2009 Toyota Prius consumer reviews

Great car for the money. Best gas mileage of any vehicle on the road.When you go to the gas pump, your wallet will never get hurt. Very reliable vehicle. You wallet won't hurt here either.

This would be a nice car if it was not so overpriced for what it is. It is a small car that will get smashed to bits if hit by a truck. That being said, it is comfortable for short trips. Gas mileage really takes a BIG hit in cold weather and short trips (something I was not aware of living up north). This car is best suited for warm weather driving, those who drive alot and who are not afraid of getting in an accident with the crazy drivers on the road nowadays texting on their cell phones, speeding and not keeping proper distance. It does have the Toyota reliability factor for sure. I hope in the future they take the Prius to a larger level while upping the MPG's. Also need to change the tail lights - they are ugly.

Reporting on the 2006 Prius, I noted surging on the freeway (unless cruise control used) and a rear seat with compromised headroom. Both items have been addressed. The surge is not showing up in the 2009 Prius, and the rear seat cushion apparently has been lowered, which means that my head doesn't hit the ceiling as in the 2006. Also, the texture of the instrument and door panels has been changed. In 2006 they were a painted smooth plastic with a finish that rapidly rubbed off. In 2009 it is unpainted black plastic with a texture that resists scarring where a passenger's foot rubs when legs are crossed. I still think that this is a vehicle primarily intended for in town commuting. At highway speeds (ca. 70 mph) it has an up-on-its-tippy-toes feel that probably comes from the low rolling resistance tires. It wanders a little in its lane. I wouldn't want to drive it on ice or snow using its original equipment tires and was quite cautious when driving on wet roads. The person who wants to commute shorter distances will be quite happy with this vehicle, and it now is more friendly toward average-sized Americans. Front seat comfort is quite good, with firm, supportive bucket seats. Back seat, acceptable unless you are about six feet or teller. A small family could get by well with the Prius, though it might be a tight fit with two kids plus all the stuff that comes with children. The hatchback is a plus here, allowing one to pile up cargo. Purchase price is quite a bit higher than equivalent non-hybrid vehicles, so it is hard to say if overall cost (purchase price plus operating costs) is any lower than a conventional car. Still, those who want a Prius don't want anything else and will appreciate the car's many plusses.

I have a 1 month old 2009 Prius with 914 miles and have cunsummed 28.6 gallons of gas, giving me only 32 mpg. During this time I took two 150 mile trips, and the rest of the time mostly commuting. I have a 3.2 mile commute to work that takes 12-15 minutes. Temperatures have been in the 20s to 40s. On my last tank of gas, only commuting, I only got 25.2 mpg. On a 150 mile highway trip with cruise control set to 65 I got 40.2 MPG. What is wrong with this picture?