Hello,

I just took a 20 minute test drive in the 06 HCH. Main roads, side streets, and highway. Here are my impressions:

1. Acceleration was adequate. The ICE revs pretty high to get any noticeable "pull". I'm used to RWD/AWD V6's.

2. Suspension seems to be nice and "tight".

3. Steering wheel is very nice. Good size and great ergonomics. Steering also had a good mix of power and "feel".

4. I liked how you can change the water temp display to instantaneous MPG. I wished more manufacturers included small multifunction displays(MFD) in vehicles. However, I wished there were more information type readouts available like those available on my wife’s RX330. On her car, the "info" display on the main MFD display shows AVG speed, trip distance(car start to current time), AVG MPG from last fillup, etc. I realize that the 06 HCH does have a AVG MPG on the "odometer" display, I just wished there was a screen on the main MFD that consolidates this and other information.

5. One thing that concerned me is the "regenerative breaking"(I think that's what I felt). As I make a sharp RH turn, I tend to let off on the accelerator as I go into the turn, and step on the throttle as I'm in the turn. In the 06 HCH, I found that as I let off the throttle, I decelerated MORE than other vehicles I've driven, to the point where I had to step on the throttle earlier into the turn than what I would normally expect.

6. Road and wind noise is descent, but I'm used to driving a different class vehicle which is MUCH quieter than the 06 HCH.

7. The battery charge readout was always 3 bars from the top. Is this normal?

8. The AVG MPG on the "odometer" display, for the car I test drove only read 26.7 MPG. What could have caused such a low reading?

9. I didn’t pay much attention to other details like wipers, radio, NAV, voice commands, etc. I was mostly concerned with the driving feel of the car. I would appreciate any comments on any “cool” and different features which separate the HCH from other vehicles.

10. General impressions are that the 06 HCH feels just like a "regular" car. I've test driven an older 2003 Prius and felt that the Prius was different. From the way that you start the Prius from the feel of the ICE starting and stopping. The Prius felt like a different animal. Good or bad....I don't know. Just different. I generally liked the 06 HCH, but is it worth the $2790 compared with an equally equipped EX? I’m uncertain. Maybe that's the reason why the Prius is a much better seller than the HCH. Toyota does not sell a comparable non-hybrid version, thus the "premium" for the hybrid system is much easier to justify.

Richard