TOYOTA PRIUS

What happens when a car that’s synonymous with a certain set of virtues adds a whole bunch more? It ends up here.

—Ezra Dyer

You may be unsurprised to learn that 10Best voters praised the Toyota Prius for its “sleek, daringly styled hatchback bodywork.” But—record scratch—those plaudits were from 20 years ago when the 2004 Prius first made the 10Best list. That second-generation car became synonymous with “hybrid” and cemented the geek-chic appeal of a wild shape married to superlative fuel economy. It only took two decades, but Toyota’s recaptured that very specific mix and added something to appeal to our enthusiast hearts: muscle. If you wanted to drive a 220-hp Prius in 2004, you’d probably begin by scavenging junkyards for a Ford Taurus SHO V-6. Now, you simply climb into a Prius Prime and push the start button. The Prime hits 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, a showing that goes a long way toward…

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Car and Driver (Digital) - 1 Issue, January 2024

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