http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/24/2445.asp

Clarkson chose the most extreme examples to make the point -- a sedan equipped with a V-8 engine producing 414 horsepower against the Toyota Prius with its 76 horsepower hybrid motor. The EPA rates the BMW at 14 miles per gallon in the city, and 20 on the highway which compares unfavorably to the 48 and 45 figures for the Prius. In this test, the M3 matched the speed of the Prius as the hybrid ran flat-out over ten laps of the 1.8 mile Top Gear Test Track in Surrey, England. Measurements taken after the run show that the Prius returned just 14.3 miles to the US gallon, while the BMW had 12 percent better fuel economy at 16.1 miles per gallon.



So much for the hybrids, gimme a nice big torquey diesel and I will beat out these pansy overpriced tech dolls anyday.

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99 Gurkha with OM616 IDI turbo

2015 Gurkha with OM616 DI turbo

2014 Rexton W with OM612 VGT

Good times. The video is on youtube.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

While I'm no fan of the Prius, I don't think that test proved anything. Who's gonna be driving that thing flat out in the real world anyway? Beside Al Gore's son I mean. With that same test, I could probably make a 2008 S63 or some other big new MB with a V8 look more economical than a 1982 240D. This is why I don't take Top Gear too seriously for automotive happenings.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Well since it was a joke, wrapped around the moral that how you drive affects your fuel mileage a lot....


I love it when they bash the Prius!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

They should have tested the 335d against the Prius. The difference would have been even bigger. In fact I believe there was another test that involved more normal driving and the 335d still matched or beat the Prius in economy. Of course the Prius can still beat it if it's driven with care at optimal speeds. How you drive makes a big difference, especially with the gas hybrids.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Yes but than the joke wouldn't have really worked...

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Never underestimate the genius behind the German engineering. Krauts Rule!

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL