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2004 Toyota Prius

Date: 21 March 2004	Miles: 2,000
By now you know we have been singing the praises of the 2004 Toyota Prius. This Camry-size gasoline-electric hybrid even won our Best Eco-Friendly Drivers' Choice Award. But with every new technology comes a learning curve for both a car's builder and its buyers. For instance, the hybrid technology in the Prius is still evolving. The Prius is a full-hybrid vehicle which means it can run on either gasoline or electric power or both. Good thing since the gasoline engine in our car stalled in traffic and wouldn't restart. But we were able to safely turn off the highway and find a parking lot using electric power alone. Who says two engines aren't better than one? The cause was a corroded electrical connector. Also, we hear buyers are complaining to Toyota about not getting the 55-60 miles per gallon the government estimates for fuel economy. Well, that's in a perfect world, and we can't find one to drive in. Our 40 miles per gallon average in winter stop and go traffic is very real and about 40% better than a typical mid-size car. That's still impressive. So, after 2 months and 2,000 miles with our Prius, we already realize that it is not perfect, nor is it a miracle machine, but it is the next best thing.
Date: 11 June 2004	Miles: 6,200
Even before gasoline reached 2-bucks a gallon, it was clear that the redesigned 2004 Toyota Prius gasoline-electric hybrid would be a success. Now, with those high gas prices, there's a demand for the $20,000 Prius that far outstrips supply. We understand that demand perfectly. We've been living with a Prius hatchback since January. And except for one incident where the gas engine died -- we still had electric propulsion -- it has met or exceeded our expectations. That includes fuel economy. While some consumers wonder why they can't get the 60 City/51 Highway EPA economy estimates for the Prius, we knew they weren't likely. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who drives as slow as the government's test cycle. So we're more than pleased with the 42.5 miles per gallon that we've gotten after 6200 miles of mostly urban commuting. That's about 40% better than the best a similar-sized Toyota Camry can manage. We awarded our Best Eco-Friendly Drivers' Choice Award for 2004 to the Toyota Prius. But it's the strong public acceptance of the Prius that confirms a bright future for Hybrids overall. Now we just need more of them.
Date: 3 September 2004	Miles: 12,500
We continue to rack up the miles and our experiences with the most advanced gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle yet on the market, the 2004 Toyota Prius. For about $20,000, Toyota is providing a 5-door sedan that has a mid-size interior comparable to the Toyota Camry, America's best selling car. To that Toyota added a gasoline-electric powertrain that consistently delivers impressive mileage, now at 45.2. While less than government fuel economy ratings, it is about 50% better than a Camry. Still, as the EPA also says, the Prius is easily the most fuel efficient mid-size car you can buy. We've had only two problems in 12,500 miles and about 8 months. Both involved the gas engine shutting down unexpectedly. The second time we did get it restarted. In both cases we were able to drive to safety under electric power. A bad electrical connection was the culprit. We have heard from no Prius owners with similar problems. Toyota Prius, as comfortable to drive to the mall as it is to the shore.
Date: 15 October 2004	Miles: 14,700
You may have read that Toyota can't make Prius hybrid sedans fast enough to meet demand. We can certainly understand why. A $20,000 car with the room of a mid-size Camry sedan, and gas mileage that's better than a pint-size Echo? At last tabulation, our average is 45.2 miles per gallon. That's after 14,700 miles of daily grind. And what is the Prius like to drive everyday? Well, the instrument panel is a bit weird, as is the gear shift, and the CVT transmission lets the gasoline engine really spin. But, on the other hand, when running only on electric power, it's a stealth mobile. Besides, the first time you fuel it up and see how little it uses, it's easy to accept the quirks of the Prius and its watershed design.
Date: 27 November 2004	Miles: 16,109
You're looking at one of the most sought after vehicles sold anywhere in the world today. It's no Ferrari, or Bentley. It is the unusual looking, but oh-so practical, Toyota Prius hybrid. The first mid-size car to combine gasoline and electric power. We've been driving this 2004 Prius for 10 months and 16,109 miles, but Toyota finally told us to stop stalling and give it back. So, we did, but not before scoring an average of 44.6 miles per gallon. That's the best of any long term vehicle in our 24 years. Speaking of stalling, our adventure was not trouble free. The Prius' gas engine did stall-out twice due to faulty electrical connections. But both times the electric motor got us off the road safely. The Prius is a Strong Hybrid that can run on either engine independently of the other. Designers gave this watershed car a wedgy hatchback profile, and interior oddities like a center information display and dash mounted gear shift for the CVT tranny. Still, once in D, the Prius drives quite reasonably. What Toyota has learned from the $20,000 Prius is that its price may be too reasonable, as most future hybrids will cost more. We're glad they made the Prius for the masses, however, as this modest-size car is accelerating a giant hybrid revolution.