The latest from the track
The redesigned Prius is still tops in fuel economy
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Instead of testing a group of competing vehicles for this issue, we are featuring tests of new and redesigned vehicles from a variety of groups that are hot off our test track.
Appearing in this issue are the redesigned and more substantial Toyota Prius; the long-anticipated redesign of the Chevrolet Equinox small SUV; the small, boxy Nissan Cube wagon; the redesigned Subaru Outback wagon; and the Chrysler-based Volkswagen Routan minivan (all available to subscribers).
Long the standard-bearer for hybrid cars, the redesigned Prius has a larger engine and is heavier than the previous version, but it still averages the same 44 mpg overall and is still the most fuel-efficient car you can buy. The third-generation Prius also has a steady ride, an improved rear-seating area, and easy access.
But the redesign is tuned differently: Highway fuel economy has improved to 55 mpg from 50 mpg, but city mileage, at 32 mpg, is not as high as the 35 mpg of its predecessor. Our Prius IV cost us $26,750; a more typical Prius II costs $22,750. Previous incarnations of the Prius have had excellent reliability, and we expect the same of this version.
The redesigned Equinox is much improved over the previous version and is now competitive in its category, although it's still not on par with the category leaders, the Toyota RAV4 and Subaru Forester. We bought a 1LT four-cylinder, which cost us $26,350, and a 2LT V6, for which we paid $31,780. Because it is a new design, we do not have reliability data for the Equinox and cannot recommend it.
Subaru redesigned its Legacy and Outback models for 2010. The Japanese automaker intends to better differentiate the Outback from its platform-mate sedan with more rugged styling. We paid $30,099 for ours. Previous nonturbo Outbacks have had above-average reliability, and we expect the same for the new one.
The Cube is the latest to join the genre of small, boxy wagons that began with the Scion xB and now includes the Kia Soul. We found it to be a space-efficient runabout, but overall it's not up with the other two. We paid $16,790 for ours. We do not yet have reliability data for the Cube.
The Volkswagen Routan is essentially a Chrysler minivan with some modifications, such as slightly firmer suspension and different interior details. It cost us $36,215. We have insufficient data for the Routan, but the Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country have had much-below-average reliability. We expect the same for the Routan.
