Toyota Prius 2005 Navi Package -- first looks

After 77,500 miles on a 2000 Audi A6 Quattro, my family set out to trade our gas-hog A6 wagon (15-17mpg) for a “green” car, the 2005 Toyota Prius. We had been eyeing the car since it first came out, but didn’t need a new car for a long time. This past two weeks, the troubles on the Audi finally reached a peak we could no longer tolerate. The repair bill was obnoxious; the trade in value was satisfactory, considering the troubles it had; and the cool factor of the Prius so high, we went and got one.

Toyota has recently tripled the production of the Prius, and dealers in California no longer have huge waiting lists. In fact, the white model we bought was in the lot for a few days, and we even managed to negotiate a $400 discount.

-: Features :-

Features that stand out on the package 6 model include the navigation system (no monthly fee), HID head lamps (both low and high beam), side curtain air bags, and key-less entry and engine start system. What the latter means is that you don’t need to click the remote to unlock the car -- just put your hand on the handle and the doors unlock! Of course, you need to have the key on your body; and it only works if you are within 4-6 feet of the car.

Also very cool: leave the key in your pocket or purse... just step on the brake pedal and push “Start” on the dashboard, and the car comes to life! There’s no need to plug in the key anywhere, hold it until the engine starts, etc. Going to places is easy in a Prius!

The only thing I didn’t like is that the navigation system doesn’t allow you to input information when the car is moving. For example, if your passenger wants to type in the destination while you are cruising down the freeway, it’s a no go. You have to stop the car... something no one should do in a busy freeway. :(

I have a navigation system in my 2004 Acura TSX and I find it more intuitive, without such a lock-out feature. Nevertheless, the navigation system works very well and I recommend it to anyone that ever gets lost or travels to new places frequently.

Another feature I like in the Prius is that the steering wheel has all the controls you need for the A/C (i.e. temp), audio (i.e. mode, volume), navigation map and voice feedback, and Bluetooth phone. I wish my TSX had all these buttons so close to me.

-: Performance :-

The Prius is surprisingly peppy for a 1.5-liter gas engine/electric motor combo, and the car can hold 80 mph easily. It won’t fly past a speeding Acura, but the aerodynamic design allows it to gain speed with ease, and maintain it without using gallons and gallons of fuel.

As others have mentioned, fuel use is higher on the highway than in the city, where the electric motor excels. We got 44 mpg on the first tank, and see 43 mpg on the current one. Cost to fill up: $18! Wow! I last spent $42 on my TSX, with premium fuel (27mpg).

-: Comfort :-

The Prius is extremely quiet inside. You won’t even notice you are doing 80 mph unless you keep track of the digital instrument cluster. I thought it would be difficult to drive with such a setup sitting far away from the driver, near the windshield, but became accustomed rather fast. There’s no need to know the RPM since the transmission is continuously variable (CVT), and the speed and fuel level is all you really need to know.

The LCD screen situated in the middle of the dashboard, with the car fuel statistics is cool, but can become a huge distraction. I prefer to have it off, for safety sake.

The premium JBL sound system is also very nice, much better than what Acura puts in the TSX; and it’s great to have a 6-disk CD changer in-dash. That’s enough music to almost cross the state from San Diego to San Francisco.

The interior of the car is very spacious; however I hit my head while sitting in the rear (I'm 5'8"). Don't send any tall people to the back! They won't like it.

-: Safety :-

As I mentioned earlier, the Prius with package 6 has in addition to front and side air bags, curtain air bags (front and rear). Crash tests by the insurance institute indicate this is a must-have feature. It will reduce injuries in a side collision at 30+ mph from serious/lethal to “probable”. Every car I’m buying in the future must have curtain air bags! It should be in your must-have list as well. :)

The Prius also has 4-wheel ABS and disk brakes; which I consider important. The ABS has saved me several times in the past, not only in emergency stopping maneuvers, but in keeping the car on the road in tight turns, wet/snow conditions, etc.

-: Insurance :-

Our insurance went up $80/yr from the 2000 Audi A6 Quattro wagon to the 2005 Toyota Prius. Cost of the car was $28,400 after CA taxes and fees. The Audi was worth around $15K on the private market. I consider this a very good value.

-: Options :-

The white Prius came with a beige (oak) interior, which is very nice; but can become dirty easily. To alleviate this problem, I bought a strong transparent all-weather mat for the trunk, from ExactMat. This mat is very nice! One can see the original cloth mat underneath, and it stays put in place regardless of what you have in the trunk.

I also bought a set of four mud guards from Toyota to install behind each tire. This accessory prevents mud and road tar from becoming stuck to the paint of the car. I have a set on my black TSX, and find it very useful. Note that I had to remove both rear tires to install the mud guards. Not fun, but worth it, I think.

Cost of both options: $108 online.

-: Conclusion :-

After almost 1,000 miles on the Prius, I can say that the car is an excellent commute vehicle. It's no Audi on turns and acceleration, but that’s not the point. I’ll revise my review with updates as time progresses.