2006 Toyota Prius consumer reviews

After 4 1/2 years, all I've done to this car is change the oil (every 3,000-4,000 miles), rotate the tires regularly, put in a new cabin air filter (twice), and had the rear brakes adjusted (a whopping $50, and at a Toyota dealer, no less). This is the most reliable car I've ever owned, and would trade it in for a new Prius today if my financial circumstances were better. My only "complaint" about my Prius is that it's a pain to jump start it; the method is different from that of every other car I've owned. (So if you ever buy a Prius, you'll probably want to read that part of the owner's manual before you find yourself in that situation.) Since I've only needed to do that once, however, this is a relatively minor thing. In warm weather, I'm still averaging about 50 mpg, too. The mileage isn't as good in the winter (generally about 40-43, which is still a lot better than most cars), but all cars lose gas efficiency in cold weather. Of course, if I lived where it's warm year-round, then that wouldn't even be an issue. Tall people who ride with me are always surprised how much head room there is. It's pretty roomy, in general. Finally, the Prius has better acceleration than most people seem to think. It's not a high-performance sports car -- nor was it designed to be -- but it's not the least bit sluggish, and I've never had a problem zipping by someone I need to pass. All in all, this has been a great car. Granted, I take care of it, generally drive the speed limit, and have learned to coast to a stop when I can to avoid slamming on the brakes, which not only extends the life of the brakes, but also increases gas mileage. I bought my Prius because, if I need to drive a car -- and almost all of us do -- I wanted to make the smallest environmental footprint possible. I'm glad I bought this car, and would do so again in a heartbeat.

This is a great car - comfortable, convenient, and easy to drive. It gets terrific gas mileage, though I'm only getting about 43 mpg average (I drive only in the city). It is very responsive, but sometimes when I need to accelerate quickly, I feel like I'm pegging the engine to Maximum. This isn't a car for someone who wants to drag race! The interior layout is perfect - every detail has been thought of. Lots of places to store stuff, two "cigarette lighter" outlets, and comfortable seats for people under 5'10". I love the hatchback design. I totally love this car. For me, it is perfect.

Surprisingly good performance with more than adequate acceleration, much better than the Honda. Fun to drive. Unbeatable utility.... drop the rear seat down and you can carry anything. Excellent room in back seat. Reliability has been flawless, and dealer service excellent. MPG in the winter suffers, but still low 40's, which can't be beat.

Actual quote for replacing my driver's side headlamp bulb: $398.09. enough said, I think. Also, if you run out the starter battery and it needs to be replaced, good luck getiing to it, it is in the trunk area behind a door that will not open. Basically you are left helpless with this car if anything, even minor stuff, is wrong. It is a cruel world, and Toyota has made it hust a little bit worse.

Love this car. Handles great. Great milage city and highway. Sporty. Acceleration is excellent. Storage is great with fold down back seats. After 3 years driving this car, I enjoy it more and more. No problems. I would buy another prius in a heart beat.

Overall no significant problems. Mid to upper 50's in the summer and mid 50's MPG in the winter. But look out when you have to replace anything. Both my wife and I have a Prius. Both cars headlight went belly up at about 37K miles. Cost to replace - $1500!!!!!! Toyota confirmed due to need to replace "headlight computer".

I drive this car for mileage and consistently get 50MPG in a mix of city/highway. It is a solid, well made car and I love the electronics/multi functional display. It is roomy and a family of four could easily fit. The trunk space is average. If you have any expectation of having a fun to drive car from a sporty standpoint, forget it! The car does not have much power and if you try and take an S curve quickly the body roll is awful. After driving this car for years my wife's minivan feels fast. It also does not handle weight very well like traveling with four people and luggage. In short, for suburban/urban commutes, the car is perfect. It is the best car I have ever owned to be in traffic with since it is quiet and gets great mileage, even in bumper to bumper traffic. If you live in rural areas where you are consistently accelerating and cruising to 70MPH plus the car just does not work.

What I really wanted was an electric vehicle. Until one is produced with the range, MPH and safety features that I require, I'm "stuck" with my Prius. I purchased the car over two years ago and I love this vehicle. My favorite part of the vehicle is the super low emissions as well as the excellent MPG that I'm recognizing. In the warmer months, I consistently get over 55 MPG. In the winter months, I'm dismayed by a ten point drop in my MPG to about 45. The only cons I have are that of a lacking seat comfort and the fragmented rear view. The latter was overcome. You simply end up getting used to the view.

Everyone heard about the Prius and its get great mileage, but did you ever wonder what real-life consumption data are like? My wife and I bought our Prius at the end of 2006. As soon as we got the car we added ?EV? mode add-on that can be purchased on the internet for about $35. This add-on allows you to drive short distances in fully electric mode when you?re in town. That?s right, no gas. That?s really impressive and very satisfying when you pass by one of those big SUVs. The Prius is simply the best car I ever had. It?s not a sports car, but it handles the road just great. It?s very quiet and it?s loaded with gadgets: backup camera, in-dash 6 CD player, etc. One of the most distinctive features of the Prius is its navigation screen that allows you to see which engine (gas or electric) is being used to move the car. You also see your battery level, the battery being recharged and your average gas consumption. On average in town we get 42 MPG, as we get approximately 52 MPG on the highway. I go to the gas station every two weeks and spend around $25 ! Can any other car on the US market beat that?

This car goes 0-60 in 10.6 seconds and costs way to much money for the speed. Yes, you get high gas milage but in less than three years you have to change the battery and that costs 3 grand. Thats about the same money it would cost to fix up a benz.