Channel 4 pits the Prius against a Porsche in efficiency test

We can think of a few natural competitors to the reigning hybrid champ, the Toyota Prius, when it comes to a fuel efficiency test. For instance, the Honda Insight is a logical choice, as are other midsize hybrid offerings like the Ford Fusion. Still others compare the mileage possibilities offered by the Volkswagen Jetta TDI with the Prius in both city and highway fuel mileage contests. All that's been done to death, though, so Channel 4 in the UK went a totally different route: comparing the fuel mileage of a Porsche 911 with Toyota's hybrid hatchback.

Wait a minute, how can you compare the fuel mileage of a dedicated sportscar with that of a mainstream hybrid offering? Well, "you can't" would be the simple answer, as the Prius will surely record superior fuel mileage to the Porsche. So Channel 4 decided to compare their own average fuel mileage with the car's official European rating to see if either competitor could beat its claimed figure. Click here to watch the results on video.

Done? Well then, that was a fair test, right? The driver of the Prius ran the loop with the air conditioning on and at elevated speeds while the Porsche driver did everything in his power to minimize fuel use. Sounds like a test with a predetermined outcome, no?

[Source: Channel 4]

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