Here is a quiz. What car is quieter than a Lexus LS400 while sitting at a stoplight, accelerates more smoothly than any car from Rolls-Royce, can fit four adults comfortably, and gets over 50MPG in bumper to bumper city driving? To shamelessly borrow from a famous quote, I have seen the future of the automobile, and the future is the Prius. Well, the start of the future anyway.

The name Prius is Latin for “to go before”, and according to Toyota, the name was picked to represent the Prius as the predecessor of cars to come.

The Prius is the first mass-produced Hybrid Gas/electric car in the world. What, you say the Honda Insight hybrid was released last year? Correct, but Toyota has been perfecting the Prius over in Japan. Since its release in 1997, over 35,000 units have been sold. It is in Japan where the need for efficient and clean vehicles is of paramount concern. Japan is a country where traffic jams are a normal part of just about every driver’s life, not unlike many large cities in the US. The Prius was design with “urban crawl” in mind, as gas mileage in the city is better than at highway cruising speeds. The Prius is rated at 52 miles per gallon city, and 45 miles per gallon highway.

Just what is a “hybrid” you ask? The Prius has a 1.5 liter 4 cylinder engine, as well as an electric motor, which runs off of batteries. When driving below 35mph, or coasting, the Prius is powered by the electric motor. That’s makes it quieter than a Lexus at a stoplight, as the engine isn’t running, but the car is still functional. This also is the reason for its high city mileage, as the electric motor is used most of the time. The gasoline motor runs when the car is at highway speeds, if the “max” setting is used for the air conditioning system, under heavy acceleration from a stop, or the batteries need charging. That’s right, the Prius re-charges its own batteries through the use of the engine, as well as a re-generative system which helps charge the batteries whenever the brakes are applied, or the car is coasting. The sealed Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries are completely maintenance free, and weigh only about 100 lbs. They are strategically placed in a metal container, under the rear seats, which actually give the Prius an overall better weight distribution.

Come on Phil, smoother than a Rolls-Royce? Stomp on the gas pedal, and all you feel is smooth power, running through a single speed electronically controlled transmission. That right, no shifts or shifting.

For those of you who are “green” people, you may rejoice! The Prius is rated by the EPA as an SULEV, or Super Low Emissions Vehicle. This is only one step below a ZEV or Zero Emission Vehicle, a label reserved only for 100% electric cars, and perhaps horses, though there must be some cost associated with cleaning up their “emissions”. Prius is so clean in fact, that you may qualify for a refund up to $2000 from Uncle Sam as it qualifies for a Clean Fuel Vehicle Federal Income Tax Deduction, depending on the state you live in. This would apply to cars purchased, not leased.

So there must be some kind of a tradeoff, right? Hardly. The Prius is a REAL car, with real world styling, ergonomics, and performance. What about dependability? The Prius is first and foremost a Toyota, and comes with virtually bullet proof warranty coverage. The basic warranty is 3years or 36,000 miles, the entire power train is covered by a 5 year, 60,000 warranty, and the entire hybrid system (battery pack, control modules, etc,) are covered for 8 years, or 100,000 miles. Roadside assistance is also included for 3 years, or 36,000 miles.

The only real hybrid car competition right now is the Honda Insight ($19,320 base price including destination charge). The Insight was the first hybrid to be sold in the US market on any kind of scale, and costs about a $1,200 less than a Prius. The Insight also gets a remarkable 70mpg on the highway. That’s about where the Insight’s advantages stop. Adding air conditioning to the Insight means, surprise, exactly the same as-tested price as the Prius. The Insight is a tight two-seater, with only about 47 cubic feet of interior volume, and no real trunk to speak of. The Insight uses a 5-speed gearbox, and though I am a big manual transmission fan, see this as a disadvantage in this market segment, especially after driving the Prius. The Insight is listed as a ULEV, or ultra low emissions vehicle, one step below the Prius. The Insight is weighs in at well under a ton, and due to its shape, makes it susceptible to cross winds.

The starting price for the Prius is $20,450, which include a $455 destination charge. Standard equipment includes a 1.5L 16 valve VVTi 4 cylinder engine rated at 70 horsepower, Toyota hybrid system which includes an electric motor rated at 44 horsepower, 258 ft. lbs. of torque at 400rpm, (different than engine torque), 2 permanent magnet generators, inverter and battery pack, electronically controlled continuously variable single speed transmission, regenerative ABS brakes, dual front air bags, keyless entry and security system with engine immobilizer, aluminum wheels, rear spoiler, dual power outside mirrors, automatic climate control, power windows and locks, AM/FM cassette with 4 speakers, cabin filtration system, rear window defogger, and a trick liquid crystal display screen that tells you what your powertrain is doing, what kind of power you are using, and what radio station you are listening to, among other things. The only two options available at the time of this review were embroidered floor mats, and a CD player.

The Prius is available in four colors: Super white, Electric Green Mica, Aqua Ice Opalescent, and Silver Strata Metallic. I tested a 2001 Toyota Prius. Price as tested was $20,520, and included optional floor mats ($70), and a destination charge of $455.

The look of Prius was not what I was expecting when I got the call that my test car was available. I was expecting to see something crazy, bubble shaped, or just a little too unique, inherent features of any car with the word “electric” in its description. What a pleasant surprise to find a car not only larger than anticipated, but with a stylish, contemporary look. The rear end look reminds me of a Nissan Altima, while the body and front end scream Ford Focus, with a dash of European flare thrown in. Large headlights accent a somewhat aggressive looking front end, with a large lower air intake and two creases running the length of the hood.

I was thinking Italian, as the sharp creases in the sides of the car, as well as the shortened rear end remind me of some of the latest designs from Fiat, especially the area around the “C” pillar. Or maybe I was just hungry.

Except for the creases, the sides of the car are relatively flat with simple wheel arches. Add to this the small aluminum wheels, and there is no doubt that we are still talking about an economy car. The doors are thin and light, and don’t close with a thud, but a sound reminiscent of a 10 year old Corolla. Everything has a purpose however, and the relatively flat sides, flat bottom, and overall shape of the short front and rear end make it one slippery 4-door sedan, with an impressive .29 cd.

Overall the Prius exterior may have been designed with functionality and aerodynamics in mind, but is nonetheless pleasing to the eye. It’s different enough to turn heads, and not get lost in a crowd, yet fits well into today idea of what constitutes mainstream styling.

Though the exterior of the Prius is handsome and fresh, it is overshadowed by the cab-forward interior of the vehicle. Toyota has done an excellent job, blending design, comfort and functionality into an interior larger than its exterior would suggest, and even roomier and more airy than its cousin, the Corolla.

The overall look of the dash is high tech, fresh looking, and has that high quality, soft plastic feel to it. The fit and finish were top notch, as was expected in a Toyota. The center of the dash houses the color LCD touch screen, which monitors engine functions, as well as operates the stereo controls. It will take the owner some time to master its operation, and to toggle each screen. This panel display is unique in its own way, highly functional, and can be programmed to accept e-mail, and even watch movies in the future! Having the stereo functions operate through this system means the rest of the dash is clean and uncluttered. The remaining dash controls are simple and easy to operate, and a bonus that is not normally seen in an economy car; automatic climate control. To quote an infamous “infomercial”, You can set it and forget it.

The shift lever is in an odd position however, as well as the digital display for speed, transmission information (park, neutral, drive, etc,), odometer, and idiot lights. The shifter is located to the right of the steering wheel instead of on the column itself. This took some getting use to, as did the placement of the dash gauges. All of the traditional readouts, called a “multi-center display”, are located at the base of the windshield, where it meets the dashboard. This is very different but functional, as I barely had remove my eyes from the road in order to check my speed.

Having an uncluttered dashboard mans the vents were large and strategically placed for very efficient cooling. Speaking of cooling, the air conditioning worked well, as the temperature outside was well into the 80’s.

With the gas engine only running some of the time, and a bit more sound insulation than normal throughout the car, the Prius is eerily quiet at times. Conversations can be whisper quiet, and even at highway speeds, there was only a hint of some tire and wind noise intruding into the cabin.

The Prius is one of the roomiest cars in its class. I am almost 6’2” and had no trouble finding a comfortable driving position. There was enough legroom, plenty of headroom, and I even fit into the back seat with the front seat adjusted to my driving position. The Prius has a generous amount of rear hip room, so I was able to straddle the front seat easily, though I wouldn’t want to sit in the back seat for 100 miles that way. However, a nice couple came by to check out the car during my test drive, and one gentleman who was 5’8” hopped right into the back seat, with room to spare for his knees, not to mention plenty of head room.

Even though the interior has a high level of comfort, remember that function comes first. Need a place for your stuff? There is a huge glove box, as well as a large storage bin under the center arm rest with flip out cupholders, and side door pockets for maps and things. Even though the rear end of the car is somewhat short, the trunk area is relatively large for this class of car, with a low entry point, and almost 12 cubic feet of space.

Overall, the Prius has ergonomics and interior style, comfort, and functions that rival the best cars in its class, and just might be the new standard in some respects. Knowing the Prius was made by Toyota, I can’t say I was really surprised by the fit and finish, or the functionality of the car to this point. What did surprise me was the pretty decent performance of the Prius.

As mentioned, the Prius is powered by the electric motor at slow speeds, with the gas engine kicking on at highway speeds. One would think that the transferring of power from electric motor to engine would have an awkward or strange feel to it while driving, but they work together seamlessly, as you could hardly tell when the engine started or stopped.

Acceleration was actually better than anticipated, as any literature I read pegged the 0-60mph time at over 12 seconds. Based on my test drive, I would confidently lower that number by at least a full second. OK, the Prius wont win any drag races, but the smoothness of the single speed transmission, and surprising passing power on the freeway more than made up for a couple of ticks of the stopwatch. You should have seen the look on the face of the guy in a Jetta when I caught him by surprise and buzzed around him! With no transmission downshifts required, acceleration is instant, and the engine, motor, whatever, kept pulling.

Was I ready to trade in my Mustang GT? Of course not, but I would have bet a paycheck and lost if I had wagered on the Prius’s performance ability before driving it, and after looking at its meager horsepower numbers.

The Prius has a fully independent suspension, with MacPherson struts and front and rear stabilizer bars, but not much else underneath that could be considered sporty. In the handling department, The Prius exhibited a good bit of body roll when tossed into a corner, and swayed a bit when corrected quickly. Handling overall was pretty basic economy-car fare. However, this mediocre handling is really a tradeoff, as the Prius has one of the smoothest and most compliant rides in its class. It was so comfortable, I could easily forgive the car’s shortcomings in the handling department.

The Prius is equipped with front disc and rear drum brakes. The actuation of the brakes is part of the regenerative system used to recharge the batteries, recycling about 30% of the lost power. The mechanism used to do this also helps the braking significantly. Stopping distances were super-short, as the brakes worked very well hauling down the 2,700lb car easily. It took some getting used to at first, as using what I would call normal pedal pressure caused me to almost come off my seat! On top of this, the Prius is equipped with antilock brakes.

Overall the Prius has its strong and weak points in the performance department, but all things considered, I was impressed.

Wow. That’s about all I could say after stepping out of the Prius. It’s not what I expected a hybrid car to be. I was truly expecting something with off the wall styling and too many compromises in comfort, performance, and functionality, in exchange for extreme gas mileage. Was I ever surprised! You don’t need to be “green” at all to like the Prius. Hybrid status aside, the Prius turned out to be a fantastic economy car, with very few compromises.

Those who might have been thinking about the Honda Insight should take a close look at the Prius before buying. With the exception of overall gas mileage, the Prius exceeds the Honda in almost every way that would be important to a customer. I for one would trade some MPG’s for the comfort, style and functionality that the Prius offers. I can even see it snagging a few of those Corolla customers, as the savings in gasoline costs through the years of ownership will easily make up for the extra two grand or so that is required up front. With a bulletproof warranty, customer service to the extreme, and a possible tax break depending on which state you live in, the Prius can become a downright bargain. Toyota has set the stage for the future of “green” transportation, and newer cars shall follow, with hybrid power becoming the rule instead of the exception. Just like the Prius’s transfer of power from engine to electric motor, introduction and acceptance of these clean vehicles should be seamless.