Toyota Prius (2003 - 2009) Reviews, Pricing & Specs

Best. Car. Ever. We bought our first 2004 model in October 2003 (yes, probably the first people in Idaho to buy a Prius). We still have it (252K)--its been amazing (including in gnarly winter conditions as we ski a lot in Idaho and Utah). Never a problem, plus low-cost to drive. In 2009, we bought a second 04 used. It was great too. Someone t-boned us, and totaled it, so we bought a 2006. Weve driven that several times across the country twice in really bad winter weather conditions and drove by all the SUVs and semis that had been blown off the road . 2004 and 2006 Prius have been amazing cars for us.Jun 03, 2023

Pros: 48 mpg so far, very smooth and quiet drive. Comfy seats, has a lot of room for a smaller car. Body is good condition, air works great, Keyless entry works great so far. There’s a spare tire that’s easy to find and remove. All the fluids are full. The screen where MPR is in the perfect spot, and I don’t have to move my head around to find them. Cons: Bluetooth is super slow. It takes so long to make a call with voice command. You have to reconnect the audio every single time you turn the car off. It takes 40-60 seconds only in Park, but that seems forever when you’re going to work. I can’t use it when I’m in a hurry. The radio antenna onlypicks up near by stations. It’s speeds up pretty slow. A key replacement cost $450! There’s no interior button for the trunk and there’s not trunk button on the key. The wipers seem pretty old. There is a fog/cloudiness on the glass there the time and mileage are. It’s hard to see them both. It was over priced due to inflation but I had to buy a car soon because I wrecked mine. It was twice what I paid 3 years ago. Aug 12, 2022

I started my Driver’s Education class in the summer of 2008, and after a couple hours of class work, my instructor put me at the wheel of a brand new Prius. This example was designed specifically for driving instruction, since it had a second brake pedal for the passenger and “Student Driver” decals along the sides. My initial snail-pace cruise around the parking lot was, at that moment, the most fun I had ever had in my life. I relished the feeling of being in total control (save for the occasional stomp on the passenger-brake by my instructor when we got too close to a curb). The experience of driving a modern hybrid was a bit disconcerting for me as a novice driver. Most of the traditionally mechanical controls were electronic in the Prius. The parking brake, gear selector, and starter were all buttons on the dashboard. Speed was indicated by a digital display, and the tachometer was absent entirely. Acceleration was silent (until the gas engine started), and the brake pedal provided no feedback. Driving the Prius felt more like operating a computer than controlling a vehicle. The Prius had a back-up camera to make up for its poor rearward visibility, but since this was a luxury most cars didn’t have, the instructor kept a towel draped over the screen, requiring me to turn around and look out the split rear window to reverse. It was only after driving my Mom’s Corolla that I finally got accustomed to what it felt like to drive a "real" car. This car was not one that I would ever choose to drive of my own free will, but it provided a door into a world that I would soon fall in love with, and so I have developed a respect for it (with mild reservations).Jan 06, 2013

We love this car. It takes some time to get used to when it stops at traffic lights - quiet and no engine running movement. People often can't hear you driving behind them or backing up in the parking lot because it's so quiet when the gas engine is off. Among all the hybrid cars in its class, I think Prius has the best performance in terms of handling, power, reliability, fuel efficiency, and cargo space. On highway, it's a little noisy compared to Honda Accord. Great gas mileage for local commute especially if you have to go through a lot of traffic lights. The smart brake system works really well if you allows it to work by not pumping the brakes. Because the gas engine is not on all the time fir hybrid cars so the recommended oil change is every 5000 miles instead of 3000 miles. Less wear and tear on the engine parts. Smart key is very convenient, so I never need to look for car key in my purse to open the door or start the car. The built-in navigation system just makes every trip we took more fun and less stressful. It's comfortable for road trips, and we defintely enjoyed the gas savings. The cargo space is large and usable with the back seated folded down. Loading and unloading are also easy because of its flat bed design. It's a great car! Feb 06, 2012

Surprisingly large on the inside. Build quality is typical Toyota, meaning very good. Performance is uninspiring, but adequate for commuting in Chicago. Not the car you take out for a fun Sunday drive on a twisty road, but nothing beats it for a 32 mile commute in Chicago. Averaged 45 MPG in winter (I think temperature affects battery performance) and 52 MPG in summer. Only one dislike is that the cream interior shows dirt easily and the design of the arm rests on the drivers side led to visible wear. Liked it enough that I gave it to my daughter and bought a second one.Jun 26, 2010

This car is amazing. If we ride it hard, and gun it at every light, we still get 40mpg. It's got plenty of pep and has a really nice ride. We've had it for a little over 2 years now and have absolutely no complaints. I think everyone should have one! We were looking at the Mazda 3 hatchback and the Kia Spectra5 and this has the best build, most useful features, and by far the largest cabin. Plus Toyota's are known to be reliable and have great resale value (although I don't think we'd ever sell this!)Dec 15, 2008

Our Prius has been great, we've owned it now for over a year and haven't had any trouble with it. The exterior is very attractive and the interior has tons of room. We are all about 6'2'' and there is more than enough room for 4 very tall people in our family to ride in the car comfortably. It is fun to drive and has many nice features like back-up camera, bluetooth,etc. But the best thing about the Toyota Prius is the great gas milage that we get!Dec 06, 2008

I love our car! It gets over 50mpg!! Seriously! It is the Package 5, so it has every option available. The tan leather is beautiful. We had the windows tinted and they look awesome, especially with the white paint. The only thing we would change is the navigation. You can't use it when the car is moving, which is terrible. Love everything else about this car!!Jul 22, 2008

I hated this car when I first got it. It takes no prize the beauty department, and the seats are not as comfortable as my old Infiniti. But then about 2 weeks into driving it, I suddenly realized that I love it. It's quiet as a mouse, has all kinds of cool gadgets, and of course there's the mpg factor. I'm totally sold on the hybrid concept. Get rid of your gas guzzling SUV and find yourself a Prius. Jun 25, 2008

This is a great car for all around city commuting. It handles well, has a reasonable ride, and of course the gas millage is good. The build quality has been up to the standards of Toyota i.e., fantastic. With 3000 miles on the car I have had zero issues. The acceleration is slow which is to be expected. It does feel a little tippy when aggressively turning corners, but a Porsche it is not. The interior noise is reasonable and it is easy enough to carry on a conversation. Highway driving is good, but leave plenty of room to pass. There is very little get up and go. Dec 15, 2006

I drove a Toyota Prius a few months ago as a Zipcar member, and I was impressed. It was my first experience driving a hybrid, and I was amazed at how quiet the car is. It drives comparatively well to any other non-hybrid car I have driven, and I enjoyed seeing how the inside of the car was being utizilized as I drove (you can watch it on a screen on the dashboard). I would certainly drive it again.Oct 02, 2006