2004 Toyota Prius

Pros: Fuel economy, keyless entry system, quiet drive, space
Cons: Rear view compromised, choice of interior fabric, rough ride

I got my Prius earlier than expected as I was told it was a 90-day wait... I thought I'd get a call in January or February, but mid-December they had the car I wanted. All the Toyota dealerships wanted some down-payment to get on their list. Several said ...

Pros: Ease of driving; comfort; mileage; flexibility of the rear compartment
Cons: Difficult to get the kinks out

First, let me say that when I actually HAVE the car, I do love it, and I'm averaging between 46 and 52 mpg. It's comfortable even on long trips, and plenty roomy. I don't mind the slow acceleration, and I love the arthritis-friendly joy stick that ...

Pros: Comfortable interior, Great looks, Ease in driving, Energy efficient.
Cons: None

We purchased a Toyota Prius last year, we have gone on more family trips now than we have ever gone on before, we no longer have the constant worry of how much gas will cost, and the gas emission doesn't seem so threatening to the environment as other ...

Pros: Too many to list. Roomy, good rear access, fun controls, interesting touch screen, quiet drive.
Cons: Long wait for a car. Split rear window is distracting .

If you are interested in purchasing a Prius 2004 but want to try it out first, Enterprise Car Rental offers the 2004 Prius as a rental vehicle. I've checked the web and this appears to be the case in more than just my area of Ann Arbor, Michigan. ...

Pros: High Toyota quality, surprising power, lots of goodies
Cons: Just wish there was an AUX input for my iPod!

I knew I was going to purchase a Toyota, but the Prius didn't enter my mind until the '04's came out. After a 3 month wait, I took delivery of a Millennium silver with package #9. With all the features I got, the sticker price of 25k made the gas ...

Pros: MPG, low emissions, comfortable, side air bags, GPS, keyless entry, Bluetooth cell phone technology
Cons: Odd body shape. Availability from dealers.

Before buying my 2004 Prius I was a bit concerned about being able to feel the car switch between electric & gasoline - You Can't! I was also concerned about it not having enough pep when I needed it - It Does! It travels up long steep mountains very well, it corners terrific and is amazingly smooth when going over bumps and ruts. I have gotten on average 48-54 miles per gallon. (The tank only holds 11 gallons). A hybrid driver must learn to drive a bit different to obtain the peak gas mileage but once you figure it out, it is very rewarding.

Pros: Very High MPGs, Fast, Roomy, Quiet, Great Handling, and Good for our steadily declining atmosphere.
Cons: Few available now (3-04), some wait time, but well worth it.

This car surpasses all expectations for a low emissions, fuel conserving, hybrid vehicle. I ordered it without ever getting into one beforehand and am very pleased with it and all its technology and it's midsize car ride. I'm sure I'll find the pleasure will wear off in a while, but no more than any other vehicle, and I'll be saving 75% in gas dollars in the mean time. ORDER ONE NOW! for yourself and the environment.
[edit] I have heard some owners are a bit dissatisfied with their mileage. I must admit I was at first, since I was getting about 43mpg after buying, but now (2 mos later) am averaging 52mpg. The dealer said the mileage would improve as the car is 'broken in', which I dismissed as 'dealer talk', but it turns out he was correct. I have not yet calculated it manually, this data is from the cars computer.

Pros: Too many to list here, just a great all around car.
Cons: My gas mileage has turned out to be more around 40-45 mpg.

We bought this car because Toyota finally came out with a hatchback model. Having three kids, that was a necessity if I was going to return to a car. I have to say this car is a tremendous value. It drives, and rides beautifully, is very ergonomic, and technologically light years ahead. Ours is the model with in-dash DVD navigation system, and some other extra bells and whistles. Usually I find most extras on anything to be useless and a waste of money, but on this vehicle they are well thought out, and a definite improvement. I love the feature that allows you to be guided by map and voice to your destination, and it is so accurate.
There is also a great deal of room in the back, adults fit very comfortably, and unlike my old Explorer the kids are no longer squished together.

Pros: Greater gas mileage, good looking, Better options
Cons: Poor Visibility.

I own a 2003 Prius and, received my 2004 today. After driving my new 2004 I realized I like my 2003 better. The visibility in the 2004 was poor. I decided to keep my 2003 and, made someone on the 2004's waiting lists day! No doubt about it the 2004 has some great upgrades and, looks better than the 2003. You can not go wrong with a Prius.

Pros: Clean air, excellent mileage, great Toyota build quality. Comfortable, too.
Cons: No leather option available. Front discs only.

Talk about a "paradigm shift". I thought the days of owning an economy car were long gone. Then, I read about, test drove and bought an '04 Prius (package #9). Now, I consider high mileage (53-MPG in the 6,000 miles I've owned it), low emissions and cutting edge technology to be the new definition of luxury.

I won't bore you with a detailed review of the car as so much as already been written. Suffice it to say it is comfortable, adequately powerful, nicely appointed, and fun to drive.

I'll never buy another gas-only car again. The future is here...and Toyota brought it to us.

Pros: Roomy, comfort, conversation piece, fuel economy---11.? gallon tank will take you easy 400 miles.
Cons: Hard to get. No seat adjustment up/down just back/forth. No heated seat option.

I have had a 2004 Prius for 2 months as of Jan 04. I am very happy with it overall. I was expecting better fuel economy but, as said in previous reviews, it is all how you drive it. I Paid $21,128. for package 4 with floor mats, wheel locks, bumper guard, and one free oil change from Toyota.

Pros: Great gas mileage Roomy California 1 person Access to Car Pool Lane Stylish
Cons: Salesmen are Crooks Dealer Maintenance is a serious Rip-Off Buyer Beware

Now that they have changed a problem in the internal computer, the car is getting an average of 45 mpg city and better than than on the highway.

This is a roomy vehicle, with plenty of power to get onto the freeways when you need it. I find myself being a more careful driver just so I can monitor the mileage. There is adequate instrumentation to do that real time.

Pros: Styling, power, quietness, technology and fuel economy
Cons: Don't go by the EPA mileage estimates.

I now have 530 miles on my 2004 Prius. I love it. Quiet, responsive, powerful and economic. Average mileage is less than advertised at 45 MPG (so far), but a lot better than my 18 MPG Jeep Wrangler!
Needless to say, Prius Rules. Here are a few.
No jackrabbit starts or stops, try to judge traffic flow, and use common sense. All of these improve mileage.
The technology and navigation is outstanding,
My rating is 4+

Pros: mileage and doing my part to help save energy
Cons: Dump the cassette player and put in XM Radio!

I bought a 2003 Prius (my wife is a commuter in Washington DC). I saw the 2004 and my jaw practically dropped, the finish was so good, the mileage even higher and the interior roomier. The price of gas is going to be sky high now and we better get used to it. I only wish we had enough of this technology as a nation so we could dump OPEC back to the sand age they came from. I really like the 600 miles on a tank, and the conversation it creates when I have passengers.

Pros: No dealer markup (finally), gas mileage, electronic gadgets, quiet, roomy, reliable, bluetooth / voice-activated commands
Cons: Climate controls: Buried in a complex computer screen, seats somewhat hard

I won't bother repeating what everyone else has said about mileage, comfort, quietness, roomy rear seating, styling, etc. The Prius excels in all of those areas.

But I will add this: The Prius, with its high rear-end, hatchback, and folding rear seats is more like an SUV than a sedan. We also own a seemingly much larger Lexus RX300 SUV. I can honestly say that the cargo room is smaller in the Prius, but not that much smaller. And the rear seat is much roomier in the Prius.

Add to that...the driving position: it's (again) more like an SUV. Check it out: The Prius driver sits up very high. I find this very handy in a world with Expeditions all around me.

Maybe that's why one local cab company is converting from Ford Crown Vics to Priuses. There's almost as much room in the Prius.