2017 Toyota Prius Reviews

But it is about to land in Australia at the same time as it’s running headlong into an economic storm and a sales slump in the US.With global sales of the hybrid pioneer tumbling in economic hard times and falling petrol prices, the Gen III Prius is about to land in Australia.In North America alone, sales of the current car for the first three months of this year totalled just 24,277, about the same number sold in a single month last year.With the official launch of the car set for July, Carsguide this week had an early opportunity to get at close quarters with the radically changed yet still instantly recognisable Prius.In a short drive of the new vehicle, it was obvious designers and stylists had been hard at work — and less obvious just what the engineers had been up to.Inside, styling changes are obvious to anyone who has previously driven a Prius. The driver now sits in a defined "cockpit" space with a floating centre console supporting the gear lever and buttons to select Power, Eco or EV.The other big changes to the interior are greater headroom for rear seat passengers — the result of shifting the high-point of the roofline further to the rear to accentuate the car's wedge styling — and better knee and leg room from a redesign of the front seats allowing for greater scalloping in the seat back.DrivetrainThe Prius still has to make do with the carry-over nickel-metal hydride batteries from Prius II which means the full electric vehicle range is still restricted to about 1.5km at under 40km/h before the petrol engine fires up to take over propulsion and start the recharging process.The new 1.8-litre engine lifts power by 16kW to a peak of 73kW with 142Nm of torque. With an additional 27kW available from the electric motor the Prius III can get from 0-100km/h in a respectable 9.9 seconds and when carefully managed the company claim of 3.9 litres per 100km fuel economy may well be achievable.Pricing and fit-out Toyota is not giving away any clues as to pricing, only saying the car will be competitive — presumably with Honda's Insight which, while delayed into next year, is expected to reach the market at about $30,000.Exact trim levels are also being kept close to the chest although it seems certain that there will be at least two levels offered with the higher grade car winning optional extras such as LED headlights, heads-up driving display and satellite navigation.A world-first air conditioning function offers the ability to turn on a three-minute burst of battery powered air-con remotely from the key fob without needing to start the engine. Also aimed at the Aussie summer is the Prius III's 36-cell solar moonroof — which provides 59 watts of fan power to recirculate hot air out of the car after it has been sitting in the sun.DrivingA redesign of the rear suspension geometry has the dual outcome of increased boot space (an extra 30 litres) and greater rear-end stability on a chassis the engineers claim is generally far stiffer than the outgoing model.It is a claim that had to go untested on this week's short drive but there is no doubt the new model has a better turning circle and steering that feels far more direct and connected than was previously the case.

You can't really get around it. There are others, from the original Honda Insight to the Civic hybrid and even the upcoming Porsche Cayenne and Panamera, but Prius was and is the benchmark. Right?Given the fact that the fuel-sipping Toyota was the petrol-electric trailblazer and kicked off the hybrid movement some 10 years ago, it has definitely earned its place in automotive history.Now, the car's third generation is here and it looks, well, much like the old one.But there is good news too. The all-new Prius is faster, handles more like a regular car, gets better mileage and employs higher-quality materials.It is going to face much tougher opposition, especially from a born- again Insight that looks a lot like the Prius and will be pitched lower on price, but the Toyota headliner is still the car being used to push the one million-a-year hybrid attack by the world's largest carmaker.Size wise, the new Prius is pretty much the same as before. It's just over one centimetre longer and sits on the same length wheelbase as before. The exterior design is a safe evolution of the current wedge- shape and is marginally slipperier through the air.But then you don't buy a Prius to admire it in your driveway. You buy it to make a social statement.Final pricing for the car has not been set for Australia, but the aim in the USA is to have it at $25,000 and to convert even more people than the greenies and movie stars who have already made it a hit _ particularly in California, where it is allowed in the car pool lane with only the driver at the wheel."It will be here in July," says Mike Breen of Toyota Australia, confirming the timing but not the price or equipment levels."It will be competitively priced. The specifications are different from the US, and there are a couple of things we get that the Americans do not, and they make a difference. They make a difference to the vehicle and as a result they have an impact on the pricing."Breen definitely rules out the Japanese plan to run the new Prius alongside the old one, to give a price fighter to combat the new Insight."We are not going to run the old with the new. The market will not sustain the new generation and the old generation being sold simultaneously," he says.He admits it was considered, but rejected."We are selling a Prius. But we keep an eye on all our competitiors."DrivingSitting in the tight new cockpit, I fire up the engine _ or at least push the start button to engage the silent electric motor.Power is up from the outgoing 1.5 litre's 57kW to the new 1.8's 73 at 5200 revs, with 142Nm of torque at 4000. Total power including the electric motor comes to 100kW, and there's an extra 27kW from the carryover nickel-metal hydride battery pack.No, the latest and greatest lithium-ion batteries are not yet in the picture for the Prius.A new front transaxle reduces power losses by up to 20 per cent and is now gear-driven to reduce friction and includes a reduction gear as well, meaning it can run at higher revs and make more power.The employment of the Atkinson cycle 1.8-litre engine is the main reason why the new car achieves a claimed 5L/100km economy, an improvement around five per cent Gently depress your right shoe and you can creep away in stealth mode _ or EV mode, one of three _ at up to 40km/h traveling up to 1.5km before the engine cuts in. Other modes are Eco, which most drivers will use, and Power for those who want quicker merging speeds on highways.The new hybrid might be over 40kgs heavier than the predecessor, but it still turns better and accelerates harder thanks to the new THSII hybrid system which helps it sprint from zero to 100km/h in 9.9 seconds.Using a feather throttle in my short 80-kilometre test around the perimeter public road surrounding Toyota's Fuji Speedway, I managed to move into the 4L/100km range. So Toyota's numbers are right on the money.The bottom line?The new Prius feels less like a hybrid and, well, more like a Toyota.More like a Corolla.Thanks to beefed-up torsional rigidity and revised suspension, there's better straight-line stability and braking response while the brake pedal does not suffer from that spongy feel of past regenerative brake setups.Its electrically assisted power steering has better weight and feedback when you steer into a corner, even though the predominant response is minor front-end push. It also gets a telescopic steering wheel which makes it easier to adjust and find the ideal driving position.Inside, Toyota has moved the fuel display and economy guage to the top of the dash in easier view. You also get a heads-up display which reflects in the lower section of the windscreen but in plain view to keep you up to date with your speed.Unfortunately, however, the driver's seat feels cramped due to the intrusion into the driver's knee and leg space of the rather thick and cumbersome centre console and dash.The Prius will impress many with its technological tour-de-force construction and better handling.But you still have to ask if the economy and so-so handling are enough to pinch buyers from diesel hatchbacks, without relying on the feel- good factor of a benchmark green purchase.

They won’t all be bearing the Prius nameplate – a Hybrid Camry is on the way, and will start rolling out of Toyota’s Altona plant in Victoria next year.But the Prius — the world’s first mass-produced petrol-electric hybrid vehicle — continues to do well here, with 9,300 Australian sales in 2009 showing sales are still improving year on year, and providing a solid base for the third generation Prius due here in July.Drivetrain As we all (should) know by now, the Prius uses what Toyota calls Hybrid Synergy Drive technology which utilises the benefits of its petrol engine and electric motor for optimum efficiency. The petrol engine is used for power in the high speed range and the electric motor uses its spontaneous high torque from rest.The petrol engine cuts out when the car is stationary, or under low-demand conditions like downhill driving and coasting. A regenerative system also captures energy from the brakes and stores it as battery charge. The Prius – and the Camry that will follow it – can drive for short distances on electric power alone, and the four cylinder DOHC petrol engine alone creates 57kW at 5000rpm and 115Nm at 4000rpm. Maximum output for the hybrid system adds another 25kW to 82kW.An electronically controlled continuously variable transmission gets power to the front wheels.Toyota claims that using the recommended 91 RON unleaded fuel will result in an impressive 4.4l/100kms.Exterior The Prius bob-tailed body has become something of a signature shape – and that has been a handy marketing ploy for Toyota in spreading and raising the profile of the car. So they’ve never mucked around with that, and this soon-to-be superceded second generation was merely dressed with body coloured bumpers and multi-reflector headlights, plus 15 inch alloys, a rear spoiler and a rear bumper skirt to give it a sporty touch.InteriorInside, the Prius is minimalist and mildly space-age, with a centrally positioned digital speedo and distinct lack of clutter. Otherwise there isn’t too much that sets it apart from other mid-range models in the Toyota line-up, with a tilt adjustable multi-function power steering wheel, power windows and mirrors and cruise control standard on the Prius. Map pockets, door pockets a decent centre console and cup and sunglass holders give it ample room to stow away travel nick knacks.SafetyEarning itself a five-star ANCAP crash test rating, the Prius safety feature list is impressive and includes a comprehensive airbag package, ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist and traction control.PricingThe second generation Toyota Prius is priced from $37,400. The Prius i-Tech which adds a six-stacker stereo, leather seats and wheel, Bluetooth, a satnav and vehicle stability control costs $46,900.DrivingThe Toyota Prius is an important car. It effectively kick started the whole hybrid/green sector for motor vehicles. Now 12 years old, the Prius was launched in 1997 in Japan and has effectively been the only mass-produced Hybrid up until last year.It is also possibly the only example of a significant technology that has not had its roots on the race track. It goes against the old adage that what you see on the tracks this year you will see on the streets next. This year sees the reverse with the introduction of KERS or Hybrid technology to formula One.Driving a Prius can be both fun and frustrating. The silent take-off is still novel. The Energy Monitor screen, if you leave it on, will make you either drive conservatively or annoy the hell out of you if you are accelerating up a hill. It just shows you how much you are draining the battery and the tank.The driving experience is not too different to any other medium size Japanese car. It is extremely competent and whines under acceleration. It is simply a good car with excellent packaging.It is just too expensive….. And very boring to look at. I can’t wait for the Tesla.Summary – good, ground-breaking, important. I just don’t want one

We have managed to clock up more than 6600km behind the wheel of the Prius in a three-month period.And surprisingly, in that time, the car has managed to endear itself to our family more than I could have anticipated.It is more practical than it looks and sounds, and the two-week interval between fill-ups is especially welcome.As the cost of petrol continues to soar, we'd have been reluctant to part with the car, except for the fact that Honda has offered us a hybrid Civic for comparison,For the uninitiated, Prius is one of those new fangled hybrid petrol-electric cars that runs on the smell of an oily rag, using a combination of petrol and electric power.It has an electric motor as well as a small 1.5-litre petrol engine, that work in tandem to produce a maximum 82kW.Toyota claims Prius uses up to 50 per cent less fuel than an equivalent-sized conventional car.Bold words from the Japanese company but a claim that has certainly be borne out by our family.During the last three months, we have averaged 734km from the 45-litre fuel tank, which we ran right down and refilled to the brim each time.Prius takes ordinary unleaded and the tank consumed an average 40.6 litres of petrol at each fill.During this time, our best figure for a single tank of fuel was 777km before we finally bailed and went looking for a servo.Although Prius has an elaborate trip com- puter, the one thing the car cannot tell you is distance to empty - that depends on too many factors.Prius can probably run on electric power alone for a short period but we didn't want to risk it.After 777km the car took 42 litres of fuel which still left three litres in the kitty so it probably could have made the 800km mark had we persisted.Totalling the kilometres travelled and the fuel we used for the three months, our average fuel consumption for the period was 5.52 litres per 100km.In fact, hard as we have tried, we were unable to push the car into using more than 5.7-litres per 100km.Prius is front wheel drive with a continu- ously variable (CVT) automatic transmission.The transmission performs the dual role of splitting the delivery of energy between the front wheels and generator which powers the electric motor.Any surplus energy generated is stored in the extensive battery system for later use.Braking also regenerates power, so stop-start city driving is not necessarily a bad thing.The petrol engine automatically switches off when the car is stationary or coasting.Apart from its obvious fuel economy what really impressed us about the car was how practical it actually is.We did not have high expectations but once we got used to the car's little idiosyncrasies, it quickly impressed.It's a lot bigger inside than it looks, with plenty of head and shoulder room and plenty of legroom in the back for two adults.It is classy, well finished and has a high level of standard equipment including electronic stability control.There's still room for improvement in the suspension department and the front seats are fairly flat and lifeless, but apart from that its all good.Cars such as Prius start to make more sense the higher the price of petrol goes.In fact, the higher the price the greater the saving driving cars likes this is going to be.Prius is priced from $36,500 plus on-road costs. 

The Prius is one of those new fangled hybrid petrol-electric cars from Toyota that runs on the smell of an oily rag using a combination of petrol and electric power.It has an electric motor as well as a small 1.5-litre petrol engine, that work in tandem to produce a maximum 82kW.Toyota claims the Prius uses up to 50 per cent less fuel than an equivalent-sized conventional car.Our tests so far have borne out these claims, but what has really impressed us is the practicality of the vehicle.It's a lot bigger inside than it looks, with plenty of room in the back for two adults.However, we have discovered one flaw in an otherwise spotless report card.It seems you cannot tow anything with a Prius, not a sausage – this for many will rule out the hybrid as being the main family car.When you think about it, dragging a trailer, boat or caravan behind the car is going to prevent the technology from doing its stuff?It wouldn't get a breather during which the system could go into recharge mode – it would be forced to work flat out all the time.To confirm our suspicions, we asked Toyota who in turn was forced to consult the experts back in Japan for a definitive answer.For towing, we are told, it is necessary to reinforce both body and parts which increases vehicle weight, impacting on fuel economy and mileage.It would also be necessary to increase the size of the radiator to ensure satisfactory engine cooling and the HV system, especially when towing uphill.The Prius's engine bay is not large enough to support such a large radiator, and if installed would again increase vehicle weight.So there you have it.What about a bike rack?Well, there is always the option of fitting a rack to the roof.Of course that is going to increase wind drag astronomically.We have, however, read of one inventive owner who has manufactured a rack for the back of the car. 

The Prius is one of those new fangled hybrid petrol-electric cars that runs on a combination of petrol and electric power.Toyota claims it uses up to 50 per cent less fuel than an equivalent sized conventional car.After an initial "getting to know you" period, we have found the car to be just as easy to operate as any other.At the time of writing we have just put in our second tank of gas, with fuel economy running between 5.0 and 5.5 litres per 100km.With the rising cost of fuel, the car has obviously surfaced on the radar of many motorists.Our first report was hardly fish and chips wrapper before we were contacted by one owner welcoming us to the Prius club.Ray Bickerton used to drive a Falcon but he and his wife made the switch because they are "very concerned" about pollution."Since the Prius reduces pollutant gases by 90 per cent, it seemed a logical choice to put my money where my principles are," Ray said."As a side benefit the Prius uses only a third of the fuel that the Falcon uses. When the price of fuel rises to $2 per litre as it surely will, the benefit will be very substantial."Apart from the silly space saver spare wheel, Ray has no regrets and says the car is fun to drive.But he did negotiate a full size spare for longer trips, just in case.Ray opted for the i-Tech option pack and says he wouldn't be without it now.The pack includes side and curtain airbags, vehicle stability control, Bluetooth hands-free mobile telephone compatibility, Smart Entry and Start, new generation DVD-based touch- screen satellite navigation and premium JBL audio system.Meanwhile, Mrs Riley has already chalked up a few kilometres behind the wheel of the Prius with few complaints.She particularly likes the split rear window because the lower section remains clear even in the rain.However, she's not too keen on all the questions that people have for her about the car. 

It's one of those new-fangled hybrid cars that run on a combination of petrol and electricity.Toyota has given us one for three months so we can get better acquainted with the technology.A week, which is the normal amount of time we spend in test cars, is just not long enough with this one, especially as we failed to run our first Prius dry.Given our experience with other hybrid and diesel-powered vehicles, we were half expecting to get 1000km out of a single tank.But surprisingly the low fuel light starting flashing long before this at 770km to be exact.Disappointing? No, not if you put the figure in context. The Prius only has a 45-litre fuel tank.Filling the tank to the brim, it took 39.36 litres – which means we still had a bit left in the kit.If you do the maths, that puts our fuel consumption at 5.1 litres for every 100km, or about 55 miles per gallon in the old money.Now, that's a bit more impressive.As well as a smallish 1.5-litre petrol engine, the Prius has an electric motor that provides extra power, especially during acceleration.The petrol engine delivers 57kW of power at 5000rpm and 115Nm of torque at 4000rpm, while the electric motor generates 50kW between 1200 and 1540rpm. Maximum power output, however is restricted to 82kW because the two don't hit their stride at exactly the same time.More interesting, is the torque output of the engine which is a combined 478Nm, giving the car some real punch off the line.The petrol engine automatically switches off when the car is stationary or coasting. You can even run the car for short periods and at low speed using just electric power, kind of a "stealth" mode – although we can't see any great call for this.Power is fed to the front wheels through a continuously variable (CVT) automatic trans- mission. There are no gears and therefore no discernible change points.The transmission performs the dual role of splitting the delivery of energy between the front wheels and generator which powers the electric motor.Any surplus energy generated is stored in the extensive battery system for later use.Braking also regenerates power, so stop-start city driving is not necessarily a bad thing.Toyota claims the Prius uses up to 50 per cent less petrol than an equivalent-sized conventional car and emits about half the carbon dioxide. 

This week we welcome a new member to the family, but this one is not just any car – it's one of those new fangled hybrid Prius thingies.You know - one of the futuristic cars that runs on a combination of petrol and electricity - that uses hardly any fuel.The Prius (pronounced Pree-us) is a Toyota and one of two hybrid petrol-electric cars currently available to Australian buyers.The other is the hybrid version of Honda's Civic sedan, but the Prius is by far and away the better looking of the two.Toyota claims it offers the same kind of performance and interior space as a conventional 2.0-litre car.Fuel consumption is a claimed 4.4 litres per 100km from the 45-litre tank, which gives it quite a range.It's priced from $36,500 and is pretty well equipped.The Prius looks different and, dare we say it, it even looks a little bit sporty.We reckon that's important because if you going to shell out the extra dough for one, then you're going to want people to know that you are driving something special.Esteemed motoring editor Peter Barnwell knows his cars but he wouldn't know one end of a computer from another.Everyone will tell you, however, that I'm a bit of a techno geek and, in that context, I've really been looking forward to spending some quality time behind the wheel of this car. Seeing how far it will go on a single tank and that sort of thing.We've decided that we are not going to treat the Prius differently to any other car, because if the technology is going to succeed – then it needs to fit in with our needs rather than the other way around.Getting into the car and driving it for the first time is a bit of a steep learning curve.For a start, there's no key – just a keyless entry unit that you push into a slot to the right of the steering wheel.After that there's a button to switch things on, then you need to push it again to start the engine so to speak.When we say "start the engine", there's no initial starter motor or engine noise, so it requires a leap of faith.Put your foot on the brake, select Drive and suddenly the car is in motion.We'll check back after we've filled it up for the first time.

WANT to change the world? Start now! These are the words on the side of my car, and that is what I have been trying to do for the past 30 years of my life. Now I have a real chance – by driving a second-generation Prius hybrid petrol-electric vehicle.Having been a proud and satisfied owner for the past two years of a first generation Prius, I was eagerly awaiting the snazzy-looking, laid back, hybrid synergy drive (whatever that may mean) miracle car.Well, that took place at the Investigator Science and Technology Centre a few weeks ago – and the new Prius is absolutely great.The centre is planning a new Sustainable Energy Workshop project for schools in early 2005 – and if ever there is a car that uses energy sustainably it is the new Prius.Whereas the first generation Prius used 4.7 (up to 5) litres per 100 kilometres and produced 80 per cent less emissions than standard cars, the second generation Prius uses four litres (occasionally up to 4.5 L/100km) and emits 90 per cent less emissions.With the price of crude oil reaching for the stars and three-figure prices featuring at most petrol stations, such consumption is indeed a miracle.Hybrid petrol-electric vehicles emit virtually no greenhouse gases, and their efficiency and ecological sustainability are very good.This second generation Prius is in its own way helping to fix the world.It's a great medium-sized car to drive – smooth, quiet, responsive, and it will go to Port Vincent on Yorke Peninsula at a comfortable 110 km/h.When I stop at the traffic lights the petrol engine turns off, thus saving fuel, but the electric motor is still connected so that when the lights go green I put my foot on the accelerator and off we go (initially on electric power only).When I slow down the energy that is produced is converted into electricity and stored in the battery.The battery does not have to be plugged into mains electricity.All its power comes from the car slowing down or coasting, as well as occasionally being topped up via the petrol engine.If I speed up to 60 km/h and then slightly decelerate, the electric motor switches in for quite a while, thus saving considerable amounts of fuel. I try to drive on the electric motor as much as I can.To say the least, I am indeed very happy with my Prius.Dr Barbara Hardy is a conservationist who founded the Investigator Science and Technology Centre.

Newsflash. It didn't happen.The Prius was too costly, complicated and threatening – and too much of a stretch for people who are happy to not use plastic bags to help the environment, but won't pay $40,000 for a green-power white elephant.The eco-friendly brigade were also a Honda target for the futuristic-looking Insight, which was even less practical and enjoyable than the Prius. Another loser.But times change. Hybrid cars, too. And the Prius.Toyota went back to basics with the petrol-electric concept and came up with a Prius II that makes far more sense.It could appeal to ordinary Australians intrigued by the idea of a hybrid car, wanting to do something for the environment, and who like a vehicle that's running ahead of the pack.The basics are simple: It has a small-capacity petrol engine and a battery-powered electric "booster" motor for acceleration.The new Prius is said to match the performance of a 2.4-litre Camry, getting to 100km/h in 11 seconds, with overall fuel consumption that's around half the family car's.The hatchback has much more space inside, a Star Wars-style dashboard that includes an instant readout of the hybrid system, and a price of $36,990 – a $3000 cut – to lift showroom appeal.The car now seats five adults and the drag co-efficient has been slashed to an impressive 0.26, against the 0.30-0.32 of most production cars.The value is even better, thanks to everything from electric aircon and steering to cruise control and satellite navigation.Toyota is trumpeting a customer benefit that adds up to about $5000, making an $8000 overall increase in value.The new deal already looks to be working, at least compared with the original Prius.That car was really only a novelty for government departments and educational groups, and it's reflected in tiny sales – 200 cars in two years – and rock-bottom resale prices.But the new Prius is going pretty well in showrooms, with sales of 91 cars in November, compared with 16 for the same month in 2002 with the old model.The Prius will face a new challenge soon when Honda introduces its own second-generation hybrid, a petrol-electric Civic that makes far more sense than the quirky Insight.But for now, its biggest battle is to convince ordinary Australians, not just the greenies, that hybrid power is sensible and cost-effective.On the roadOur first drive in the Prius II was a 15-minute cruise around Taren Point, up the road from Toyota Australia's Sydney base.First impressions? It was surprisingly brisk, very roomy, and had styling that helps to emphasise its breakthrough hybrid drive.It didn't make the sort of noises we expect for a car so brisk, with a very subdued engine note, but it did the job.When Toyota launched the car, it trumpeted its radical self-parking system, not yet approved for Australia. And it used Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, the ABC's resident egghead and the man who warns about the dangers of a ¿micro-sleep¿ on the road, to explain the technology.But it was still the car that starred, and we were keen to get one home.Now, after a week with the Prius, we are fans. There are still some bugs, but this Prius is the first hybrid we'd be happy to recommend.The bugs The power steering feels odd, with not enough feedback in corners and a generally woolly' feeling that the suspension angles are wrong.The battery pack means the boot is fairly shallow.And the work on cutting drag and noise means the Prius is extremely quiet – unless a Kenworth truck rattles past your ear, when it can sound as if it's coming in through the door.Still, it's a massive leap forward from the original Prius.That car, to our thinking, was an over-complicated Corolla with a $40,000 price tag, a compromised cabin and boot, and not enough bells and whistles to lure people who rush to have anything new.We don't claim to fully understand the new Prius, except to know it has a baby engine that gets more than enough extra oomph from its battery pack when you want it.It also uses far less petrol and its tailpipe emissions are among the cleanest in the business.What we wanted to know was how it drives.The answer is that it drives pretty well. It gets along surprisingly swiftly, has good overtaking power and strong brakes, and is very, very quiet at all times and all speeds – unless you are rattled by a Kenworth.The only shortcoming is the suspension, which feels under-damped and has settings that would be better in Japan.We've come to expect a firm but compliant ride on local Toyotas, but the Prius is a generation behind.We were also captivated by the roomy cabin, comfy seats, all the standard equipment and a design inside and out that's a bit edgy.The overall shape of the five-door hatch is trendy but not extreme, while the cabin treatment has a funky central display for the hybrid system, satnav, aircon and entertainment.There's a sporty-ish wheel, plenty of storage space and new plastic trims that look more advanced than your average family Toyota.We also liked the way the hybrid drive works so well but gives no real signs of its operation.You can get easily distracted by the dashboard display, which has flashing arrows and revolving wheels and all sorts of colours.Still, we think it's a winner and want to get a car for a longer-term look at what's emerging as the future of motoring.