The 2012 Prius standard model returns in four levels of trim, labeled with little pretense, Prius Two, Three, Four, and Five. (There’s also a Prius One model intended exclusively for rental and commercial fleets.) Styling differences among the standard models are slight and run mostly to wheel types, with 17-inch wheels on the Prius Five and 15s on the others. The dealer-installed Plus Performance accessory package includes 17-inch wheels with wider tires, a handling-tuned suspension lowered more than an inch, and aerodynamic ground-effects body addenda.
The 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid models comes in two trim levels, base and Advanced. They differ visually from the standard Prius in the ways mentioned above and also have slightly different 15-inch wheels. The Plug-in Hybrid is a nominal 123 pounds heavier than the standard Prius due to its onboard charging system and larger battery pack.
All versions of the 2012 Toyota Prius employ a combination of gasoline and electric power. Toyota calls the system Hybrid Synergy Drive. It propels the car by drawing on gas or electric power individually or in combination, automatically mixing and matching to balance the demand for acceleration with the goal of conserving fuel.
The gas engine in both the standard and Plug-in Prius is a1.8-liter four-cylinder. It teams with two small electric motors for a combined output of 134 horsepower. The transmission is a continuously variable automatic, and with either car, drivers who use the Prius for frequent short trips and local driving will realize the biggest reduction in gasoline usage.
Here’s how they work: Battery charge permitting, both Prius types are capable of moving at around-town speeds on electric power alone. They can further save gas by automatically shutting off the engine while the car is stopped and restarting it when the driver depresses the accelerator pedal. The Hybrid Synergy Drive system uses the engine and regenerative braking to recharge the onboard battery pack. Their different battery type is the primary distinction between the standard Prius and the Plug-in Hybrid.
In the standard 2012 Prius, the energy-storage system employs nickel-metal hydride batteries. There is no plug-in capability, and ultimate range is determined principally by how much gas is in the 11.9-gallon tank. The standard Prius can travel about 1 mile and reach 40 mph or so on electricity alone. It has a combined gas-electric range of 536 miles.
By contrast, the 2012 Toyota Prius Plug-in expands Hybrid Synergy Drive technology via a lithium-ion battery that can store an initial charge that enables all-electric operation of 13 miles and up to 60 mph. For longer distances, the Prius Plug-in reverts to “standard” hybrid mode and operates like a regular Prius. It has a 10.6-gallon fuel tank and a combined gas-electric range of 540 miles.
The 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid comes with a 24-foot cable that plugs into a port on the car’s right rear fender. Connected to a household-type 120-volt connector, it takes approximately three hours to fully charge the Prius Plug-in Hybrid battery. Toyota encourages owners to install a special 240-volt charging station that uses the same cable and port but can cut charging time in half. The fender port is illuminated for nighttime charging. A timer can be set for start and end times and allows charging during off-peak-rate hours.
(Lithium-ion batteries, by the way, are the next advance in gas-electric automobile systems principally because they’re more compact relative to nickel-metal batteries and can better satisfy the large swings in charging and discharging demanded by plug-in and pure-electric vehicles. Lithium ion batteries are actually less expensive than nickel-metal batteries in terms of materials but more expensive in terms of production costs.)
Our test drives of both the standard Prius and the Plug-in Hybrid model reveals performance that’s sufficient for any driving need, though acceleration from a stop can be lazy, steering feel is artificial, and handling is by no means sporty.
The 2012 Toyota Prius gets a nice range of updated features, highlighted by expanded connectivity via the newly available Toyota Entune system. Entune is a collection of popular mobile applications and data services. It comes with three years complimentary access.
Once a smartphone is connected using Bluetooth wireless technology or a USB cable, Entune operates through the vehicle’s controls or, for some services, through voice recognition. Entune offers mobile apps for Bing, iHeartRadio, MovieTickets.com, OpenTable, and Pandora Internet radio. Data services include a fuel price guide, sports scores, stocks, traffic and weather. Entune is standard on every 2012 Prius except the Two model.
Among new features in the standard Prius line, the Three model now comes with remote entry and pushbutton start. The Prius Four gets standard auto on/off headlamps, a power driver’s seat, and replaces the 2011 version’s standard leather upholstery with Toyota’s lighter-weight SofTex upholstery.
The 2012 Prius Two, Three, and Four models also have new standard audio/infotainment systems. The Prius Two gets a 6.1-inch audio-touchscreen system with a USB interface for iPod connectivity, plus Bluetooth hands-free phone connectivity and audio streaming. The display also provides the aforementioned vehicle information.
The 2012 Prius Three adds as standard a GPS navigation system that uses the 6.1-inch screen and incorporates Entune. It also includes a rearview camera, SiriusXM satellite radio capability, HD Radio with iTunes tagging, and text-to-speech that reads aloud incoming text messages and answers with programmed and customizable text responses. The 2012 Prius Four model includes that system plus an upgraded eight-speaker audio array with energy-conserving JBL GreenEdge technology.
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