Prius Selling-Points

Classic  (2001-2003 models)

Last Updated: Tues. 3/29/2022

 Selling-Points  PRINT
 

 

 

Speed     back to top

Maximum 100 MPH
Duration Can maintain 80 MPH all day long.
0 to 30 MPH Faster than average.  The electric motor provides quick acceleration from a stop.
0 to 60 MPH Enough zip to merge onto highways without concern.

 

Battery-Pack     back to top

Warranty 8 years / 100,000 miles
Life 10 to 12 year expectancy (around 180,000 miles)
Weight Only 110 pounds, very light compared to pure electric vehicles.
Size About the size of 6 loaves of bread, small enough to not require much room in the extra tall trunk.
No Plug There isn't a plug.  All the electricity automatically comes from the engine & brakes.
Electricity The motor is sometimes powered directly from the engine, rather than using the battery-pack.  Using this alternate source of electricity helps to ensure the battery-pack will last a very, very long time; it also provides the ability to both recharge and accelerate at the same time.

 

Savings     back to top

MPG About $2,878 is saved from gas after driving 120,000 miles.  A car with similar interior driver/passenger space as Prius gets real-world mixed-driving performance of about 30 MPG.  That means 4,000 gallons of gas would be needed to drive 120,000 miles.  Prius, under the same conditions, gets about 45 MPG.  So it would only consume 2,667 gallons of gas.  You save 1,333 gallons.  At $2.15 9/10 per gallon, that calculates to $2,878.
Oil & Filter About $306 is saved from oil changes.  Just 16 (instead of 24) are needed for 120,000 miles of driving, since changes are only needed every 7,500 miles (instead of every 5,000).  Plus, the first 5 are paid for by Toyota's standard warranty coverage.  So you only end up paying for 11 changes total. 13 fewer changes (including oil filter replacement) at an average of $23.50 (tax included) each saves you about $306.

Standard 5W-30 oil and a standard oil filter (the same as some Toyota Corollas) is all that's needed, no specialty items.
Warranty About $320 more is saved from Toyota's standard warranty coverage, besides the oil changes.  You get a free engine air filter, free air-conditioning filter, free engine coolant change, and 5 free tire rotations. You also get 1 year of free roadside assistance.
Tax About $300 is saved when taking a $2,000 federal tax deduction for purchasing a Prius.  (This amount is highly dependent on personal income.  Some people will get more, some less.)

Also, some states offer purchase incentives (ranging from a small discount to not charging any sales tax).  Refer to your local dealer for details.
Per Year 15,000 miles driven per year would result in a saving of gas & oil alone (167 gallons & 1 change) of about $384.

22,500 miles driven per year would result in a saving of gas & oil alone (250 gallons & 1.5 changes) of about $575.

 

Standard Features     back to top

All of the following special features are standard, included in the base price of Prius.  That fact is often overlooked when price comparisons are made with other vehicles, making Prius appear to be more expensive.  In reality, there is actually only a small difference, which can be recovered through gas, tax, and maintenance savings afterward.

 

Optional Features     back to top

 

Emissions     back to top

SULEV Prius is the cleanest sedan currently available throughout the United States.  And when low-sulfur gas is used (only available in limited areas now, federally required everywhere by the end of 2005), Prius achieves a SULEV (Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle) status.  That rating means SMOG related emissions (Hydro-Carbons, Nitrogen-Oxides, Carbon Monoxide) are at an extremely low level.
ULEV ULEV is clean, but SULEV is 72.8 percent cleaner. ULEV is surprising common too, don’t be misled. Did you know all of these popular vehicles are ULEV rated: Buick LeSabre & Park Avenue & Regal, Chevrolet Impala & Monte Carlo & Astro & Silverado, Chrysler PT Cruiser, Dodge Dakota & Durango & Ram, Ford Focus & Mustang & F-150, Honda Accord & Civic, Kia Spectra, Jeep Grand Cherokee & Laredo, Mazda Protege & 626, Nissan Altima & Sentra, Pontiac Bonneville & GrandPrix, Toyota Camry & Matrix & Sequoia & Solara, Saturn L100 & L200, Volkswagen Golf & Passat & Jetta & Beetle.
MPG Global Warming emissions (Carbon Dioxide) are dependent directly on MPG, not ratings like SULEV.  This difference is commonly overlooked.  And unfortunately, there is no rating system available to categorize vehicles for this type of pollution.

 

Winter     back to top

MPG MPG drops for all traditional vehicles during winter conditions due to longer warm-ups times, increased traffic congestion, and winter-formula gas (which is less efficient). Window labels showing MPG data don't reflect this. The tests performed by the EPA are under driving conditions with ambient temperatures between 68 F and 86 F degrees, much different from what most drivers encounter during the winter. Fortunately, Prius was designed for this. MPG will drop, but performance will still remain much better than that of traditional vehicles.
Real-World Winter is not a concern for the hybrid system.  Engine startups are trouble-free.  The heater warms up quickly   Detailed accounts of real-world winter experiences in Minnesota are available in John's personal logs at https://john1701a.com

 

Prius Advantages     back to top

Just Drive It! No training is needed.  You just drive like you would with any other vehicle.  All the hybrid technology works automatically.
Very Quiet Driving without the engine running means you get to experience moments of total silence.  You'll find it truly refreshing.
Great View The short hood stays out of your way, giving a much better view when squeezing into tight parking spots or through narrow streets.
Less Filling Great MPG means you don't have to go to the gas station as often for refills.
Less Changes The hybrid system reduces strain on the engine, which makes the oil last longer.  So oil changes are needed less often.
Tall Interior Interior height is extra tall.  Headroom in both the front & back is very generous, comfortable even if you are over 6 feet tall.  (There's plenty legroom too, both in the front & rear seats.)
Tight Turning The unique design of Prius provides a very tight turning radius.  This makes getting in & out of cramped parking spaces very easy.
Brake Life Since the regenerator supplies most of the deceleration, rather than the brakes.  The brake pads & shoes won't wear out as quickly as with traditional vehicles.
Exciting "Stealth" (electric-only driving up to 42 MPH without the engine running) is just plain fun.  It provides a continual source of exciting entertainment.
Rewarding The Multi-Display makes driving conservatively and obeying the speed-limit very rewarding.  The benefits are immediately shown to you on that screen.

 

back to home page       back to top