Toyota Prius Overview

For those who place fuel efficiency as the top consideration when buying a car, the Prius clearly leads the pack. Its 51 city/48 highway/50 combined mpg quite simply blows the doors off all other hybrids on the road. The Prius is sold to the public in Two, Three, Four and Five trim levels, while the cheaper One model is offered only for fleet sales. The compact-midsize hybrid uses Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, mating a 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle 4-cylinder gasoline engine with a permanent-magnet AC synchronous motor to generate 134 combined peak horsepower. All Prius models use a continuously variable automatic transmission and front-wheel drive.

Despite the car's eco-friendly character, it is easy to live with on a daily basis. Decent rear seat interior room and up to 21.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity combine with advanced safety and infotainment features to provide a car that can save lots of money on fuel bills without making compromises.