Toyota Prius: Simply the Best Car?

(Credit: Toyota)

I just finished reading the test drive report of the 2008 Toyota Prius at Edmunds.com. After living with a 2008 Prius for half a year now, I can say that this report is spot on. Here's part of what Edmunds.com editor James Riswick has to say:

"Well, the simple answer is that the Prius is actually quite good. Given its superb interior packaging, ample features list and unbeatable fuel economy, the Prius was designed to be the epitome of practical, head-over-heart automotive choices. Its driving experience will never excite and its styling is hardly what most folks would deem attractive, yet for those who view cars as simple transportation devices, it's easy to recommend the Prius."

Most people who ask about my Prius seem surprised when I tell them that it's a car that really doesn't make any compromises. Some folks actually have a hard time believing that a car with a combined EPA rating of 46 mpg (my average for the first six months has been just over 52 mpg) is roomy enough inside to be classified as a midsize sedan and rides smoothly enough to be called "almost Lincoln-like." When people hear the name Prius, they typically lump it into the same category as infamous fuel sippers like the Geo Metro or smart fortwo, which they don't realize are considerably smaller and have lower EPA ratings than the Prius (the smart car even requires premium gasoline). The Prius is also a really fun car to drive (albeit not in a top-down, hair-on-fire, Corvette sort of way), as it becomes almost an obsession to try to squeeze just a few more miles per gallon out of its Hybrid Synergy Drive.

So is the Prius simply the best car available? That's an impossible question to answer, as it depends upon your transportation requirements, driving habits, and personal preference. I would venture to say, however, that the combination of utility, comfort, and economy available in the Prius really is tough to beat.