 |
|
|
|
|
IN THIS REPORT |
|
|
| • | Overview |
| • | Quick Recommendations |
| • | Ratings |
| • | Compare models |
| • | Hybrid-car preview |
| • | Toyota Prius |
| • | Chevrolet Malibu |
| • | Mitsubishi Galant |
| • | Suzuki Verona |
| • | Dodge Stratus |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Affordable
family cars: The hybrid grows up |
 |
|
 |
 |
| Photos by Tracey Kroll | |
|
 |
 Toyota Prius |
|
 |
|
| Chevrolet Malibu |
|
 |
|
| Mitsubishi Galant |
|
 |
|
| Suzuki Verona |
|
 |
|
| Dodge Stratus |
Achieving 44 mpg overall in our tests and with near-zero emissions, according to the California Air Resources Board, the redesigned Toyota Prius hybrid car scored well enough in our testing to be named our Top Pick in the Green Car category in our April 2004 auto reports. Its gas mileage is the highest we've recorded in a five-passenger vehicle.
The Prius also outscored the 4 midsized family sedans here and finished sixth out of the 15 similarly priced sedans we've tested (see the Ratings).
If fuel economy and clean emissions are a priority, the Prius's attributes in these areas combined with its roomy interior, five-passenger seating, and hatchback versatility make it a good alternative to many conventional small or midsized sedans.
However, if you want an excellent all-around family sedan regardless of fuel economy, there are several models, such as the four-cylinder versions of the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Mazda6, and Nissan Altima, that are similarly priced and have scored better overall in our tests. The overall fuel economy of those four vehicles ranged from 22 to 24 mpg.
A hybrid vehicle couples an electric motor with a gasoline engine to boost fuel economy and provide cleaner emissions. The Prius uses a 76-hp, 1.5-liter gas engine and a 67-hp electric motor. In contrast to dedicated electric vehicles, hybrids do not need to be plugged in for recharging; the batteries recharge as the car is being driven.
This version of the Prius uses Toyota's second-generation hybrid technology. The car is a significant improvement over the first version, with more interior space, quicker acceleration, better gas mileage, and cleaner emissions, all for about the same price. With optional side and head-protection air bags, our Prius stickered at $22,052. In contrast to the Honda Civic Hybrid sedan, which got 36 mpg overall and uses a smaller electric motor to provide a power boost for the gas engine, the Prius can operate on electric or gasoline power or both, depending on the driving conditions. Overall the scores for the Prius and Civic Hybrid are very close.
For this report we pitted the Prius against four-cylinder versions of the 2004 Chevrolet Malibu, Mitsubishi Galant, and Dodge Stratus, and the new six-cylinder Suzuki Verona. As-tested prices ranged from $18,299 for the Verona to $22,052 for the Prius.
With good road manners and a spacious interior, the Malibu's overall score was only slightly lower than that of the Prius. When we tested the Malibu's V6 version for the January 2004 issue, its 200-hp engine achieved a very good 26 mpg overall, better than any other V6 cars and most four-cylinder models we've tested. For this report we tested a base Malibu with a 145-hp four-cylinder that got 24 mpg overall--2 mpg less than the V6.
The other three cars in this group scored significantly lower than the Prius and Malibu. The Galant, which was redesigned for 2004, is a sound car with good acceleration and a smooth transmission. But it lacks the ride comfort, refinement, and interior quality of the best in this class.
Introduced for 2004, the Verona is an example of the modern global auto economy. The car is built by Daewoo as the successor to the discontinued Daewoo Leganza. But because Daewoo cars are no longer sold in the U.S., Suzuki sells it here as the Verona. GM, which owns a significant percentage of both Daewoo and Suzuki, sells the car in Canada as the Chevrolet Epica. For a relatively low $18,299, the Verona comes with a long list of standard features, including a six-cylinder engine. As an overall package, however, the Verona doesn't compare well with most other midsized sedans or even with the better small sedans.
The Dodge Stratus has received a few tweaks since its last redesign for 2001. The improvements haven't gone far enough to bring the Stratus up to current standards. The car handles securely, but the cabin is noisy, the ride is uncomfortable, and access is a chore.