Interactive Review: 2012 Toyota Prius Four

I admit being a fan of the Prius. The hard plastics are an obvious cost cutting measure. The seats are synthetic leather.

i can't imagine being stuck in one of these things.

They are very quiet until you put your foot into it. Handling is terrible in my view.

Just purchased a Prius V 3. Traded an 07 Lucerne plus 13k.

It isn't as confortable as the Buhog. But the build quality is far superior to anything that ever came from Detroit.

@Oldsmoboi, Compared to the wallowy Buick, the Prius V handles like a Can-Am racer.

Just a different kind of bad.

They are very quiet until you put your foot into it. Handling is terrible in my view.

They are noisy when you stick your foot into it.. Want more sound deading.

Handling isn't terrible. I drive it like a normal car, not a sports car.

They are very quiet until you put your foot into it. Handling is terrible in my view.

They are noisy when you stick your foot into it.. Want more sound deading.

Handling isn't terrible. I drive it like a normal car, not a sports car.

Just about any "normal" family sedan will handle better, ride better, and drive better IMHO. I believe a large part of the issue is the tires they fit on the Pruis. They're relatively narrow and low rolling resistance.

mudmonster, on , said:

Oldsmoboi, on , said:

They are very quiet until you put your foot into it. Handling is terrible in my view.

They are noisy when you stick your foot into it.. Want more sound deading.

Handling isn't terrible. I drive it like a normal car, not a sports car.

Just about any "normal" family sedan will handle better, ride better, and drive better IMHO. I believe a large part of the issue is the tires they fit on the Pruis. They're relatively narrow and low rolling resistance.

Yes, the low-rolling resistance tires.. I think it rides ok, however the noise isn't pleasant.

I think I would rather have a Kia Rondo.

I like the Kia Rondo too! RIP, poor Rondo. I took a short drive in the Ford C-Max, and I liked that a lot too.

As for the Prius, it's been crossed off the shopping list because the wife doesn't like the visibility out back, just from sitting in the car on the dealer lot. I would be curious to Mr. Monster's observations regarding visibility in day-to-day driving. The Prius is still on my mom's shopping list, and my parents live in a hilly area. If Mr. Monster is able to drive any hills, I'd like to know how it performs. I'm assuming from your "November 9, 2012" update that it would require a foot to the floor to keep up with traffic on a hill.

I would take a CMax if I had to have a hybrid. The Prius is just not good looking, the performance just isn't there, interior materials seem and feel cheap and the rear visibility just plain sucks. And my 2008 Detroit product Impala's interior is holding up far better than many 2008 used Prius interiors I have sat in including mis-aligned glove box doors, worn off silver trim, loose center consoles and trim pieces and cheap carpet. Not one thing is worn or loose in my 100K Chevy!