2005 Toyota Prius hybrid Reviews
In the expanding fleet of hybrid cars, the 2005 Toyota Prius hybrid finds the best balance of ecofriendliness and practicality to leave the rest of the competition in the dust. Moreover, it satisfies car nuts and tree huggers alike with its lively acceleration, its great fuel economy, and its nearly silent operation, although it hits a few speed bumps: a second-rate stereo, limited driver visibility, and annoying rattles.
Thanks to a sophisticated drive-by-wire system that connects the gas pedal to a computer to control the two power plants (gas and electric) and variable transmission, the front-wheel-drive Prius stretches a gallon of gas without compromises. (Find out more about how hybrid cars work in CNET's hybrid buying guide.) Nearly silent in its idle state, the Prius goes from 0 to 60mph in 10.3 seconds, a suitable number for an economy car but hardly high performance. This car calmly cruises at 60mph and stops in a reasonable 152 feet, although the brake pedal feels soft. The car has other quirks, too, such as the circular dashboard power button that starts the car and the toggle-switch gear lever (see picture below). A tank of gas will take the Prius more than 500 miles.
Unfortunately, the cloth seats don't provide enough lower back support, and the car suffers from annoying rattles. The Prius's center-mounted 6-inch color display controls just about all the car's functions; be sure to set aside some time to read the manual to get acquainted with the system. Toyota's GPS navigation computer delivers colorful and accurate maps. To our chagrin, the Prius has no options for satellite radio, a DVD player, or an emergency communications system such as OnStar.
This meant that my average speed was 6.5 to 9 miles-per-hour, slower than you'd drive through a parking lot.
I'm not saying that I would have enjoyed the commute better if I was driving a "Toyota Prius", but if I did, I sure would have gotten great fuel mileage. During the week that I test-drove the Prius I found myself looking for ways to maximize its fuel efficiency. I drove routes that I normally don't take, drove during times that I typically don't, and drove slower than I usually do. In owning a Prius, you'll give up nothing to other gas-only vehicles in its class.
If the LCD screen is on another interface (audio, navigation, or energy/fuel consumption info), then this is not the simple one-step process commonly found in most vehicles.
The Prius has become a familiar part of the motoring scene, at least here in California. The Prius makes for a great general family car, and an ideal middle manager/salesmen’s car.
