2005 Toyota Prius
Manufacturer: Toyota Part number: 100454051
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Thanks to a seamless and sophisticated power system, the 2005 Toyota Prius delivers excellent gas mileage and comfort, making it the best hybrid on the road today.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
2005 Toyota Prius price range: $21,815.00
- Reviewed by: Brian Nadel
- Edited by: Lindsey Turrentine
- Reviewed on: 05/12/2005
The good: Smooth power transfer; Bluetooth and GPS navigation options; excellent gas mileage; black-box crash recorder.
The bad: Driver blind spots; weak entertainment electronics; rattles; digital instruments too far from driver.
The bottom line: Thanks to a seamless and sophisticated power system, the 2005 Toyota Prius delivers excellent gas mileage and comfort, making it the best hybrid on the road today.
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. Together, the side-by-side gas and electric power plants deliver 110 horsepower that's as smooth and quiet as a purring sewing machine. (Find out more about how hybrid cars work in CNET's hybrid buying guide.) For pulling away from a stop sign, the motor taps into the 500-volt battery pack for pure electric energy. It then switches to the 1.5-liter gasoline engine when needed and uses a combination of fuel and electric power for quick maneuvers. While the electric-to-gas transition generally occurs at about 15mph, if you're careful, you can push it to 35mph. You can watch all the action from the control screen that displays an animated power-flow diagram, which has the look and addictive quality of a video game. But whether you're cruising uphill, downhill, or on a flat road, the computer sees to it that the car has lively acceleration and the battery gets charged through the regenerative braking system.
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. Still, that's 1.8 seconds faster than Honda's electrically assisted Civic Hybrid. On the other hand, the drivetrain is short on midrange torque, taking 7 seconds to go from 30mph to 50mph and making for a little on-ramp performance anxiety. With MacPherson strut front and torsion bar rear suspension, the Prius handles well, but you'll feel every bump in the cabin. 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). And as with most hybrids, the engine shuts itself off about a second after stopping at a light--unnerving for those who haven't experience it. Fear not, the gas engine automatically restarts when needed, and the silent operation is actually a sign that you're saving fuel. Despite all these oddities, economy is the Prius's raison d'être, and its gas mileage of 45.8 miles to the gallon is welcome news as nationwide fuel prices hit more than $2.50 per gallon. A tank of gas will take the Prius more than 500 miles.
Make no mistake--the Prius is no cramped econobox. Weighing in at 2,980 pounds, the low, sleek hatchback is a midsize car that has a lot of headroom, can seat four comfortably, and has enough space for a run to the discount warehouse. In addition, the folding rear seats (60/40 split) yield room for skis, a bicycle, or seven-foot-long lumber. Unfortunately, the cloth seats don't provide enough lower back support, and the car suffers from annoying rattles. And to achieve the Prius's enviable aerodynamics, Toyota engineers had to severely rake the windshield, creating a shape that's a conversation starter at the gas pump, but the huge dashboard is big enough for a child to sleep on, and the wiper blades barely reach the driver's eye level. Another complaint: rather than placing the digital instruments close to the driver, they sit at the base of the windshield, and the car's wide front pillar creates a large blind spot on the driver's left that makes for anxious moments; the view behind is obstructed by the split rear window.
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. Also, the screen shows fingerprints as easily as an episode of CSI and blanks out in bright sunlight. Its eight buttons are easier to use than conventional car controls but less versatile than BMW's single iDrive knob. Happily, the most important controls for the stereo and hands-free phone are duplicated on the steering wheel, but its rubberized surface is more suited to a BMX bike than a $25,000 car.
Our $5,065 option package included an antitheft system and an autodimming rearview mirror with a HomeLink universal transceiver for opening a garage door. It also came with Toyota's Smart Key, high-intensity headlights, fog lamps, and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), along with the nine-speaker stereo, voice-activated navigation system and Bluetooth wireless connection for hands-free cell phone use (for a list of compatible phones, visit Toyota's Web site with links to third-party resellers).
Toyota's GPS navigation computer delivers colorful and accurate maps. The car's position is updated frequently as you wheel through the streets, and inputting an address is easier than in most GPS systems with separate screens to enter the destination's number, street, and town; it boasts excellent predictive entry, so you can start with the first few letters and let the computer fill in the rest of the word. It can't create a 3D bird's-eye view of the route, however, and the system tends to generate routes that favor highway driving over more direct back roads. A calm female voice can direct you to your destination, and if you happen to miss a turn, it quietly reroutes your course. Unfortunately, it often warns you so early that there's a risk of making the wrong turn; nonetheless, we like its emergency screen with the locations of the closest police station, hospital, and Toyota dealer.
Despite shelling out extra money for the option package that includes the JBL CD player with nine speakers, the audio on our review car sounds muddy with booming bass. To our chagrin, the Prius has no options for satellite radio, a DVD player, or an emergency communications system such as OnStar. The really bad news is that the radio is not a standard design and can't be replaced unless you go to a custom car shop.
Safety is the Prius's strong suit with air bags up front as well as front and rear-side curtain bags. All told, it scores impressive five- and four-star ratings for the driver and passenger, respectively, and a four-star rollover rating. Should you be in an accident, the Prius has been designed to crumple on impact, and it has a black-box crash recorder that saves data on speed, braking, seat belts, and more. In addition to the car's three-year/36,000-mile warranty, the hybrid parts are covered for six years or 60,000 miles and three years of roadside assistance--appropriate for a hybrid, although Honda covers parts for eight years. Toyota's Web site has a lot of information for Prius owners, including specs, technology primers, FAQs, and even an application that tells you what service is needed. While the era of the backyard mechanic has gone the way of dollar-a-gallon gas, Toyota offers service manuals at reasonable prices and runs a 24-hour toll-free help line. We took the support service out for our own spin, and after about a minute on hold, a technician answered our question correctly.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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0 to 60mph acceleration | |
30mp to 50 mph lane-pass test | |
Braking distance | |
Noise | |
Fuel economy |
How we test performance
To gauge how well the car performs in real-world situations, we put it through a battery of instrumented tests that simulate actual road maneuvers. With an Escort's GT2 Vehicle Performance Computer monitoring the action, we start from a level stopped position, calibrate the device before each run, repeat each test at least three times, and average the results.
0 to 60mph
From a dead stop, we smoothly press on the accelerator to the floor as we lift off of the brake pedal to accelerate as quickly as possible. While moving, we take note as to whether the car veers right or left or loses traction.
30mph to 50mph lane pass
To simulate the car's ability to accelerate at speed, we time how long it takes to go from 30mph to 50mph.
Braking
From a steady speed of at least 65mph, we firmly press on the brake pedal to slow the car down to a complete halt while noting if the car veers either way, the level of ABS shutter, and if there is any fading. The computer starts recording the braking distance at 60mph.
Fuel economy
Starting with a full tank of 87 octane or greater fuel, we drive on a variety of roads for at least 350 miles and compute the vehicle's gas mileage based on what's consumed and the odometer reading. While duplicating the driving route and conditions is impossible, we strive for a real-world mix of city (frequent stop and go), suburban (midrange speeds with occasional stops), and rural driving (steady highway speeds).
Noise
Driving at a steady speed of 60mph, we set a RadioShack sound-level meter on the passenger seat. We record an average the measurement over a 15-second period.
User reviews
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I tried to buy one, drove it, liked, couldn't buy for one reason
by Jimz on May 14, 2005
Pros: Had everthing I wanted; HI TECH, BELLS, WHISTLES, EXCEPT ONE THING
Cons: CHEAP DRIVER'S SEAT!
Summary: Ultimately, no matter how good the performance, the look, the tech, the mileage, the sound, you MUST be able to get comfortable in the driver's seat to be able ...
Summary: Ultimately, no matter how good the performance, the look, the tech, the mileage, the sound, you MUST be able to get comfortable in the driver's seat to be able to justify owning one of these. I WANTED to buy it - but Toyota blew with a cheap, 1970's style seat - 2 way adjustable! Wow! It slides forward and back! It reclines! But no up, down, no tilt, no lumbar or thigh support! It becomes a torture device after more than 10 minutes. And NO OPTIONAL SEAT UPGRADE AVAILABLE!!! Duh!. Fix the seat, make it driver friendly, and I would buy one in a heartbeat. With current seat, cannot do so. Turns an excellent rating into a mediocre one.
26 out of 35 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Car - Not just for commuting
by jgerecht on June 24, 2005
Pros: Gas Mileage, room, comfort, and more gas milage
Cons: Bad vision out of rear, can't see the front
Summary: I've barely had my Salsa Prius for 3 months.
This is the best commuting car around. Unlike other great commuting cars, this is a roomy, mid-size car with a ...Summary: I've barely had my Salsa Prius for 3 months.
This is the best commuting car around. Unlike other great commuting cars, this is a roomy, mid-size car with a serious amount of storage space and lot's of amenities. It can fit 4 with lot's of room to spare and the rear seat leg-room is awesome. I'm getting about 47-52 miles per gallon (more on the highway) and I'm putting out minimal effort to get the best mileage.
Ok, it's not perfect. Vision out of the back window is like a tunnel and I can't see the front bumper, I used to have a Honda Accord and this is a bit disconcerting to me, probably not for an owner of a compact van.
I'm also a bit annoyed at the LCD display. Too many things are there and they can be impossible to see if the sun hits it, and it does sometimes. Also, I don't like NOT having a fan switch. You have to reach to the LCD touchscreen and it's a bit far.
However, on the whole, this is a great car. I got the high end accessory package and I really LOVE the smart-key entry, one of the best features of the car, be sure to get it.
It's also a very safe car, lot's of airbags, etc.
Love it, love it, love it.11 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The smartest car on the road
by Bill Merchant on May 22, 2005
Pros: fun, efficient, peppy, just drive it
Cons: quirky weirdnesses, needs easy mods
Summary: The 2005 Prius is a great car. The editor's CON of digital displays being too far away I consider a PRO; I don't have to shift my focus ...
Summary: The 2005 Prius is a great car. The editor's CON of digital displays being too far away I consider a PRO; I don't have to shift my focus so far from the road to the speedometer. XM radio is easily added, despite what the editors say.
The CONs are quirky things: when you put the car in reverse you hear a "backup beeper" - but only in the car, not outside. It's easy to reprogram the system to eliminate the useless interior beeps, and also easy to splice in a real backup beeper into the backup light circuit. The airbags all around are a great safety feature, but the doors don't automatically lock when the car is in motion. Fortunately, there are several after-market sources for this function, and installation is easy.
Some new Prius drivers become MPG mavens, squeezing every last foot out of every gallon. You can, but why bother? Just drive normally, 75 on the freeway, etc., and you'll still get over 45 MPG (I average 48 with no sweat). And even better, almost no emmisions. It's not just MPG, it's also NO SMOG!
Consider the Prius the ultimate hands-free kit for your Bluetooth cell phone. One feature the editor's didn't mention: when you use the navigation system to pick a destination, say a movie theater, just push a soft botton on the screen and call the theater to confirm the show time.
There are several user chat sites if you want to know more, good and bad, from real Prius drivers. In addition to a host of Yahoo groups (just search for Prius) there are PriusChat.com and PriusOnline.com. There are also several individual's sites devoted to the car you will also love if you get one.
I haven't met a Prius owner yet who just "liked" their car.9 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Irresistible
by snoopturk on May 15, 2005
Pros: Too many to mention (See Opinion)
Cons: sound system
Summary: I have two one for me and my wife. This is the best car I have ever owned. I've had the cars for ten months and average from 41 ...
Summary: I have two one for me and my wife. This is the best car I have ever owned. I've had the cars for ten months and average from 41 to 45 mpg in the winter and 46 to 51 in the warmer weather. It's comfortable, has good pickup and I really enjoy driving this car. I love the GPS system and although that was not a priority for me I am glad I have it and will never buy a car without it. What is surprising about this car is the amount of interior room. at 175 inches in length 3 inches shorter than a Nissan Sentra with much more interior space. In fact the exterior demension, this car falls into the small car class and the interior has about the same amount of space as a mid-size car. This was acomplised by extending the wheelbase to 106" the same as many mid-sise car that are over 10" longer than the Prius. The smart key system is awesome, I never have to take out my key out of my pocket. This is a real convienience. This car produces 90% fewer smog forming emissions than an ultra-low emissions vehicle.This means the Prius has the best emissions rating of any gasoline fueled car. Also this car rates very high in the crash tests. The only drawback I can find is the mediocre sound system
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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CAR OF THE YEAR IN EUROPE! & NORTH AMERICA! - SIMPLE THE BEST HIGH-TECH CAR ON THE ROAD!
by puicac on December 14, 2005
Pros: BEST HIGH-TECH CAR ON THE ROAD / 60MPG / VOICE NAVIGATIONS SYSTEM / BLUETOOTH / ALL DIGITAL / NO KEY / AERODYINAMIC DRAG COEF=0.28!
Cons: Driving Toyota Prius Hybrid I almost forget to stop to the gas stations anymore and hunt the best gas price around ?! The gas price simple does not matter anymore until eventually will reach $10/Gal !
Summary: Toyota Prius is absolutely 100% the BEST HIGH-TECH CAR ON THE ROAD today!
To confirm that it has been choused the Car of Year 2005 in Europe and Car of ...Summary: Toyota Prius is absolutely 100% the BEST HIGH-TECH CAR ON THE ROAD today!
To confirm that it has been choused the Car of Year 2005 in Europe and Car of Year 2004 (when this new model appeared) in North America, or better let?s go logic as follows:
I bought a Toyota Prius hybrid for many reasons like:
? Reducing dependence on foreign oil,
? A fascination with advanced technology, or just
? Having one of the coolest vehicles on the block with over 300 patented & brevetted inventions onboard!, and for being:
? The Best European car of 2005!
? 2004 North American Car of the Year (U.S. and Canada)
? Best Motor Trend 2004 Car of the Year (U.S.)
? Best-engineered Vehicle 2004, from the Society of Automotive Engineers? Automotive Engineering International (U.S.)
? Best Family Car of the Year 2004, from Top Gear (U.K.)
? Best Car Gasoline Category, ADEME CO2 index (France)
? Eco Car of the Year, from Fleet Excellence Awards (U.K.)
? Winner of the 2004 ADAC EcoTest, lowest emissions (Germany)
? Number 1 in the ÖKO-TREND Auto-Umwelt-Rankings (German environmental index)
? Most Eco-friendly Car, EcoMobiListe (Switzerland)
At:
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/news/04/0527_1.html
+ The Best European car of 2005:
http://www.caroftheyear.org/pages/Coty05.htm
http://www.autoindex.org/news.plt?no=976
http://www.autoindex.org/news.plt?no=976
http://www.evworld.com/view.cfm?section=communique&newsid=6919
http://www.motorcities.com/contents/04KGF372814639.html
http://www.carpages.co.uk/toyota/toyota_prius_15_11_04.asp?switched=on&echo=207112854
http://www.toyota-europe.com/showroom/prius/
http://priuschat.com/forums/archive/o_t/t_5391/car-of-the-year-2005-in-europe.html
http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/2005/prius/key_features/awards.html
http://www.toyota.com/about/environment/awards/sae.html
http://www.toyota.com/prius/
Best Overall Values of the Year (this is basic version but I got full options):
http://www.intellichoice.com/best_values/bovy/year/2004/bovy_category/Midsize
Toyota Consumer Reports Statistics:
Auto on Info March 2004
Toyota Dominates List of Best Cars and Trucks; General Motors Dominates List of Worst Cars and Trucks
Consumer Reports' April 2004 section "Used Cars: The best and worst," provides two lists at the opposite ends of the spectrum - the "much-better-than-average reliability" list and the "much-worse-than-average overall reliability" list. On the first list, Toyota models dominate and account for 36% of the given vehicles. The following table provides a breakdown of the "much-better-than-average reliability" list by auto manufacturer.
Manufacturer Percentage of Models on the Much-Better-Than-Average Reliability List
Toyota 36%
Honda 20%
Nissan 12%
Mazda 10%
Subaru 8%
Ford 6%
Other 8%
At the other end, General Motors models account for 43% of the "much-worse-than-average overall reliability" list. The following table gives the breakdown of this list by auto manufacturer.
Manufacturer Percentage of Models on the Much-Worse-Than-Average Reliability List
General Motors 43%
Chrysler 24%
Volkswagen 19%
Other 14%
BMW, Jaguar, and Mercedes-Benz each had one model on the Much-Worse-Than-Average Reliability list.
Source: "Used Cars: The best and worst," Consumer Reports, April 2004, pp. 80, 81
Auto on Info November 2003
Toyota Dominates "Best Used Cars" List; Chrysler and General Motors Dominate "Worst Used Cars" List
On page 198 of the Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2004, Consumer Reports gives its list of "The best used cars." The number of models on this list for each respective manufacturer is given below; the one rebadge is omitted.
Manufacturer The Number of Models on Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2004's "Best Used Cars" List
Toyota 15
Honda 7
Nissan 5
Subaru 4
Ford 2
Isuzu 1
Saab 1
On page 201 of the Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2004, Consumer Reports gives its list of "The worst used cars." The number of models on this list for each respective manufacturer is given below.
Manufacturer The Number of Models on Consumer Reports Buying Guide 2004's "Worst Used Cars" List
Chrysler 11
General Motors 10
Ford 3
Volkswagen 2
Mercedes-Benz 1
Volvo 1
The lists are based on reliability performance for model years 1995 to 2002.
See 1977 & 1980 when Toyota overpass the reliability of Mercedes (!):
1953 Consumer Reports introduces its first automotive issue.
1966 Toyota sells its first Corolla.
1967 Toyota sells its first Corolla in North America.
circa 1974 The Toyota Corolla achieves Mercedes line reliability, and a fine car becomes one of the world's finest. This was the first assault on Mercedes' monopoly on high reliability.1
circa 1977 The Toyota line achieves Mercedes line reliability, and the monopoly becomes a duopoly.1
circa 1980 The Honda line achieves Toyota-Mercedes reliability, and the duopoly becomes a triopoly.1 (In the latter half of the 1980s, Mercedes' reliability standing began a decade-plus decline, and today it is very distant from those of Toyota and Honda.)
1989 Toyota sells its first Lexus LS400.
1995 Nissan sells its first Infiniti I30.
April 29, 2001 The Auto on Info website is first published. Its primary features were then the charts and tables of auto Reliability Index Values, the 2001 Auto Review, and an auto durability page.
2001 Auto on Info expands its reliability and durability coverage and introduces Mini-Surveys, in part, to gather information on other measures of quality.
2002 Auto on Info introduces its page of Auto Manufacturer Awards and Honors for quality achievements.
September 2003 Auto on Info introduces the concept of natural market share.
1 Source: The reliability tables in Consumer Reports Buying Guides of the mid-1970s through the late-1980s
All these are online at:
http://www.autooninfo.info/AutoonInfo/TheGreatGulf.htm
Related in the news today ?Americans' appetite for foreign consumer products and automobiles hit record highs? at:
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=749&e=1&u=/ap/20050311/ap_on_bi_go_ec_fi/economy
People can't wait to get behind the wheel of Toyota's first SUV with Hybrid Synergy Drive®. Here's your chance: in June 2005, Highlander Hybrid will go on sale at Toyota dealerships nationwide!
For the third consecutive year, environmentally aware Oscar® nominees and presenters used Toyota hybrid vehicles for the awards show transportation. Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, Orlando Bloom, Salma Hayek, and Morgan Freeman were among the celebrities who arrived at the red carpet in the Toyota Prius and Highlander Hybrid . The effort to raise awareness of greener transportation through association with Hollywood star power was themed "Red Carpet/Green Cars".
The second-generation Prius has been a hit with buyers and critics since it came to market in Fall 2003. One price of success: Prius' popularity led to extended delivery times. But with more Prius than ever coming off the assembly line, buyers may be in for a pleasant surprise now.
The 2004 Toyota North America Environmental Report is a revealing profile of Toyota's environmental performance. It documents the environmental side of being a major auto manufacturer, covering Toyota vehicles plus 30 Toyota North American locations.
In January, Ellen DeGeneres and Toyota combined efforts to raise money for tsunami victims by auctioning a new 2005 Prius. The American Red Cross and UNICEF tsunami relief funds received the $38,600 proceeds from the sale.
Prius owners: we want to hear from you!
Toyota vehicles score high in online automotive green guide
Toyota receives federal Energy Star award
Toyota environmental grants and activities
6 quick tips for drivers to reduce air pollution
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Subject: Hybrid Synergy View Newsletter
People buy Toyota hybrids for diverse reasons: reducing dependence on foreign oil, a fascination with advanced technology, or just having one of the coolest vehicles on the block.
Highlander Hybrid has quite a following, considering that it's not yet in Toyota showrooms! A record number of people have signed up on toyota.com to stay in touch with Toyota's first hybrid SUV. Hybrid Synergy View did some research to find out what motivates a Highlander Hybrid "handraiser" ? someone who has expressed an interest in learning more.
Recognizing the powerful influence of film and television on public opinion, the Environmental Media Association (EMA) encourages the entertainment industry to include pro-environmental content in its productions. Each year, the organization presents EMA Awards to producers and writers who have done outstanding work in getting out the environmental word.
Major increase in Prius shipments will reduce backorders
More than 120,000 Prius in the U.S.
European Car of the Year
Toyota has opened a window to new automotive technologies called PlanetKaizen. It's a place for people with an eye for what's new and upcoming. Uncover inside information about Toyota automotive innovations including Hybrid Synergy Drive® at PlanetKaizen.
Toyota Vehicles Perform Well in 2005 EPA Fuel Economy Comparisons
Toyota Wins National, State and Local Environmental Awards
Toyota Announces Worldwide Environmental Grants
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Everybody knows that this has been choose over & over again by Consumer Reports as the most satisfying car, not talking about MPG, High Tech starting with blue tooth technology, voice navigation system, HID, best ever hybrid yet, while every body else is sock in traffic driving full speed on car pool lanes ?.ETC, but all-in-one the bottom line is that:
I drove it 40K miles and still enjoy every second of driving it!Updated
Everybody knows that Prius has been choose over & over again by Consumer Reports as the most satisfying car, not talking about MPG, High Tech starting with blue tooth technology, voice navigation system, HID, best ever hybrid yet, while every body else is sock in traffic driving full speed on car pool lanes ?.ETC, but all-in-one the bottom line is that:
I drove it 40K miles and still enjoy every second of driving it!2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome in all but sound system
by mikeinlaca on June 28, 2005
Pros: Ride, "toys", GPS, Bluetooth
Cons: Radio, rear vision
Summary: Got one of the first and love it as much now as the first day. Lots of fun but the radio system sucks. JBL should be ashamed of the lousy ...
Summary: Got one of the first and love it as much now as the first day. Lots of fun but the radio system sucks. JBL should be ashamed of the lousy sound, bad balance, horrible mid-range, no way to really up-grade it as it is supposedly the top of the line. A Bose it is not. My factory installed Honda Accord system was far better and cheaper.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Close Toyota, but too geeky and lacking polish
by begreen9 on December 29, 2005
Pros: Quiet, roomy back seat, jbl sound, easy to drive
Cons: Unsafe controls, poor fitting plastics, bad visibility
Summary: My wife and I drove a 2005 pkg. 4 Prius for testdrives of about 30 min. each. She drove first. The car is easy to drive, though one must guess ...
Summary: My wife and I drove a 2005 pkg. 4 Prius for testdrives of about 30 min. each. She drove first. The car is easy to drive, though one must guess the locations of the nose and tail of the car. There are blind spots in the front sides and in the rear. The technology of the car is a wonder. Unfortunately Toyota got carried away with it and put essential controls on the LCD screen. I guess that is ok for a radio that one can establish presets for, but not for essential controls like heating/defrost. We found it dangerously distracting when one has to switch on the defroster, set fan speed, etc. while driving in heavy traffic during a downpour. It is especially bad for people not used to computers. Once the sun hit the display, she was driving blind. I sat in the backseat and the radio sounded good from there. The rear-seat legroom was very good for a smaller car.
When I drove the car it was very easy to get used to the basic controls and feel of the car. It is quiet and easy to exceed the speed limit because of the lack of wind and engine noise. The dealer kept turning up the radio, extolling the sound system, but I like to drive with the radio off. That is when I noticed was noises coming from poor fitting plastics in the dash while on a modestly rough city street. We sold a Camry LE wagon with 19K miles, for noisy, poor fitting plastics. I was dismayed to hear it in a Prius. We both have older Japanese cars and neither have ever had a squeak or rattle in them. Toyota really needs to pay attention here. My back is not the best and after about 15 miuntes, the lack of lumbar support in the driver's seat really started nagging at me. I was a bit dumbfounded when I asked how to adjust the lumbar support and was told, there isn't any. This is amazing. Toyota has made some excellent seats with good support. Why didn't they think to offer this in a premium technology vehicle like the Prius?
So, we went in sold on the Prius and now are having second thoughts.It is a great technology showcase, but lacks ergonomic refinement, precision fit and seems to ask the driver to drive on blind (spot) faith too often.3 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A great, fun car to drive! 48.7 MPG average!
by eshepard on May 27, 2005
Pros: Interior space, fun to drive, conserves fossil fuel, cutting-edge.
Cons: Blindspot due to aerodynamic design, more ground clearance would be nice.
Summary: Really a wonderful car. I am very happy with mine! Milage is good - 48 MPG with mostly highway driving, cruising at 70 MPH. Can't wait for a AWD ...
Summary: Really a wonderful car. I am very happy with mine! Milage is good - 48 MPG with mostly highway driving, cruising at 70 MPH. Can't wait for a AWD version!
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Think outside the "gas mileage" box
by tmichals on May 20, 2005
Pros: Technology heading in the right direction.
Cons: My 2004 fuel gauge is less than optimal.
Summary: One of the obvious areas I see missing from most of the discussions on hybrids relates to how braking is, for the most part, accomplished through power regeneration rather than ...
Summary: One of the obvious areas I see missing from most of the discussions on hybrids relates to how braking is, for the most part, accomplished through power regeneration rather than friction and heat. The reduced wear and tear on the brake system should extend the life of the brakes while reducing the amount of brake dust (not the most friendly stuff to inhale). Although not perfect, I see this as a great step in the right direction.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This car grows on you.
by qdon on May 18, 2005
Pros: Quiet, efficient, fun to drive.
Cons: Poor rear visibility. The bluetooth system works only with some devices, not with my cellphone.
Summary: This car has been a delght - once we got it. It took four months wait, and the dealer tried to get us to take another model or a used ...
Summary: This car has been a delght - once we got it. It took four months wait, and the dealer tried to get us to take another model or a used car. The price was $4000 over list, and the dealer tried to add another $1000. Once we got it, my family has been competing to use it - our alternatives are a BMW 323 and an Audi A4 Avant, no slouches. Mileage has been about 43-45 mpg on regular, resulting in halving my gas costs compared to the other cars.
I've had it in for an oil change - free, with a free car wash.
The smart key is very handy when I have my hands full. It has been easy to get used to the car and the fit and finish have been superb. Fun to drive, light on the wallet.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Toyota
- Part number: 100454051
- Bottom Line: Thanks to a seamless and sophisticated power system, the 2005 Toyota Prius delivers excellent gas mileage and comfort, making it the best hybrid on the road today.
Basic car properties
- Body style hatchback
- Trim levels Base
- Available Engine Hybrid with CVT
Safety Features
- Smart airbags Standard
- Antilock brakes Optional
- Traction control Standard
- Stability control Optional
- Back-up cameras Not available
- Heads-up display Not available
- Collision avoidance Not available
- Steerable headlights Not available
- Roadside assistance Standard
- Adaptive cruise control Standard
- Rain-sensitive wipers Not available
- Lane departure warning Not available
Entertainment
- 5 channel audio Not available
- HD radio Not available
- Satellite radio Not available
- Satellite video Not available
- Video entertainment system Not available
- Multizone entertainment Not available
- Connection for portable MP3 sound system Not available
- MP3 CD-enabled sound system Not available
- Media hard-disk MP3 sound system Not available
- Active noise cancelling Not available
- DIN-compatible bays Not available
- Memory card slot Not available
- USB connection Not available
Climate/convenience
- Multizone climate control Not available
- Smart (set-and-forget) climate control Standard
- Heated/cooled seats Not available
- Integrated interface (iDrive, for example) Not available
- Keyless entry Standard
- Keyless start Standard
- Remote start Not available
- Two-way security system Standard
- 120V power outlet Not available
- 12V power outlet Standard
Drivetrain Technology
- Drivetrain available front-drive
- All-wheel steering Not available
- Steer by wire Not available
- Brake by wire Not available
- Drive by wire Standard
- Active suspension Not available
- Electronically controlled suspension Optional
Navigation
- GPS Navigation system - DVD data Not available
- Trip computer Not available
- Live traffic data Not available
- Touchscreen navigation Not available
- Voice activated navigation Optional
- DVD navigation system (non-GPS) Optional
Communication
- Bluetooth phone interface Optional
- Wi-Fi Not available
- Internet access - cellular Not available
- Internet access - satellite Not available
- OnStar or other roadside assistance system Not available
- Vehicle Web support Not available
- Home automation integration Optional
Manufacturer info
- Toyota
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Toyota products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://www.toyota.com
- Phone: 1-800-GO TOYOTA
