I recently came across an amusing review of the Prius. Now that we’ve added the one of these to our fleet, it’s becoming a favorite. Not that I don’t still enjoy driving a German car up and down the 405 or 101, which, when either is not a parking lot, is a joy. The problem is that these arteries are parking lots much of the time, and this is where the Prius shines, getting 50 mpg and offering a great hands free experience to boot (my Treo 700p pairs perfectly and even syncs the address book).
On the highway at 80 mph efficiency and fun give way to the feeling that, no matter what the appeal at slower speeds, you’re still driving a compact Toyota in the midst of long-haul truck traffic. That said, for local driving and commutes, the car is noteworthy.