Helpful Links

Toyota knocked the ball out of the park with the 2004 Toyota Prius. The identical car is now being issued as a 2005 model.

The Prius dominated headlines for most of the past year, racked up award after award, and became nearly synonymous with the word "hybrid." The Prius emerged as the clear leader of the pack in terms of hybrid sales, with 50,000 new cars on American roads. The waiting lists are still getting burned off, and the strong appeal of the now quintessential green machine is likely to keep its momentum in 2005. Toyota is anticipating a doubling of Prius sales to 100,000 in 2005.

What are the other basics you should know about the Prius?

• The Toyota Prius has an impressive combined city/highway rating of 55 miles to the gallon. Using 100% electric at low speeds, it’s still more efficient in the city than on highways.
• It’s classified as a midsize, although some tall people have complained about head room, and others feel the windshield visibility is diminished. The official seating capacity is five passengers. The design achieves impressively low aerodynamic drag. Some love it; others think it's strange.
• It’s very clean, generating up to 89% fewer smog-forming emissions than the average new car and exceeding the standards for a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV).
• The Prius' 76 horsepower engine and 67 horsepower electric engine combine for plenty of performance. Hybrid drivers are very pleased with the power of the Prius.
• It has a nice list of bells and whistles. The Prius comes standard with a cool slide-in key and a start button to activate the car’s computer and battery. The option list includes a DVD-based navigation system, xenon headlights, keyless entry, a premium audio system, satellite radio, and an alarm system.
• Standard antilock brakes and traction control,—and optional side airbags for front occupants, head curtain airbags that cover the front and rear, and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) system—all add up to greater safety.

The 2005 Toyota Prius base price remains near the $20,000 mark, with prices going as high as $27,000 for a fully loaded vehicle. Dealers have reportedly been charging more as a result of high demand.