Green machine: Toyota's prius saves gas and cuts emissions, but there is a price

摘要

IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE first drives in our long-term Prius, the car's interior garnered praise for its spacious design and comfortable accommodations. We also lauded the hatchback design that makes cargo hauling a cinch. "This car is like a mini-minivan," one editor said, and a few have even set their sights on the Prius for future road trips. Our staff voices mixed views on the driving experience, though. "It handles pretty well," one editor proclaimed, "for a five-year-old minivan." At the same time, our logbook is filled with statements such as, "I'm liking it more all the time" and "This is the perfect car for running errands and driving kids to baseball practice." And while doing those family duties, the hybrid powertrain is, "Plenty fast enough in the stop-and-go, and happy to cruise at 80 mph."