I purchased my 2005 Prius to replace a Honda Civic Hybrid (manual transmission) that was totaled in a collision. While I was pleased with the Civic Hybrid, I am still wowed by my Prius every time I drive it. If I was talking to you in person, I could spend the next hour telling you all the things I love about my Prius, but for efficiency sake, I will sum up the most significant points below. It is important to note that I purchased a Package 6 Prius and highly recommend it for its resale value.

1) Mileage - Forget the EPA stickers. I have yet to find a car that gets those mileages in real life. Do expect, however, with smooth driving, to get an average of about 50 MPG with plenty of pick-up-and-go when you need it.

2) Price - I hear people talking all the time about the added price of the "hybrid" feature on cars. I challenge you to find a car as well built, so well designed, with so many features (both safety and luxury), and such a pleasure to drive, for the price of a Prius. Include the Federal Tax Credit (I believe about $3000 for the Prius) and the huge gas savings, and the price becomes very tolerable.

3) Features - WOW! Where do I begin? OK, here is a list separated by commas. If you want details on any of them, email me. Otherwise we'll be here all night.

Here they are: HID headlights, fog lights, rear windshield wiper, heated external mirrors with rear defroster, enhanced JBL stereo with 6 disc CD changer, onboard navigation system for USA and Canada, Smart-Key entry system (more on this below), voice commands for many functions, Bluetooth enabled to place calls through the car stereo system using your Bluetooth enabled cell phone (including voice command dialing), all-around airbags and other hidden safety features, traction control, 4-wheel ABS, variable output electric air-conditioner (saves energy while cooling the air even when the gasoline engine is off), 150K mile emission system warranty (California models), well designed interior with lots of room, heads-up display for safe driving, dimmable touch screen LCD display for all user interface functions, steering wheel controls for many functions, electric outside mirrors, auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with 2 programmable remotes for garage doors and gates, automatic climate control, and the list goes on.

Most of these features you may already have heard of. There is one, however, that warrants extra explanation: the Smartkey System. When the salesman described it to us, we thought it was a neat gadget, but little more. Now, a year later, we don't ever want another car without it.

Let me explain: The Prius does not have a normal metal key. It has a programmed remote that you insert into a slot on the dashboard prior to pressing the Power button to turn the car on. Enabling the Smartkey takes it a step further. As long as you have your key with you, such as in your pocket or purse, you simply walk up to the car and reach for the front door handle. The car unlocks. You sit down inside and press the power button. The car recognizes that you have the key with you and starts. At night, as soon as you approach your car, the lights inside come on. You can not lock the car from outside if the car senses the keys are still inside. Otherwise, a simple push of the button located on the front doors or rear hatch will lock the car. This feature is invaluable for anyone who has to carry a baby or child to the car, has their hands full, or doesn't want to fumble with keys in dark parking lots late at night. It's an incredible feature!

There is only one downside to the Smartkey remote. Your Prius comes with 2 Smartkeys when you buy it. If you lose them or want additional ones, they are $400 each. Knowing this has been a great incentive for me to not lose my keys.

I also want to briefly touch on the well-designed interior of the Prius. The front seats were deliberately designed so that you can remove the headrest, push the seat completely forward, and tilt the backrest down to create a perfectly flush bed with the rear sear to catch some sleep.

The rear seating room is amazingly good. I am 6'2". I can adjust the front seat to my comfort, then get into the back seat and still have enough room for my knees.

If you don't need the back seat, you can fold down all or part of it with either one or both sections, adding to the amount of storage space you have in the hatchback. Skis, surfboards, whatever...

Underneath the hatchback floor is more storage space, which also houses the car jack and spare tire, similar to the storage space in many station wagons. Additionally, there are a variety of cup holders, glove compartments, sunglass holders, and other nooks and crannies to store all your junk and keep your car looking neat and tidy. Simply put, the engineers spent a lot of time making sure that every possible cubic inch of space is put to good use.

There are so many more good things to say about this car that I just won't have time for. I will finalize my review with 3 items I wish Toyota had done better. These are NOT complaints, just wish list items.

1) Although I have a 6-disc CD changer, I wish it played mp3 CDs. My work truck, a basic late-model Ford, has this feature and I sure wish my Prius had it.

2) Several trucks and SUVs now have 120 volt outlets built into them from the factory. I wish the Prius had a 15 or 20 amp, 120 volt outlet attached to its high-voltage battery. I could think of many times that would come in handy for me.

3) Pioneer now has a navigation system that incorporates Sirius Satellite real-time traffic updates into its driving guidance system and will reroute you to avoid traffic. How cool that would be to have!!!

4) Finally, I wish the interior surface was a more scuff-resistant material. Although it can usually be rubbed out, the smooth plastic areas on the door panels and dashboard are more prone to scuffing and wear than other cars I've owned.

To sum it up, this is the best car I have ever owned. Although I have a short wish list, I have no complaints about the car.

Don't automatically believe that if you want one, you'll have to wait 6 months. People often back out of the sale after they order one. While you may not be able to choose your color, you can usually still find one. We found 2 the day we looked and bought the second one the same day. I've been happy with my purchase ever since.

Additional Note: (Added 3/26/08) It's been nearly three years since I purchased my Prius, and I have found one major annoyance that Toyota has performed very poorly on. The GPS navigation system is becoming outdated, yet getting an update has been challenging. At first, several dealers gave me different stories on when and how updates would be available. When I finally found one last year, it came with a hefty $300 price tag. I figure for that price, I can buy a whole new standalone GPS system with current database. I think that price tag on the update is a rip-off and really taking advantage of the customer. Other than that, my review stands as I originally wrote it.

Amount Paid (US$): 26,000
Condition: New
Model Year: 2005
Model and Options: Prius - Package 6