Similar to those cars, the Prius came to a full stop when traffic ahead stopped, but required me to hit a resume button. Performing a controlled test of the car's adaptive cruise control, I found it necessary to intervene more than I would with other cars, such as the Ford Fusion or Mercedes-Benz S-class. It works just as well as ever, and the new Prius' improved fuel economy comes largely due to aerodynamic and hybrid system efficiencies, without any radical changes. Like previous generations, this Prius effortlessly mixes gasoline and electric drive power, scavenging kinetic energy from braking to produce electricity and reusing that for propulsion. Toyota slimmed down the Prius' power control module and revised the hybrid transmission, allowing for better packaging. Most Prius models will come with a lithium-ion battery pack, although Toyota will retain its nickel-metal hydride pack in a base model. The Prius' hybrid drivetrain, where all the magic happens, continues on with a 1.8-liter four cylinder engine, no great changes there. Toyota improved the fuel economy some, hitting an average of 52 mpg for the standard Prius, and 54 mpg with a new Eco trim. The back end looks little busy, and someone on the Toyota design team must be a fan of the '50s, as the rear fenders actually end in fins, noticeable with the liftback raised. The liftback retains its spoiler, splitting the rear glass. As for styling, the hood bulges up a little then dips down for the cabin, and strong, geometric contour lines indent the sides.
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