Eco-Friendly Car of the Year

The third-generation Prius improves upon a model that effectively transformed the nameplate into an American mainstay. It also arrived at a critical juncture for Toyota, a company that has had a few high-profile quality problems and a handful of disappointing redesigns. No doubt about it, Prius 3.0 needed to be a hit.

Toyota delivered. The new Prius packs more power and better gas mileage — 50 mpg in combined EPA estimates. Base models start at an affordable $21,000, and loaded versions can be had with high-tech options from a solar roof panel that runs the air conditioning to a self-parking feature similar to the one Lexus offers in its LS flagship. Best of all, it now feels like a substantial car, ready for family outings or interstate road trips. That's not something we could say for Prius 2.0.

These days, eco-friendly drivers have a lot to choose from. Hybrid technology can be had in family sedans, full-size SUVs and everything in between. High-mileage diesels run cleaner than ever. Electric cars are within reach for the wealthy few, and other alternative fuels are accessible to those in the right markets. But there's no denying this: The Prius is still the most fuel-efficient gas-powered mass-produced car you can buy — and in so many other ways, it's a big step in the right direction for a company that needs to be making those steps.