I put 38k on my 4Runner before trading it for the Rav. The Prius is out the door this fall to be replaced with a toy for me.* Consumer Reports purchased the 4WD SR5 for their testing. There is video of it on their website doing the off road segment if you don't believe me.
Again, peak torque doesn't tell you what the curve is like the rest of the band. I'll have to look at the TIS again, but this engine has a reasonably flat curve with a slight dip around 2500 to 3200RPM. And, again, when you hit redline in the 5th gen in 1st gear, you are between 40 and 45mph. When it shifts to 2nd, you are between 3200 and 3600RPM. You are just below the torque peak and into the fat part of the power band.
*The prius was my company vehicle that I bought out, so I have to hold on to it for a certain amount of time per the purchase program.... it will be replaced with an FR-S or an IS200T (assuming it gets here) this fall. I decided my want for a fun car was bigger than my want for 2 vehicles that could do baby hauling duty. First time parents going overboard on what we thought we'd need vehicle wise. We're done having kids and I got the itch for a fun car. Wife didn't like how big the 4Runner felt when parking, so we got a vehicle that fit in between the Prius v and the 4Runner. I have access to 2 Tacomas for my 2 or 3x/yr off road adventures. As far as my "fast credentials", my wife's fun car is a 6MT, LSD, supercharged MINI. I had a 2.0T GTI before the 4Runner. I spent my college years auto crossing Imprezas. I have track time in a 991 911 S. I've had planty of seat time in vehicles like the V10 M5 and the IS-F. So, I fail to see what "you have a prius" has to do with my ability to judge what is quick and what isn't.