Not an expert on hybrids, but I'm pretty sure that the electric motor doesn't actually do anything at higher speeds. The motor assists in acceleration, braking, and at low speeds, I think. So at high speeds, when it's all the gas engine, I'd imagine that the heavy battery and extra motor would indeed reduce mileage. So this test doesn't really prove much, since the Prius isn't supposed to be a high speed car - it reduces the cost in terms of everyday driving, especially when idling.
prius mite not be a great car bt remember that all hybrid tech came from it. its not only japan germany has a lot of hybrids aswell why dont top gear say anything about them.... top gear is a fucking biased show... very funny though bt very biased....
@MrNipsi of course they're biased. But they NEVER try make it appear as they're not. Which is part of the fun. When it comes to britsh cars, they ALLWAYS defend them, even though they know them to be rubbish!
They also have to be biased towards cars, they are after all a car show
@aznxthuggie He's British. They pronounce words different. It's ok, I'm sure there's plenty of other people who never heard of that fact before either... oh wait... no.
@Brianiare True; it's not that I love the Prius or believe it's so great. I drive an Astra G dTI 1.7. It's really economical and almost fun to drive. Just sadly can't afford to run a much better car or I'd have a MkII MR2 if it were my way...
320ds are brilliantly balanced for fuel and power!
@Brianiare Indeed... But that's what I mean - if you want to thrash a car around, why on earth would you pick a Prius? I have seen loads of Prius' and people drive pretty them pretty normally. The guy who lives opposite has one in fact and used to be a pit crew for a pro racing team. But when he goes out for the best ride on the road, he has a really nice sports bike...
Also, with congestion charge, insurance and tax purposes you save even more. :S
That was a lame test. M3 sitting in the Prius' slipstream for 10 laps. The Prius is also gunning at higher revs in a 'race' situation (not what it was made or setup for) who would buy a Prius for speed anyway? You don't have to rev most engines hard to get up to speed, just be gradual...
Take them for a run around the M25 and through some London traffic then we'll see...
I'd pick an M3 any day of the week of course, but the test was simply ridiculous.
..also the handling restrictions of the Prius compared to the M3 means that on the track, it's on yet another disadvantage, having to brake more for corners, then build it's speed back up, while the M3 is can coast behind it, brake later at the next corner (or not at all) and by the time it's exiting the corner, the Prius is still struggling to get away. It's not MEANT to be a performance car :S
@Ch1Frequency Obviously it's barely a factor at that speed, but over 10 laps and considering, there are good straights on that course where the Prius can get up to speed, the Prius has to cut through while the M3 gets to use even less power. Drag always plays a role in some form or another.
@dariunas Yes... drag... it's supposed to be a big role... but the prius it's supposed to be so economical that aerodinamics shouldn't be that much on a issue... besides, a golf diesel consumes less fuel, produces less polution and is more powerful, what's the point of the prius? oh, and the golf wond contaminate for the mines to get the materials or the disposal of the batteries when they die!
@dariunas Not really, the test goes to show how you drive your car determines how much gas mileage you will get, not because you get a hybrid it will get 40+ mpg
@WhiteGangster400 That's very true and I actually agree. It just seems that a lot of people seemed to jump on it as 'BMW more economical than Toyota Prius' :\ Although Jeremy says exactly what you did at the end of it, a more straightforward test would be to 'time attack' a few laps, then do the same number of laps, driving as economically as possible.
But then, this is Top Gear; it's a little bit crazy and I guess that's why it entertains us :)
@dariunas That's what people assume when they heard that the BMW got more mileage than the prius but they ignore the main point Jeremy is trying to get across. I think people are just stupid or distracted by the results.
the M3 got nearly what it's highway rating for fuel economy is. Does that mean that a Prius at full throttle is equivalent to average highway driving? I bet the Prius would get better mileage if it had a slightly more powerful, yet still efficient engine for the gas half. Then you wouldn't have to drive around at full throttle just to keep up with bicyclists. The only thing I hate more than priuses is prius drivers.
NOT a fair test. The Prius has a CVT transmission. The way the Prius was being driven would be equivalent to the m3 being driven in 2nd gear around the track, but surprise surprise the m3 was in it's final gear keeping it's revs nice and low. So think about it, here you have a m3 that uses as much gas driving normal as a Prius uses when driven hard...that's what was proved.
ITs a fair test............. Shtity cars like the toyota prius have to be reved hard to get up to speed.Thats what ya get for having a pethetic engine like that. Drive a M3 carefully its not exactly economical but its not bad either
@Adrian4567 The engine has nothing to do with this test, it's all in the transmission. Again, all this proved is that a m3 at best uses as much fuel as a Prius at it's worst. That's also with the m3 hiding behind the Prius the whole time....which ofcourse is where it belongs anyways.
Anybody notice at 1:45 that they drive by 3 times repeatedly without the clouds moving? LOL
Blushikami 3 weeks ago 3
Not an expert on hybrids, but I'm pretty sure that the electric motor doesn't actually do anything at higher speeds. The motor assists in acceleration, braking, and at low speeds, I think. So at high speeds, when it's all the gas engine, I'd imagine that the heavy battery and extra motor would indeed reduce mileage. So this test doesn't really prove much, since the Prius isn't supposed to be a high speed car - it reduces the cost in terms of everyday driving, especially when idling.
khamjaninja 1 month ago
"It doesn't matter what you drive, it's HOW you drive it!"
Dragonfanatic 2 months ago
prius mite not be a great car bt remember that all hybrid tech came from it. its not only japan germany has a lot of hybrids aswell why dont top gear say anything about them.... top gear is a fucking biased show... very funny though bt very biased....
MrNipsi 2 months ago
@MrNipsi of course they're biased. But they NEVER try make it appear as they're not. Which is part of the fun. When it comes to britsh cars, they ALLWAYS defend them, even though they know them to be rubbish!
They also have to be biased towards cars, they are after all a car show
supperaadet 3 weeks ago
Yeah, do the test again in a downtown area, compare the results.
jakeroot2 2 months ago
its a heavy battery
mb013962 2 months ago
The Toyota 'Pry-yus' ??!!!
ale03000 3 months ago
m3 uses slip-stream!!!
OXiG96 5 months ago 12
@OXiG96
that's a good point, but one would expect the M3 to have far lower MPG. Even a regular 3 series
BrnoutJerzey 4 months ago
@BrnoutJerzey how it is possible?
OXiG96 4 months ago
@OXiG96
not sure what you're asking
BrnoutJerzey 4 months ago
@OXiG96 At this speed it is pointless to slip stream. It could even create more drag due to air turbulence. There is no advantage at all for the M3
ongwh 3 months ago
@ongwh it was just a joke
OXiG96 3 months ago
@ongwh
Very true. The only advantage the M3 has is that it's a much better car in every way.
voiceoftruth2006 2 months ago
@OXiG96 the two vehicles both benefit from a slipstream silly
LLCoolPass 2 weeks ago
Why does he keep saying "pry-us"? It's "pree-us"!
aznxthuggie 5 months ago
@aznxthuggie He's British. They pronounce words different. It's ok, I'm sure there's plenty of other people who never heard of that fact before either... oh wait... no.
mjohnson13053 5 months ago
@mjohnson13053
ah i see. I was under the impression that prius was a word developed by toyota. Didn't know anything about it prior..... hehe
aznxthuggie 5 months ago
hello 240p, we meet again
hamz0rs17 6 months ago 23
@Brianiare True; it's not that I love the Prius or believe it's so great. I drive an Astra G dTI 1.7. It's really economical and almost fun to drive. Just sadly can't afford to run a much better car or I'd have a MkII MR2 if it were my way...
320ds are brilliantly balanced for fuel and power!
dariunas 6 months ago
@Brianiare Indeed... But that's what I mean - if you want to thrash a car around, why on earth would you pick a Prius? I have seen loads of Prius' and people drive pretty them pretty normally. The guy who lives opposite has one in fact and used to be a pit crew for a pro racing team. But when he goes out for the best ride on the road, he has a really nice sports bike...
Also, with congestion charge, insurance and tax purposes you save even more. :S
dariunas 6 months ago
That was a lame test. M3 sitting in the Prius' slipstream for 10 laps. The Prius is also gunning at higher revs in a 'race' situation (not what it was made or setup for) who would buy a Prius for speed anyway? You don't have to rev most engines hard to get up to speed, just be gradual...
Take them for a run around the M25 and through some London traffic then we'll see...
I'd pick an M3 any day of the week of course, but the test was simply ridiculous.
dariunas 7 months ago 3
..also the handling restrictions of the Prius compared to the M3 means that on the track, it's on yet another disadvantage, having to brake more for corners, then build it's speed back up, while the M3 is can coast behind it, brake later at the next corner (or not at all) and by the time it's exiting the corner, the Prius is still struggling to get away. It's not MEANT to be a performance car :S
dariunas 7 months ago 2
@dariunas Slipstream at 40mph... right.
Ch1Frequency 4 months ago 3
Comment removed
dariunas 4 months ago
@Ch1Frequency Obviously it's barely a factor at that speed, but over 10 laps and considering, there are good straights on that course where the Prius can get up to speed, the Prius has to cut through while the M3 gets to use even less power. Drag always plays a role in some form or another.
dariunas 4 months ago
@dariunas Yes... drag... it's supposed to be a big role... but the prius it's supposed to be so economical that aerodinamics shouldn't be that much on a issue... besides, a golf diesel consumes less fuel, produces less polution and is more powerful, what's the point of the prius? oh, and the golf wond contaminate for the mines to get the materials or the disposal of the batteries when they die!
Ch1Frequency 4 months ago
@dariunas Not really, the test goes to show how you drive your car determines how much gas mileage you will get, not because you get a hybrid it will get 40+ mpg
WhiteGangster400 4 months ago
@WhiteGangster400 That's very true and I actually agree. It just seems that a lot of people seemed to jump on it as 'BMW more economical than Toyota Prius' :\ Although Jeremy says exactly what you did at the end of it, a more straightforward test would be to 'time attack' a few laps, then do the same number of laps, driving as economically as possible.
But then, this is Top Gear; it's a little bit crazy and I guess that's why it entertains us :)
dariunas 4 months ago
@dariunas That's what people assume when they heard that the BMW got more mileage than the prius but they ignore the main point Jeremy is trying to get across. I think people are just stupid or distracted by the results.
WhiteGangster400 4 months ago
the M3 got nearly what it's highway rating for fuel economy is. Does that mean that a Prius at full throttle is equivalent to average highway driving? I bet the Prius would get better mileage if it had a slightly more powerful, yet still efficient engine for the gas half. Then you wouldn't have to drive around at full throttle just to keep up with bicyclists. The only thing I hate more than priuses is prius drivers.
BluesShredGuru 9 months ago
NOT a fair test. The Prius has a CVT transmission. The way the Prius was being driven would be equivalent to the m3 being driven in 2nd gear around the track, but surprise surprise the m3 was in it's final gear keeping it's revs nice and low. So think about it, here you have a m3 that uses as much gas driving normal as a Prius uses when driven hard...that's what was proved.
smokedame 1 year ago
@smokedame
ITs a fair test............. Shtity cars like the toyota prius have to be reved hard to get up to speed.Thats what ya get for having a pethetic engine like that. Drive a M3 carefully its not exactly economical but its not bad either
Adrian4567 1 year ago
@Adrian4567 The engine has nothing to do with this test, it's all in the transmission. Again, all this proved is that a m3 at best uses as much fuel as a Prius at it's worst. That's also with the m3 hiding behind the Prius the whole time....which ofcourse is where it belongs anyways.
smokedame 1 year ago
@smokedame POINT OF THE VIDEO
RenegadeFury 9 months ago
@RenegadeFury umm, NO!
smokedame 9 months ago
What is the music playing while they're running around the track? Anyone?
Thanks for posting.
4fsake 1 year ago