2017 Toyota Prius

we say: Fourth-generation Prius has uPPed the cool quotient, but is it enough to want one?

- Debabrata Sarkar

This is a name that has become synonymous with hybrid cars. The Prius is to hybrids what Bisleri is to bottled water or Xerox is to photocopying machines. Toyota may have another hybrid on sale in India, the Camry, but I’m pretty sure when the Camry owner has to explain his new car to his buddies there is a mention of ‘like the Prius’, thrown in at some point. This is with good reason – the Prius went on sale in 1997, the time when no one knew, had heard or cared about reducing emissions. It looked rather ordinary, but then, the second-generation one in 2004 corrected that bit. In fact, it is the same basic design that is seen even in this fourth-gen car. Yes, it is shuriken-sharp compared to the older cars and has all sorts of LEDs and builds on its promise of efficiency.

The sharp headlamps and tail-lamps caught my eye even in a parking lot full of Toyotas of all shapes and sizes. And there are more slashes and curves on its body panels than the best rendition of a space ship from Hollywood. Unlike the blue and white we’ve been so used to seeing, this one wears a dashing red. This incredible turnaround in appeal, without losing the essence of the Prius, is quite an achievement. The fact that the tail gate with its layered glass panels is still instantly recognisable, despite all the other changes, point to a job well done.