Is Toyota Prius (2006) a good car?

Question

There is a considerable amount of negative reviews about Prius on the Toyota website. Is this a good car? Is it really that fuel-efficient?
What are its positives? What are its negatives, if any?

I'm talking about the 2006 model.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Using standardized governmental tests (standardized so you can compare against other cars), the Toyota Prius is best in its class (midsize vehicle) in both the US and Canada, and is also highly ranked (vehicles aren't sorted by class, but only by fuel economy) in the UK.
US: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/best/bestworstNF.shtml (60MPG city, 51MPG highway)
Canada: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/personal/buying/energuide-winners.cfm?attr=8
UK: http://www.vcacarfueldata.org.uk/

You can see what vehicle owners are getting for fuel economy at:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=browseList
http://greenhybrid.com/compare/mileage/

Last I checked, Toyota doesn't have any vehicle reviews/ratings on their website. Perhaps something that was linked from there? Toyota USA (toyota.com) links to edmunds.com ... I know I gave up on the Prius forums on edmunds because of all of the naysayers (non-owners) and FUD makers who shouted so loud - wasn't good for my blood pressure to stay there to try and correct them...

The governmental fuel economy tests are NOT done with any AC or heater controls on. ALL cars perform worse than EPA with their climate control systems on. The only time I've seen a 10MPG (US) hit with AC or climate has been when doing short trips while stuck in non-moving traffic. A 10MPG hit (only 40MPG) on a EPA 50MPG car is a 20% hit. Meanwhile, if you have an EPA 25MPG car a similar 20% hit is only 5MPG (down to 20MPG). It just seems worse.

The Prius has been holding its resale value pretty well. It also scores in the Consumer Reports best picks lists for both reliability and as used cars. http://autos.msn.com/advice/CRArt.aspx?contentid=4023544

I've only heard of "electrical issues" on some of the original made only for the Japan market Prius from the 1998-2000 model years, when they've been bought grey market in other countries. (manuals and the car are in Japanese, use an older style battery module and management system, dealers in countries where it wasn't there originally haven't worked on them... the usual grey market problems.) Chances are that you'll never see one.

The Prius was first sold internationally starting with the 2001 model year (which had a upgraded battery/hybrid system). I own one, have been keeping track, and I haven't heard of much/any electrical problems. Biggest problem is dealers using the wrong grade of oil/overfilling, which could be for any car! As my husband kept stealing my car all the time, when the newer redesigned 2004 Prius (better hybrid system (now used on all of Toyota's other hybrids (Camry, Highlander, RX400H, GS450H, Alphard, Estima), bigger vehicle yet better fuel economy, etc.) came out he had to get one. No problems there, either.

Hybrid system warranty is 8 years/100,000 miles in the US. Warranty is full coverage, NOT pro-rated. If you live in a California-emissions state, the hybrid battery is further covered out to 10 years/150,000 miles.

If you can, try and have your Prius delivered by Sept. 30, 2006, so that you can get the full US Federal Income tax credit of $3150. Starting on Oct. 1, 2006, the credit will drop by 50% to $1575.
http://www.toyota.com/prius/tax.html
http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157557,00.html
Don't forget to check and see if your state offers any incentives (income tax credit or deduction, reduced sales tax, single-occupant HOV lane usage, reduced tolls, etc.) as well.


Insurance is about the same as a regular car.

Maintenance is about the same as a regular car - use your favorite mechanic or DIY.

Same gasoline as a regular car...


I've never seen anyone do a cost-benefit analysis for a v4 vs v6 vs diesel engine, so why do one for a hybrid drivetrain? Most cost analysis articles neglect trade-in value which the Prius does very well in maintaining. (in some areas, used Prius are still selling for new prices for availability and rising gasoline prices!). Don't forget to include federal and any state tax incentives in your calculation (Consumer Reports forgot, and had to issue a retraction that hybrids are cheaper to own/operate than their gasoline cousins). Edmunds.com still doesn't take into account the true depreciation value (as seen by manually looking for a Prius trade-in value) when calculating their TCO, but they still say that hybrids will pay for themselves even when using their lower than actual trade-in amounts: http://www.cnn.com/2006/AUTOS/08/22/bc.autos.hybrids.reut/index.html


For safety features, if you can afford them, I highly recommend the side and curtain air bags, and the vehicle stability control. Other than that, the Prius does pretty well on safety tests on its own.

Answer 2

2006 Toyota Prius

Answer 3

They are basically a computer on wheels. In my experience with vehicles, the more high-tech they get and the more gadgetry they add, the more unreliable vehicles become. The best cars seem to have simple, old technology. If you buy a Prius new and only plan on keeping it 2 or 3 years, it should be a pretty good car. The hybrid system in these cars are insanely complicated with all kinds of added parts over standard gas powered cars and are rediculously expensive to repair if something does go wrong. One of my father's co-workers recently bought a new Honda Insight. With less than 10,000 miles on the odometer, he's having electrical problems. First generation Prius' had major electrical glitches with the hybrid system that made the car inoperable.
Besides the major electrical glitches, I've read and heard that using the A/C reduces the fuel economy by up to 10mpg. That's WORSE than the drop in mileage by using the A/C in a typical gas powered car. In a gas powered car, you can expect a 2-3mpg drop in economy by using the A/C. The technology is just not proven yet and it's very costly technology, both for the companies selling these cars and for the people buying them.

Gas powered cars are very fuel efficient nowadays without all the complex, expensive, unreliable gadgetry. I'd say get a similar sized 4-cyl. gas powered 4-door instead of a Prius. Save yourself the $5,000-$10,000 purchase premium and possible nightmares in the future. Life is difficult enough without added headaches. A new Corolla or Civic will return over 40mpg on the highway...without hybrid confusion.

Answer 4

2006 Prius

Answer 5

I have had one just over a year, 18,000 miles.

my fuel economy now is about 60mpg (UK), mostly rural driving.
but the main benifit is that it drives more like an electric than any other comercial car.
ie it is smooth & relaxing to drive, push the Power button then flick the switch for forward or reverse & drive off. the variable transmission traction control is very good. some people reporting getting out of situations where 4x4s were stuck.

Most motoring writers are fossils locked into corporate freebies so can't figure out how to drive it properly.
If you are driving >70mph with cruise control you will be lucky to get 50mpg, if you are a round town/suburbs it will be better.

they hybrid system is garunteed 8years/80k miles, but there have been no notable failures so far, even on the older models. Otherwise usual toyota reliablility

There are prius user groups on yahoo, just search the groups for the group in your country

an all electric car or plug-in hybrid would be much better, but don't expect any models soon. see who killed the electric car.

Answer 6

I do not own one myself. A co-worker of my boyfriend owns one. She has had it for a few years now and she absolutely loves it. She gets 50 miles per gallon in that car.

I have owned Toyota in the past and they have always been an excellent car. I would think the Prius would be as well.

Test drive one and see how you like it....

Answer 7

Somehow I doubt Toyota has posted negative reviews about one of their own cars, on their own website... Yes to answer your question they are very good cars. Consumer Reports rates them very highly.

Answer 8

They are very good cars, we have not had any problems with them at work. They are very light on fuel and even lighter in brake pads( we have not had to replace any brake pads on any of the car that come into the workshop for servicing),some have done almost 60000Km and have only used about 20% of their front brake pads and even less of the rear brake pads.

Answer 9

it's a good car if you want to save gas, but everyone might not like how it looks. i'd say go with a honda civic hybrid: more stylish and about same gas mileage 50 mpg

Answer 10

Great fuel mileage and I have halled a loveseat + ottoman, lazy-boy chair, dining room chairs (6 at once), large grill, and 8ft. bookshelves (with the back closed). My only annoyance is the beeping when I put my bag in the passenger seat and do not buckle the seatbelt (it thinks a person is there).