2004 Motor Trend Car of the Year Toyota Prius

摘要

We love horsepower, naturally. And responsive handling―the more gs, the more grins here at Motor Trend HQ. Sexy sheetmetal? Always gets our attention. We've never denied our affinity for luxurious amenities, either. Above all, though, we are admirers of brilliant design and engineering. Which is to say, design and engineering that advance the state of the automotive art without forcing users to relearn what they already know about the automobile. Having completed weeks of testing and over-the-road evaluations, our editors agree that, in this year's highly diverse and competitive field, one entry shines more brilliantly than any other. The all-new Toyota Prius, a roomy, feature-packed, and user-friendly gas/electric hybrid capable of delivering an astonishing 60 miles per gallon in city driving, is the 2004 Motor Trend Car of the Year. Oh, we'll get letters. "How could Motor Trend―the bible of tire-smoking performance―hail a 110-horsepower econocar?" some will write. "You've caved in to the tree-huggers," others will cry.