2007 Toyota Prius

A Headier Hybrid

The most recognized gas/electric hybrid becomes even more distinctive with a sportier Touring Edition added for 2007.

While driving a high-mileage gasoline/electric hybrid car is considered by many to be an altruistic experience — it’s good for the environment and helps save natural resources — Toyota is making its popular but uninspired Prius more pleasurable to drive for 2007 by adding a sporty new Touring Edition. A European-tuned suspension and larger 16-inch alloy wheels and tires help contribute to more-spirited handling than the standard Prius affords. The Touring Edition is further distinguished from the rest of the line by high-intensity headlamps and integrated fog lights up front as well as a larger aerodynamic spoiler at the rear.

All 2007 models now include the previously optional front side and side-curtain airbags as standard equipment. The Prius otherwise remains unchanged.

Toyota's futuristic-looking Prius has been embraced by extroverted, environmentally concerned motorists, because, unlike other gas/electric hybrid vehicles that are versions of regular cars and SUVs, the Prius has a look all its own.

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Hollywood actors have been making environmental statements at the Academy Awards by arriving in hybrid vehicles over the past few years. George Clooney, Frances McDormand and Oscar-winner Paul Haggis all drove up in Priuses for the 2006 awards. Toyota and environmental organization Global Green USA sponsor this use of hybrid cars, called “Red Carpet, Green Cars.”

The federal government allows an income tax credit for buyers of gas/electric hybrid vehicles. For the Prius, this amounts to a $1,575 credit for models purchased through March 31, 2007; it’s scheduled to drop to $787.50 on April 1, and it will be phased out entirely after September 30 of this year. In some states, owners of hybrid vehicles like the Prius enjoy certain privileges, like being able to drive in carpool lanes with only one occupant.

The Prius' Hybrid Synergy Drive powertrain consists of a 76-hp 1.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that works in tandem with an electric motor/generator and a bank of high-output, rechargeable, nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries to produce the equivalent of 110 hp. Only the electric motor powers the vehicle when pulling away from a stop and at lower speeds (as long as you don’t gun it); at higher speeds and during stronger acceleration, power comes from both the gasoline engine and the electric motor. Overall, the car's acceleration is roughly equivalent to that of a four-cylinder Toyota Camry.

The Prius shuts its gasoline engine off automatically at a stop to conserve fuel and reduce exhaust emissions; it starts up quickly and automatically when the driver lifts his or her foot off the brake pedal and depresses the accelerator. A continuously variable automatic transmission is standard.

Under deceleration or braking, the generator sends electrical power back to the batteries through a process known as regenerative braking. This enables the batteries to maintain their power without ever having to be recharged from an external source. The Prius' rechargeable battery pack is covered under an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty.

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While the Prius is rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at 60 mpg city/51 mpg highway, even Toyota admits that this figure tends to be about 20 percent higher than most motorists will ever obtain. This is primarily because of the way the EPA tests fuel economy, which is according to the amount of carbon exhaust emitted from the tailpipe of a vehicle over a predetermined acceleration and braking cycle in a laboratory. Because some of a hybrid vehicle's power comes from an electric motor that produces zero emissions, these figures tend to skew higher than real-world miles-driven/gallons-consumed computations would otherwise indicate. However, the EPA has changed its method for measuring fuel economy, so all vehicles should have more accurate estimates in the future.

The Prius has a roomy interior and a convenient hatchback, though the trunk isn't as large as those on most midsize sedans. A large electronic display dominates the dash and shows where the Prius is drawing its power. It can be distracting.

The Prius comes well-equipped, with options only offered in packages that range from the $825 Package 1 (which includes a six-speaker CD/MP3 stereo, a back-up camera and a keyless entry/start Smart Key system), to the $6,350 Package 6 (with a navigation system, stability control, a Bluetooth wireless cell phone interface, leather upholstery and many other extras).

The Toyota Prius is proving to be just as reliable as any Toyota. Consumer Reports says it has much better than average reliability. The Prius scores four out of five stars on all of the National Highway Traffic Administration's crash tests.