Before we start, the picture below shows some of the vehicle settings that can be changed via the touch screen. I’m sure we are only one or two versions away from being able to upload your own alarm sound to your car. As you can see, you can set the car to lock the doors when you go from “Park” to “Drive.” It’s about time cars can be configured like your phone or TV.

But I digress.

Entune is basically Toyota’s answer to Microsoft’s SYNC, which is to say, it’s an online connection and user interface for your car. To use it, you must first download the Entune app (iOS or Android) and have it running on your phone with the bluetooth active on your phone.

According to the Engadget review of Entune, the Entune firmware simply is like a browser that shows what the app in your phone is feeding to the car via bluetooth. I don’t think this is true. It would be too slow for all the icons and images to be uploaded in real time. It’s possible that those static items are preloaded and just the positioning is controlled by the app on the phone. My Toyota dealer Eric told me that when updates come, the firmware in the Entune would have to be upgraded by Toyota. If true, I think only the raw data is being uploaded from the app to the car.

Whatever the case, there are tons of features to checkout.

You can listen to regular radio stations or Satellite radio (subscription required) or even Pandora. The system will even allow you to play music stored on your phone. However, I noticed that sometimes there will be a glitch for about 50 to 100 milliseconds. This might be some type of garbage collection going on in Android on my phone, or it could be the Entune app running on the phone. Whatever the reason, it’s too annoying to be used on a regular basis.

Although I haven’t actually used it, you can even use a CD to listen to music. If you’re not familiar with CDs, it’s a physical plastic disc with music stored on it, much like a record.

Just like your phone, one of the more mundane things you can do is bring up the weather information on the screen. It will use your GPS to figure out where you are and display the forecast.

If that’s not boring enough for you, try looking at your stock prices. Yes, what a great thing to be doing while driving.

For more useful information, you have an interface to the Microsoft Bing search engine. It works pretty much like you are on your computer searching places. Unfortunately, the touch screen is old school and there is no swiping. To scroll the screen, you have to touch the up arrow or down arrow icons. If this came out in the 80′s, I would have been astonished at it’s advanced technology. After using the iPad, the user interface looks and feels very outdated. I expected a game of “Snake” or “Pong” to pop up on the screen.

Since this is in a Hybrid car, it’s only natural that there is a way to get a list of close gas stations and their fuel prices. This is a nice touch. There is also a feature that allows you to enter the fuel price that you used last and the top display will show you how much money you are saving every time you drive your car. I guess they want to remind you why you bought a Hybrid.

Another really great feature that I used to use on my phone is the freeway conditions being reported in real time. This information can be viewed in a list, or as you are using the Navigation system, you will see tiny icons showing where the traffic is located. The navigation system will automatically ask you if you want to avoid the traffic by using an alternate route. I’ve used to on several occasions to save a bunch of time.

The navigation system has 3 views: 2D, 2D north and 3D. The view below is 2D north where the top of the screen is always north. I like this mode because it helps you know which way north is. In regular 2D mode, you have to look at the compass to figure out which way north is. Since my sense of direction is so bad, this is a needed feature for me.

You can also zoom in or zoom out on the map by touching the “+” or “-” buttons. Sorry, no pinching like on your iPad.

The picture below shows the navigation in 3D mode. The streets are shown in larger font and easier to read but I still like the 2D mode personally. What I really like is the turn by turn directions that are setup perfectly to tell you to turn at the right time. Yes, the voice does sound like a fem-bot but so does all the other navigation systems. Personally, I kind of like taking direction from a fem-bot. The GPS is rock solid as compared to my on and off GPS in my cell phone.

Some things to note are that you can use your voice to control the system. However, I found it to be frustrating sometimes and touching the button is usually quicker. But, if the vehicle is moving, the system will refuse to let you make your selection using buttons, for safety reasons. You will have to come to a complete stop before the on screen keyboard will return.

Let’s face facts. If texting while driving is dangerous and there are laws against it, it’s probably not safe to be checking your stocks or finding cheap gas prices while driving. Commercials often show the driver talking to the car to get directions but it doesn’t show all the steps that are required to get to that point.

I love having the navigation system on all the time so that I know where I am at all times. All the other Entune fluff that comes with it might be fun for the passenger, but frankly, it’s too dangerous for the driver to be playing with while driving.

All in all, the user interface needs to be upgraded, and they should contact the people that made Siri for the voice recognition. The navigation system is solid but I wasn’t very impressed with Entune. Toyota, please contact me when you have version 2.0 available.

The picture below shows a  closeup of the seat. I don’t really like the light color in the middle because I’m sure it will get dirty as the car ages. My old Matrix had a seat that was entirely charcoal which hid stains a lot better.

Closeup of seat

The next picture (below) is a USB/phone jack station on the passenger side of the car. It’s a good place to put your phone while you use the USB to charge it. I’ve never had this feature before and I’ve always had to put my phone in the cup holder in the past. It might have been better if the plug was facing towards the right instead of towards the seat.

USB and Phono Jack

The next picture is the middle rear passenger seat belt which hangs from the ceiling in the back area. I’ve never seen this before but apparently this is a new safety requirement for new cars. It’s a little ugly but safety first.

Rear 3rd Passenger Seat Belt

As you can see below, the left side of the steering wheel has the radio volume control, mode and cursor, and below that cluster is the voice control, and cell phone controls. This is the first car I’ve had that has the volume control on the steering wheel and it’s very convenient. Looking down at the radio to change the station and volume can be very dangerous while driving. You can control the navigation, make calls via blue tooth, and play music all by voice control. The other 2 buttons allows you to answer/hang-up the phone.

Left Controls on Steering Wheel

The voice control does not work very well. If you are searching for something very simple like “Restaurant,” it will work. However, you will have to slowly grind down the multi-levels to get to what you want. Since the voice recognition is so bad, it will give you a list of possible choices. Then you can choose one by the number. It’s still easier than trying to type on the touch screen (more on that next time) but it can get frustrating. Too bad they didn’t put Siri into the car.

The right side on the steering wheel (see below) has the temperature control, and controls to navigate on the top display. Again, I like having the controls on the wheel but they also have a big temperature wheel below the Nav display.

Right Controls on Steering Wheel

While on the topic of the steering wheel, unlike my last Toyota, it is not perfectly round, and is slightly oval. Apparently, this is the new cool way to make steering wheels but if you like to let the wheel turn quickly under your hands after a turn, it won’t work as you would normally expect. Also, the silver plastic portion of the steering wheel feels and sound like cheap plastic… because it is.

The usual electric door locks and windows are there in the next picture below. As with most cars these days, the driver side window will automatically open without having to hold the button. You can also lock the windows for the passengers so they can’t open them.

Electric Window and Door Locks

Below the gear shift, there are 2 buttons: ECO mode and EV mode. When in EV mode, the car tries to use electric power only but cannot go faster than about 25 mph. Therefore, it’s very hard to stay in this mode unless you are driving in a parking lot or practically in a parking lot on the freeway. If you drive too fast, it will automatically get out of EV mode. I have not been able to use this mode for very long in real life situations.

The ECO mode tries to save gas by limiting the use of the air conditioner and acceleration. When I tried using it, I really didn’t notice too much difference but I wasn’t trying to drive very fast. How much fuel it really saves is not clear.

ECO and EV Modes

For some reason, unlike the old Prius, Toyota decided to make a big-ass gear shift. I’m not sure why they chose this design because it takes up a lot of space in the tiny subcompact. That space could have been used better. In fact, because the space between seats is so narrow, they took the cup holders and put it above the gear shift. This makes it very hard to grab your drink while driving. I liked the design of the Matrix better where the cup holders where below the gear shift.

Shift

Between the seats is the usual storage space and arm rest. My old Matrix had a thin top compartment and a deep lower compartment. The Prius c has no top compartment and the deep compartment is much skinnier and barely fits a sunglass case. I really miss the top compartment because digging into the deep compartment is a lot harder when trying to find something quickly. What the Prius c does have is the arm rest that slides forward. Frankly, if I could only have one, I’ll take the top compartment instead of the sliding arm rest.

The picture below is an ultra-close-up of the dash material. It looks like some type of fake plastic snake skin. The color doesn’t really turn me on and I’m sure it will get dirty quickly. If this was Toyota’s idea of trying to make the car look less cheap, it didn’t work.

Dash Material

The next picture is the top display located above the dash, inset back so that it is protected from the sun. The left side is the speedometer and fuel gauge, and the right color display can show a variety of status information about the car. The picture shows one called the “Eco” screen which is basically a game that helps you try to get higher scores by driving more economically. I’ve managed to get 94 out of 100 but it’s hard to get anything higher in real world driving conditions. To get high scores, you have to start up slowly, cruise without too much change in speed, then stop by applying the brake very slowly. Nobody drives like that all the time, but it trains your brain into driving the way you need to, in order to save gas.

Top Display

Both displays in this area are very easy to see and shows tons of information. It would have been nicer if the MPG and gas gauge were also using the high resolution screen (instead of the cheaper LCD), but I guess they have to save a few bucks here and there.

So far, I am averaging about 52-54 MPG per month. Interestingly, the more city driving I do, the higher the MPG. The more fast freeway driving I do, the lower the MPG. At first, it’s counter intuitive, but obviously, the “c” in Prius c stands for “city” and indeed, it was designed to work well in city conditions as advertised.

The last picture is the big color navigation screen and the climate control below it. I will go into detail about the Entune and Navigation screen in the next installment. All I will say now is that unlike the top display, this display is not inset so the sun glare often makes it almost impossible to see the screen. Even in the picture below, you can see the glare of the screen. The GPS in the Navigation system works fantastic, compared to the GPS in my cell phone. There must be some huge GPS antenna on top of the vehicle.

As for the climate control, I’ve never had one before and having it computerized is great. The only thing that is strange is the crazy big temperature wheel they put to the left. With the steering wheel temperature control buttons, why is this big wheel needed? If it’s for the passenger, it should be on the right side. It just seems to waste a lot of space for no reason.

Bottom Display

One small feature that I really miss is automatic headlights that turn on when it’s dark. It’s bad enough that I have to remember to turn on my lights at night, I have to manually turn it on when I go into underground garages or tunnels. Also missing are the multiple compartments in my Matrix that allowed me to store a bunch of stuff hidden from view.

Another difference is the rear blind spots, which are much larger than my old Matrix.

In conclusion, there are a many things I like with the Prius c, including:

• Keyless entry
• Navigation
• Climate control
• Steering wheel controls (including volume and answer call)
• Gas mileage
• USB outlet

Some of the things I don’t like are:

• Narrow width making seating less comfortable
• No automatic headlights
• Location of cup holders
• Lack of thin top compartment under middle arm rest
• No hidden compartments to store items

All in all, if you want an attractive looking Hybrid that gets great mileage in the city, as well as on the highway, but don’t want to spend a ton of money, this is the vehicle for you. It has a lot of features that are only found on more expensive models at a very reasonable price. But the low price does mean a few shortcuts have been made so there is no mistaking this car for a luxury vehicle.

Next time: Entune and Navigation

When the shipment of the new Prius came in, Eric contacted me and I got down to the lot the next day to pick the one I wanted. After checking out the different models, I decided on the “Three” because it has keyless entry, Navigation, Entune (more on that next time) and some other goodies. MSRP for the Three is about $22.7k and with everything, it’s about $25k out the door. After signing the usual room full of paperwork, I was out of there in about 3 hours (including test drive, and trade-in evaluation) and was ready to pick-up my car in 2 days after having LoJack and tinting installed.

Depending on what car you’re coming from, you’ll have different impressions of the size of this car. If you’re coming from a subcompact, this car actually will feel large. If you’re coming from an SUV, or anything else large, this car will feel like a… subcompact. Since I’m coming from a compact car, it feels a little narrower but I like the smaller turning radius (31.4′), which I noticed the first time I parked. My left leg definitely feels like it’s up against the door a little more. If you’re a big guy, riding with a big guy, your shoulders will probably touch.

For a subcompact, there’s actually some leg room in the back seats for an adult to sit in the back without feeling like a child. The room under the hatchback is very small and would probably barely be enough space for a one suitcase and a small carry-on to barely fit. You can bring down the back seats to get more space but this is certainly not the car if you’re going to be hauling things around.

The keyless entry also takes a little getting used to. With the remote in your pocket (or purse), you just walk up to the car and open the door. It will turn off the alarm and unlock the door simultaneously as you touch the door handle. When leaving, you touch the left side of the door handle to lock and arm the alarm. If you leave your remote inside the car and exit, when you try to lock the door, it will make a noise to let you know that you left your remote inside. Nice feature. I’m so used to taking out my remote out of my pocket, I keep reaching in, then realizing I don’t need it.

The biggest change for me was the Hybrid engine, which does not shift down like regular engines when you need a power boost quickly. That doesn’t mean you can’t accelerate enough to get on the freeway. It’s just not that down-shifting “turbo” boost that you get with regular engines. But if you want a sports car, you shouldn’t be getting a Hybrid. The manual does warn you about weird noises it makes, even when the car is supposed to be “off” and it does happen. What’s even harder to get used to is the gas engine turning off while you’re driving. Normally, when that happens, it’s time to panic but not with a Hybrid car.

The exterior design is aerodynamic (although the drag coefficient is more than the regular Prius) and looks low to the ground considering it’s a hatchback. Some people don’t seem to like the tail lights but I think it looks good along with the fat bumper and wider rear. I think it would look even better if it was even wider.

All in all, I’m very happy with my experience with Eric at Toyota, and my purchase of the Prius c.

Next time: Interior and gadgets inside.

Autoguide.com video review

Toyota has released their MSRP structure and models for the Prius c slated to be released in the U.S. sometime in March 2012. The 4 models are as follows:

Prius c One – $18,950
Automatic climate control, tilt-telescopic steering wheel with audio, climate, multi-information display and Bluetooth® hands free phone controls; and remote keyless entry with illuminated entry.

Prius c Two – $19,900
6-speaker audio system, variable intermittent windshield wipers, a 60/40 split fold-down rear seat with adjustable headrests, cruise control, engine immobilizer, center console with armrest and storage compartment, and a cargo area tonneau cover.

Prius c Three – $21,635
Display Audio system with Navigation and Entune™ that adds a 6.1-inch touchscreen, Sirius XM Satellite Radio capability, HD Radio™ with iTunes® Tagging, USB port with iPod® connectivity and control, vehicle information with customizable settings, and advanced voice recognition. Toyota Entune™ includes Bing™ and Pandora®; real-time info including traffic, weather, fuel prices, sports, and stocks. Additionally, color-keyed outside door handles with touch- sensor lock/unlock feature, a tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio, climate, Multi-information Display, Bluetooth® hands free phone and voice command controls, a Touch Tracer Display, and a Smart Key System on the front doors and liftgate with Push Button Start and remote illuminated entry.

Prius c Four – $23,230
5-inch, 8-spoke alloy wheels, Softex-trimmed heated front seats, color-keyed heated power outside mirrors with turn signal indicators, and integrated fog lamps.

The guy from my Toyota dealer contacted me to let me know they were starting a waiting list. I managed to get to the dealer about 2 days later and they already had 6 people on the list. They are expecting their first shipment in March 2012.

Toyota is boasting a 50 mpg combined highway/city mileage, which makes it the most fuel efficient vehicle to date, without a power plug. This low end Prius will have a starting MSRP below $19,000, making it about half the price of the upper end hybrids that are available on the market. Obviously, the target audience is the younger, price sensitive consumer who wants good mileage to save money.

The list of standard features is impressive for such a low price. Some of the standard features include automatic climate control, tilt-telescopic steering wheel with audio, climate, Multi-Information Display and Bluetooth® hands-free controls, and remote keyless entry with illuminated entry. Some of these are not standard on the original Prius models, although I would guess that they will be in the new versions.

The available exterior colors include three new colors:  Habanero, Moonglow, and Summer Rain Metallic. Not sure what those colors look like. Those new colors are added to the regular list of colors, Blue Streak Metallic, Absolutely Red, Black Sand Pearl, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Classic Silver Metallic, and Super White.

This 6 ton monster SUV sports a V-10 that can run on bio-fuel (or regular gas) and is not only bullet proof (body, windows and even tires), but is under vehicle grenade proof and even has a detector for magnetically attached bombs under the SUV. Yes, the SUV will alert you if somebody attaches a bomb under the vehicle. WTF? There are 2 night vision capable cameras in front, and 2 in the back. Some options include a hidden security safe, real black box (like in airplanes), and yes, an entertainment system.

If you have to ask how much something like this costs, you probably can’t afford it. With a $25k down pain-ment, you can get your custom Knight XV started before you have to pay the base sticker price of $490k. Each one is custom built and can take from 3 to 8 months to complete. You can visit your vehicle being built in Canada, or they can email you pictures. For that price, they should have a live person come to your house with a video.

The Knight XV: Perfect for the upcoming drug lord, Hip-Hop mega baller rain-man, or Middle Eastern royal families. Or just a super rich paranoid guy.

Toyota has now released official pictures of the Prius C, and it looks exactly the same as the leaked Japanese brochure. The press release is touting 50 MPG city, and is almost 20 inches shorter than the original Prius. It’s slightly larger than the Toyota Yaris.

The informational panel is located in the center above the dashboard, the same as in the Prius V that I just took a look at. There are some similarities but the interior is not the same as the V.

From the picture, it looks a lot like a smaller version of the Matrix. Since I like the look of the Matrix, I don’t mind the look of this version of the Prius. But of course, a lot can change from the Japanese version.

Prius V

The “V” comes in 3 models: Two ($26k), Three ($27k) and Five ($30k). At the upper end, you can get Panoramic View Moonroof with power sliding sunshades, full-on navigation with “Entune”, Safety Connect, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision system, and Advanced Parking Guidance System.

The Moonroof is basically a sunroof that doesn’t open. Entune is a system where you can download apps to your iPhone, then upload them from your phone to your Nav system. The apps aren’t ready yet apparently so they didn’t have it running in the demo car.  Safety Connect is a rip-off of On-Star, which you get for free for 1 year, then you have to pay per year. Dynamic Radar Cruise Control will automatically slow you down if there’s a car ahead. Pre-Collision tries to reduce the damage to your front end when you crash by stopping earlier.

The Advanced Parking Guidance System is their auto parallel parking computer. There’s a rear camera that shows on the Nav screen including color coded areas for parking. You touch where you want to park and the car does the rest. I assume the car knows if the space is too small to fit in. I noticed that it does know areas where you cannot park and a mesh graphic covers that area so you cannot touch that area for parking. If I had more time, I would have tested it with a small dog blocking the parking space to see if it knows the difference. I think we’re about 10 years away from the car driving itself. That would make my commute time productive and texting would be allowed again.

One other thing I noticed was what looked like a cigarette lighter plug in the back hatch area (behind the rear seats). I’m not sure that’s what it was but that could come in handy for plugging in electrical powered stuff in the back area. You can never have too many power outlets in my book. And yes, there is a USB outlet under the Nav system.

For people who didn’t want to get the hybrid SUV because it was too big, but still wanted more space than the original Prius, this is the perfect solution. For me, it’s too big and defeats the purpose of getting good mileage from a hybrid.