Is the 2009 Toyota Prius as good as its reputation?

My sister owns a Prius and my Mom owns a Zenn (electric car). I was feeling like a terrible gas-guzzler when I was with them, so I finally took the plunge and traded in my SUV for a 2009 Toyota Prius. I am so happy with it!

The Prius offers a surprisingly spacious cabin for a small car, including great ceiling height, which matters to my family (we're both tall). We can fit three booster seats in the backseat, which is required for morning carpool, so I don't actually feel like I gave up much in terms of passenger space.

Visibility is great out the front and side windows. More limited in the back because of the way the hatchback is constructed. It was a smart idea to make the bottom edge of the hatchback a window, but visibility out the back is still a little annoying.

When you are in reverse, the video picture on the dashboard shows you a very clear view of the space immediately behind your car, which provides an extra measure of safety. I don't find myself looking at the dash all that much when I'm in reverse. Instead, I'm usually looking over my shoulder out the back window to be sure the road is clear. But I do find the video image to be helpful when parallel parking in a tight spot.

I used the Toyota website to choose my Prius and the package/extras I wanted. I had a very difficult time finding any info on the difference between the Prius standard and Prius touring models. The website mentions the stabilizer, and the price difference. But I couldn't find any user reviews that indicated any reason to pay extra for the touring model. I test drove both, and couldn't tell the difference between the standard and touring ride myself. My decision was made easier by the fact that there wasn't a single touring model in the state of California in the color that I wanted. So I went with the standard and saved about $1000.

Now that I've had the car for a few weeks, I can share that I'm pleasantly surprised with the ride. It has more "get up and go" than I was expecting, including sufficient acceleration when coming onto the highway, or passing other vehicles at high speeds. In fact, I found myself cruising down the freeway the other day at a peppy 75mph without even noticing that I had picked up that much speed. And I was still averaging 43mpg! Now that I know it can do those speeds without much effort, I'll be sure to slow down.

And did I mention the incredibly tight turning radius? Who needs a three-point turn with a Prius?

Overall, the Prius is a pretty fun car to drive. I admit to being a bit more "goal oriented" than the average person, so I totally enjoy watching the engine performance display as it shows me my average MPG and whether I'm using the battery or charging the battery. The car is really well designed in that respect, because you become completely engaged in the effort to maximize fuel efficiency with the direct feedback loop.

I also enjoy all of the little extras including the built in navigation (GPS), bluetooth for my phone (I have a blackberry) and plug in for my MP3 player (my iPod). I don't do a long commute everyday, but when I do make those hour long treks, I am really glad to have all of these extras along with me, because they make the ride more convenient and enjoyable.

The only downsides I have experienced with my new Prius are probably due to my transition from an SUV. First, I have to remember to drive a little differently. When you're in an SUV, and you signal that you're about to change lanes, other cars respect (or fear) you, and leave the space to let you in. In my Prius, I find I have to be a little more aggressive and "take the space" as opposed to being given it.

The other downside relates to the weight of the car, and the fact that it doesn't have the shock absorbtion I'm used to. I definitely feel the road more in this car, and when I'm driving on a windy overpass, I can feel the wind pushing me a bit. It takes a little getting used to, but nothing more than that.

Finally, I will say that everything you hear about Prius drivers feeling a bit superior because they are driving a hybrid that gets 40-45 MPG, without giving up their simple pleasures of comfort and extras -- it's true!

(updated 09-19-2008 to include more info on the ride and correction on model year)