Toyota Prius reviews

Key strengths: Tremendous gas mileage. Best in class.
Areas for improvement: Very, very expensive to buy. What you save is eaten up by the cost.

The Prius is an exceptional car. It's been around long enough for us to know that it is reliable, gets great gas mileage, and is supposedly mid-size.

Let me dispense that first myth. It is a small car. It is cramped in the rear and can sit only 2 adults comfortably, despite what you might hear. Much of the interior space is wasted. You have tons of room beyond the dash but no one uses that room. You have a hatchback which is big enough but not truly a mid-size.

Storage is poor. Side pockets are smallish, cup holder exist but are on the entry-level mode. The back seat is akin to a Sentra, Civic, or other small car.

However it is that this car qualifies as a mid-size is a mystery to me.

Size aside, the car is the best in class if you consider it a small car. It's pickup is fantastic. It drives and corners well, there are ample safety features, and it has a lot of "cool" features.

For example, the rearview camera is wonderful, if you opt for it. You can just look at the screen where nav is supposed to be and see what's behind. I loved that feature, but it is not standard.

Nav is pushed on you. In fact, you often don't get the rearview camera without nav, and that adds about $2K.

Leather is available but not standard.

On the low end, this expensive car ($22K), offers you few features other than exceptional gas mileage. No camera, cloth seats, a tinny interior, etc.

On the high end, it's much better. That camera is included, you'll get leather, the ride will be quieter, and you'll get some "luxury" features. Now we're talking $26K.

And it's still a little hatchback.

Driving it takes a bit of learning. It's not hard, but since it's an electric start, you push a button vs. turning a key. It's only available in automatic since it has a CVT (continuously variable transmission), meaning that it adjusts the number of cylinders you need based on your driving.

Shifting is new to learn. Essentially "tell" the car to reverse and it will do that.

The running costs for Toyota Prius Hybrid are very high

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