Toyota Prius Is The Hybrid Car For Many.

The best selling and most popular hybrid car in the world right now is once again the Toyota Prius. The trend toward hybrid vehicles was pioneered by Toyota when it released the Prius in 1997. The Prius sold very poorly at first, but sales picked up when new models came on the market. In 2003 Toyota came out with their second generation hybrid vehicle making it car of the year according to Motor Trend.

Rapidly soaring gas prices are another reason why people are looking for alternatives, therefore environmental and health concerns are not the sole reasons hybrids are purchased. Out of all the available hybrid cars to select from on the market, the Prius is top of the list because of the price and simplicity.

Many improvements have been made to the lastest hybrid vehicles. While the first version of the Toyota Prius had excellent fuel efficiency, air conditioning was the sole option available. The second generation vehicle improved on the first in aesthetics, speed, and size. It's the first midsize hatchback sedan on the market which has won many awards.

Like all Toyota hybrid vehicles it uses the Synergy hybrid system. It possesses a 1.5-liter, 4-cylinder engines features intelligent valve timing and an AC synchronous, permanent magnet motor. The horsepower that it contains is 110 horsepower. (combining electric power with gas power) and 46 mpg fuel economy (shared city and highway ranking by EPA).

The following features are available on the Toyota Prius: variable transmission, anti-lock breaking system and regenerative braking. Its owner can get a tax credit when he buys it, and it puts out 89% fewer pollutants than other cars.

Power windows, door locks, remote keyless entry, cloth seats, cruise control and micron filter air conditioning are just to name a few of the features that are standard on the second generation Toyota Prius. Remote switches are placed on the steering wheel for climate, cruise control and audio.

Customers also have the option of buying the vehicle with a navigational system with Bluetooth technology. The ignition is tuned on by a power button instead of suing the key which make it different than any other hybrid on the market. An energy motor is mounted on the dashboard which indicates the flow of power between the engine, electric motor and battery pack.

Although there appears to be many more very stylish hybrid cars on the road, the Toyota Prius stands out due to fuel efficiency, affordable prices and eco friendly features. The practical alternative choice is the pioneer.