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"Yountville, California \u2014 With hybrids getting closer to mainstream, they&amp;#039;re just going to embarrass what we once considered conventional cars. The third-generation Toyota Prius is an excellent case in point. It&amp;#039;s a tad longer (0.6-in. overall) than the car it replaces. Its dohc 16-valve engine is larger (1.8 liters versus the previous 1.5). Its gasoline-electric hybrid combination is more powerful (a blended 134 bhp versus the second generation&amp;#039;s 110). The car is even a skosh heavier (by perhaps 110 lb.). Yet its EPA fuel economy jumps to 51 mpg highway/48 mpg city/50 mpg combined versus the previous generation&amp;#039;s 48 city/45 highway/47 combined.   Is this magic?   No, just extremely thoughtful engineering.   The paradox of engine size is easiest to resolve. The 1.8 has more torque and operates generally at lower rpm \u2014 and revs aren&amp;#039;t free.   Other engine enhancements include an elimination of accessory drive belts. (The air conditioning compressor and water pump are both electrical.) Exhaust heat is routed to heat engine coolant, thus cutting warmup time and prompting quicker hybrid interaction.   Improvements to the car&amp;#039;s Hybrid Synergy Drive are also in evidence. Both electric motors (the one, primarily a generator; the other, for Prius propulsion) are more compact. Altogether, the power control unit/inverter, motors and transaxle are 20 percent lighter than those of the second generation. The car&amp;#039;s nickel/metal-hydride battery pack has increased output yet is more compact. (Hybrid factoids: Replacement of previous-generation Prius batteries \u2014 some, in taxis with more than 300,000 miles \u2014 has been all but insignificant. Crash damage and aftermarket modifier sales predominate. Toyota offers a $200 bounty on packs.)   Aerodynamic improvements are summed up in a 0.25 drag coefficient, down from an already impressive 0.26. Subtleties abound: The razor edges of front and rear fascias, for instance, help control airflow; they&amp;#039;re not simply styling aspects. Particular attention is paid to underbody flow, even to two smallish fins, located between the rear wheels, that enhance directional stability and reduce drag. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a14605/2010-toyota-prius-2/>