's not much need to change style, really, when you're the most fuel-efficient, gas-powered vehicle on the road--both the Prius and the Prius C are rated at 50 mpg combined by the EPA.

Of all those versions, this review covers the Prius Lift back and Prius Plug-In Hybrid, which are all but identical from the exterior, with just a different badge and some tweaked trim here and there--and of course, a charge-port door on the right-rear fender.

The heart of the 2013 Toyota Prius is its Hybrid Synergy Drive system, consisting of two motor-generators that can power the car solely on electricity (at speeds up to 30 mph), add torque to supplement the power of its 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, and recharge the battery pack during engine overrun or braking.

2013 Toyota Prius

The lowest-level Two and Three models are priced in the low and mid twenties, but the highest-spec trim levels--with either the Technology Package or the first-in-your-neighborhood solar moonroof panel, which runs a small ventilation fan to cool the cockpit when the Prius is parked--will go beyond $30,000. Remote air conditioning, LED headlamps, Bluetooth, and a navigation system are available.

The sole trim change for 2013 is the addition of a special edition called the Prius Persona Series. This trim package is effectively a Prius Three model with 17-inch alloy wheels in a special finish, a Black Cherry Pearl exterior color (Blizzard Pearl and Black are also available), charcoal interior trim with black accents, red stitching on the seats, dark-chrome interior accents, and a special exterior badge.

Toyota San Diego of San Diego CA serving Kearny Mesa, Escondido, El Cajon, Carlsbad is one of the finest Toyota dealerships.

5910 Mission Gorge Rd San Diego, CA 92120

Sales: 888-781-3388 ||Service: 877-854-7575

Website: www.toyotasandiego.com

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