2009 Toyota Prius User Reviews

Pros

GREAT GAS mileage!!

Cons

No Cons about the Prius

Purchased As New

I purchased my 2007 Prius brand new - ordered what I wanted so I waited about a month. VERY SATISFIED with this car. I purchased it for the fuel savings. I average approx 55mpg. I drive to wisconsin in the summer several times a month - 1.5hrs of driving...and I'm very comfortable. I also drive to SD to visit my son and that's approx under 4hrs. I don't stop for anything on the way either trip and don't feel uncomfortable sitting in my Prius. I LOVE this car!! It's the BEST Value for a vehicle I have ever invested in. I don't drive 'her' in the winter - I have another vehicle for traction - so the Prius will last me a very long time..I have always enjoyed Toyota's and the Prius is one of their Best creations I think....read morehide

Pros

gas milage

Cons

Ride is rough.

Purchased As Used

Purchased a 2007 Prius for increased gas milage and it gets v/g mpg, approx 47 on trips. Took it to Myrtle Beach for golfing trip approx 485 miles and it was very uncomfortable and we were stiff as a board upon arriving. Wish I would have purchased an Accord or Fusion as they both have better rides. Love the neat dashboard graphics with all the bells and whisles. May like it better when the fuel returns to $4, it's $1.75 and rising. It is predicted to be $2.50 by summer in this area. Excellent car for in-town driving....read morehide

Pros

Great automobile

Cons

none

Purchased As New

Owned 2004 prius since new, 122000 miles not one problem, original brakes, still not one rattle. I can not say one bad thing about this car. I can say that i am hard on this car and it just keeps humming. Here is my experience with the gas mileage. The temperature has an effect on my mileage. Below freezing temps may cause slightly lower efficiency of the battery coupled with electric heat etc. Above freezing on normal surface roadways at 70mph i will avg 45-47mpg. if you crank it up to 75-80mph the mph will drop to 42-45mpg. The car will go right up to 107mph and stop accel. It must have some sort of gov on it. If you drive it as advertised it will get 48plus mpg. At least that is my experience.Never had any problems accel or merging with traffic, although pedal to the medal accel will affect gas mpg.When temps are well below freezing the same 70mph will turn 42-45mpg.When temps hover around the zero mark expect 40mpg.This vehicle goes great in the snow, especially with the traction control system. The vehicle is front wheel drive ,but has a better weight distribution due to the battery near the rear axel.Reports are that the batteries are lasting 300000 miles and climbing. Now i love this car and would buy another, but i have read some posts about quality control etc. I hope that those are rare because this is a great product.If use to suv, truck, mid to large auto with a 6 or 8 cyl this veh may need getting use to. If use to small or mid size with 4cylpower difference almost nil....read morehide

Pros

Good fuel economy. Well Engineered. Good ride/room for car class.

Cons

Sluggish acceleration. Lousy driver controls, gauges

The car does what is says...manages fuel well.

Display/controls badly need redesign. Very hard to use on the highway or in traffic when full attention is needed for safety. Main Display of cutesy info on engine/wheels and fuel consumption not useful except as curiousity. Touch screen controls require too much distraction from road/traffic.

See other comments regarding rearview mirror dimming problem....read morehide

Pros

It makes you look "Green"

Cons

Slow, stupid backseat, Crummy Fuel Economy!

I have owned cars from Honda and GM my entire life, I was looking for a small very fuel efficent vehicle and I picked a Prius, big mistake. My Prius has had issues with seats, electrical and interior pieces not fitting right in addition to being down right slow. I should admit I am coming from a 2004 Honda Civic Si and my hubby drives a 2008 Silverado 3500HD with a Duramax so I am used to more powerful vehicles. The first mistake I made was never merging with it on a highway you think in busy traffic you will get hit because of how slow this car is. The thing handles way worse than my hubbys dually Chevrolet, and it makes the Si look like a Corvette! The car has had so many little issues and interior pieces not fitting right and falling down, all this car has been to me is a 'bug'. Not to mention it look kind of like one too. I am trading this car back in on a new Malibu Hybrid Sedan a car that will at least look normal, still get decent fuel economy and have a useable back seat. It was my first and last Toyoyta, and worst of all the fuel economy didn't even come close to what was on the sticker!...read morehide

Pros

Average tank to tank 42.9 not the 50 they advertise.

Cons

Ride is okay not great. Toyota could put better front seats in the car.

Performance and stability of the car is excellent for the size. Overall its an excellent car. Beware that the Toyota dealers over charge you for service on this car compared to the Honda I previously owned, its double the cost for an oil and filter change. Toyota dealer charges $80.00 Honda charges $39.00....read morehide

Pros

Fuel economy, passenger room, handling.

Cons

Lacks 'big' power, small tires provide the wrong look for this vehicle.

We used a Prius when vacationing in Florida for 2 weeks this summer and were pleasantly suprised by the vehicle.
The Prius has plenty of room in both the front and back seats. The vehicle handled very well. Once learned, it's easy to operate even though you don't use a key or standard gear shift. It did lack power when pulling into traffic but that's to be expected and can easily be accomadated for.
Overall we really enjoyed the vehicle and economic advantages realized. I am a bit scared by the 5 year estimated battery life and nearly $5K replacement cost for such, but overall I am considering buying one....read morehide