[Test Drive] 'Fuel Efficiency King' Even with Casual Driving... The Enhanced 'Prius AWD'

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Driving offers various pleasures. Recently, more people have been finding joy in fuel efficiency. When it comes to fuel efficiency, the vehicle that comes to mind is Toyota's 'Prius,' which landed in Korea this March as an electronic all-wheel drive (AWD) facelift model. It adds style to the 4th generation Prius. This is also the first AWD model for the Prius. We experienced the improved Prius AWD on a round trip from Seocho-dong, Seoul to Botong Reservoir in Gyeonggi Province.

The first impression of the Prius AWD was that it felt much smoother. The headlamps have become sleeker, but the front bumper gained volume. Additionally, the trapezoidal shape extending to the lower bumper creates a wide stance, giving a more stable atmosphere.

The interior has not changed much. The unique Prius layout, with the instrument cluster located in the center of the dashboard rather than in front of the driver, remains. Because it is elongated horizontally, it does not obstruct the driver's view and delivers a lot of information.

A downside is that it does not support navigation. Connectivity features like Apple CarPlay or Android Auto are also not supported. When you get in the car, be sure to bring a smartphone that supports navigation separately.

The second row is more spacious than expected. Adults sitting there have ample knee and headroom. The trunk is also spacious and can be folded 60:40, making it sufficient for a family of four on a trip. However, due to the battery located under the seat, the second-row seat position is slightly higher.

The true charm of the Prius AWD can be felt when you start the engine. AWD is a model with an additional electric motor at the rear of the vehicle. Depending on driving conditions, it distributes torque between the front and rear wheels up to a maximum of 40:60. When starting from a stop, the rear wheels also move, resulting in quick acceleration. Of course, during normal driving, it runs on the front wheels only to maximize fuel efficiency.

The drive modes supported include Normal mode, Eco mode, Power mode, and EV mode. EV mode can only be used when a certain amount of charge is available and is activated only below 40 km/h. It allows the vehicle to run purely on electricity, further maximizing fuel efficiency. Once the speed exceeds 40 km/h, EV mode is automatically deactivated, so after setting it, no further adjustments are needed.

The combined fuel efficiency of the Prius AWD is 20.9 km/L. Although this is lower than the two-wheel drive model (22.4 km/L), actual driving showed that this figure is almost insignificant given the remarkably high fuel efficiency demonstrated.

On the stretch to Botong Reservoir in Eco mode, the measured fuel efficiency was 26.1 km/L, and on the return trip in Normal mode, it was 26.9 km/L. Even though the driving was somewhat aggressive for performance testing, the numbers were high. Interestingly, the fuel efficiency was higher in Normal mode, likely because more time was spent in congested areas. Due to the nature of the hybrid system, its true value is realized in city driving with regenerative braking rather than high-speed driving, which was directly experienced.

From the driving experience, it seems the Prius AWD would be the best choice for office workers with long commutes, housewives picking up children, or those who mostly drive in the city for errands. Being an AWD model, it offers more stability on snowy, icy, or rainy roads. Additionally, as an eco-friendly hybrid model, it benefits from up to 2.6 million KRW in tax reductions including acquisition tax cuts, as well as discounts on urban congestion charges and public parking fees, which is another advantage.

The hybrid system warranty period is 5 years or 80,000 km, and the warranty for the body, general parts, engine, and major powertrain components is 3 years or 100,000 km. The price of the Prius AWD, reflecting a 70% reduction in individual consumption tax, is 36.93 million KRW.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.