A high point in the hatchback market is the Toyota Prius. In 2009 Toyota rolled out an upgraded version of the Prius with two versions: Touring and Base. Sales for the Prius, especially the Prius Touring, were brisk during 2009 and 2010. The improved reliability and the updated styling were responsible for the increased interest.

Stop and Go

The restyled Prius Touring is equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that utilizes 16 valves. The engine is mated to a N/A four-speed transaxle. This has resulted in an increase in horsepower and torque over the 2008 version.

The Prius uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are drum. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The car uses coil and coil springs front and rear respectively.

Statistics

The dimensions of the Prius Touring are 71.70 inches wide by 189.20 inches long. It sits 57.90 inches off the ground. It seats a standard five passengers, with 4 doors. The wheelbase of 109.30 allows for extra leg room for the rear passengers.

The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $19,770 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $18,088. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 4-door Hatchback.

Fuel Efficiency

The fuel system for the 2009 Prius is a traditional SFI, running on ELECTRIC/GAS fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 18.50 gallons.

The Prius Touring received a miles-per-gallon rating of twenty one in-city driving and thirty one when it came to highway driving. Being a electric/gas-powered green car, this was within normal parameters.

Parting Shots

The 2008 model began the promise of the Toyota Prius. The 2009 expanded on this success and has proven to be a strong seller in most markets. Even with strong competition from other manufacturers Toyota hopes that the Prius Touring will continue to be a profitable vehicle.

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Tags: 4-Door, Hatchback, Touring, Toyota Prius, United States market

This entry was posted on Sunday, February 8th, 2009 at 1:42 pm and is filed under 2009, Prius, Toyota. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.