Toyota Prius Scores Best in Dutch Ecotest

2010 Toyota Prius

By Henny Hemmes
Senior European Editor
Amsterdam Bureau
The Auto Channel

THE HAGUE, September 10, 2010. The Toyota Prius is the least polluting car of this moment. This is the outcome of an Ecotest of the Dutch Consumer Association. The Prius scored a total of 92 of the maximum of 100 points, resulting in a five star rating and the first place on the list of clean, fuel efficient cars.

The Consumer Association is working together with the German ADAC, that, since eight years, performs tests in Germany to get a better view of the actual fuel consumption and consequently CO2-emissions from cars. Als the emission of other pollutants such as NOx (nitrogen oxide) and HC (hydrocarbons) is reviewed. Both parts are awarded with a maximum of 50 points, bringing the total score to 100 points. Depending on the amount of points, the cars are rewarded with one to five stars.

An important fact is that thee CO2 emissions of the Ecotest are measured during a driving cycle that has been developed by ADAC and that is more realistic than the cycle used for the European approval. The measured test values are more accurately than the actual consumption of the car. For both NOx and HC the Prius scored 50 and 42 point respectively, resulting in the total score of 92.

The Ecotest also shows that the Prius stands out with a fuel consumption of 4.6 liter/kilometer (or 50 mpg). Although this is slightly higher than the fuel consumption according to the EU cycle, published in the manufacturer’s brochure, the Prius is still significantly more efficient than its competitors.

Since the introduction, ten years ago, of the full hybrid Prius in The Netherlands, more than 30,000 units have been sold. The Dutch market is good for some 500,000 new units on a yearly basis.