Review
Introduction
Toyota wasn’t the first to bring a hybrid car to the U.S. market, but it’s been by far the most successful, prompting hybrid competition from just about every major carmaker, some of them using Toyota’s own system under license. The Prius continues to dominate hybrid sales and still accounts for more than half the market. A major element in this car’s ongoing appeal is that it broadcasts its owner’s commitment to green values. Even after five years on the market, the second-generation Prius is hard to mistake for anything else.
And, of course, there’s fuel economy. Even with the more-stringent EPA test procedures, it’s rare for everyday drivers to match government fuel-economy ratings, in this case 48 city mpg and 45 highway. Nevertheless, the front-drive Prius delivers exceptional fuel economy: 54 mpg on a suburban test loop, 50 mpg on the highway in our real-world test.
Beyond fuel economy, a roomy interior, and the entertaining mid-dash electronic graphic display, the Prius is a rather ordinary small car—competent, quiet, adequate in most areas of performance with the exception of so-so braking—and not very entertaining to drive. There are two Prius trim levels, base and Touring, and both use a 110-net-horsepower gasoline-electric hybrid propulsion system.
Verdict
For those who want their car to serve as a green badge of commitment, the Prius is still the answer.
Click here to read our full review of the Toyota Prius.
Click here to read our latest comparison test involving the Toyota Prius.
What’s New for 2008
Toyota added a Touring version of the Prius for 2007, with firmer suspension tuning, 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels, HID headlights, integrated fog lamps, and a larger rear spoiler, but not much has changed for 2008 beyond revised options packages.
