Long-Term Road Tests
2004 Toyota Prius
May 23, 2009
Would I buy one? It's a question I ask myself whenever I slide behind the wheel of a car. Would I drop my hard earned money on one of these? Would I want to own it? Drive it for years? Look at it in my driveway? Tell people it's mine?
It's also the question you the reader ask me the most. So I've decided to go through all the cars we now have in our fleet and decide whether or not I would buy one. I also included a few recently departed vehicles. Seems appropriate since they just left us.
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham May 23, 2009, 5:00 AM
- Categories: 2002 BMW M3, 2004 Toyota Prius, 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI, 2006 Lexus RX 400h, 2007 Ford Edge SEL, 2007 Honda Civic GX, 2008 Audi R8, 2008 BMW 135i, 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI, 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR, 2008 Pontiac G8 GT, 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe, 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, 2009 Audi A4 Avant, 2009 Audi S5, 2009 BMW 750i, 2009 BMW M3, 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, 2009 Ford Flex Limited, 2009 Honda Fit Sport, 2009 Hyundai Genesis V6, 2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD, 2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring, 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring, 2009 Nissan GT-R, 2009 Suzuki SX4, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
May 1, 2009
Here are the fuel economy figures for April 2009. As usual, we've listed the best and worst tanks and the average over the entire life of the vehicle.
We're missing a couple of cars that were out of town or unavailable at the time we took the readings.
| Car |
Best
|
Worst
|
Average
|
| 2009 Audi A4 Avant |
26.8
|
17.5
|
22.3
|
| 2008 BMW 135i |
27.7
|
9.5
|
19.8
|
| 2009 BMW 750i |
21.8
|
14.6
|
19.1
|
| 2002 BMW M3 |
23.5
|
12.3
|
17.5
|
| 2009 BMW M3 |
16.8
|
9.6
|
14.8
|
| 2008 Cadillac CTS |
32.5
|
9.9
|
19.2
|
| 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T |
18.1
|
10.3
|
16.3
|
| 2009 Ford Flex Limited |
26.7
|
13.7
|
19.6
|
| 2008 Ford Focus SES |
40.6
|
16.6
|
26.7
|
| 2007 Honda Civic GX |
47.3
|
12.7
|
31.7
|
| 2009 Honda Fit Sport |
39.0
|
26.0
|
32.0
|
| 2009 Hyundai Genesis |
24.8
|
15.5
|
20.7
|
| 2009 Infiniti FX50 |
21.8
|
10.7
|
17.1
|
| 2009 Mazda 6 |
29.1
|
19.5
|
23.5
|
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X GSR |
22.6
|
11.0
|
17.2
|
| 2008 Mitsubishi Evo X MR |
21.3
|
11.7
|
16.8
|
| 2009 Nissan GT-R |
21.8
|
11.5
|
16.5
|
| 2008 Pontiac G8 GT |
19.4
|
14.1
|
17.3
|
| 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion |
43.4
|
23.5
|
33.7
|
| 2009 Suzuki SX4 |
25.0
|
18.6
|
22.5
|
| 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI |
43.0
|
28.7
|
35.3
|
| 2005 Volkswagen Jetta on Biodiesel |
49.1
|
26.2
|
38.8
|
After the jump you can see the list sorted by best average MPG.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
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- Posted by: Donna DeRosa May 1, 2009, 1:24 PM
- Categories: 2002 BMW M3, 2004 Toyota Prius, 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI, 2006 Lexus RX 400h, 2007 Ford Edge SEL, 2007 Honda Civic GX, 2008 BMW 135i, 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI, 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR, 2008 Pontiac G8 GT, 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe, 2009 Audi A4 Avant, 2009 BMW 750i, 2009 BMW M3, 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, 2009 Ford Flex Limited, 2009 Honda Fit Sport, 2009 Hyundai Genesis V6, 2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD, 2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring, 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring, 2009 Nissan GT-R, 2009 Suzuki SX4, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
April 14, 2009
What's it like working at Inside Line?
I get this question almost daily from somebody, and my answer usually blows their mind. I say, "Well, everyday this guy Mike walks up to me with a clipboard that contains a list of 15 to 30 cars ranging from a Smart to a GT-R and he says, 'Scott, what do you want to drive home tonight.'"
It's true.
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- Posted by: Scott Oldham April 14, 2009, 5:00 AM
- Categories: 2002 BMW M3, 2004 Toyota Prius, 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI, 2006 Lexus RX 400h, 2007 Ford Edge SEL, 2007 Honda Civic GX, 2008 Audi R8, 2008 BMW 135i, 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI, 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution GSR, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR, 2008 Pontiac G8 GT, 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe, 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, 2009 Audi A4 Avant, 2009 BMW 750i, 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, 2009 Ford Flex Limited, 2009 Honda Fit Sport, 2009 Hyundai Genesis V6, 2009 Infiniti FX50 AWD, 2009 Mazda 6 i Grand Touring, 2009 Nissan 370Z Touring, 2009 Nissan GT-R, 2009 Suzuki SX4, 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI
March 13, 2009
Thanks to zoomzoom22 for this week's favorite.
Runner-up:
I bought this car for the HEADroom! (ergsum)
Funny, but a little too morbid:
I'm so glad I died in a Porsche (BeefSupreme)
Prius...a car James Dean wouldn't be caught dead in. (evansc6)
In the category of funny, but too long:
Now and for a limited time...you can get your free ultra-sized James Dean bobblehead with the purchase of any new Toyota at Toyotaland Toyota!!! (zoomzoomn)
It may not look like a Spyder, but I think you'd appreciate the Stability Control, Jimmy. Too soon? (samjpatrick) (It's the "too soon" that makes it really funny)
See you next week.
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
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- Posted by: Donna DeRosa March 13, 2009, 4:08 PM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
I know, I know, we never write about this car. That's because we've had it forever and we're just hanging on to it until it dies -- or needs a battery replacement.
But Erin sent me this photo and we think it's worthy of the caption contest.
Here's my suggestion: "Just because you're driving a hybrid doesn't mean you have to get a big head."
Scott says his is better: "Rebel with a cause."
What have you got?
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
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- Posted by: Donna DeRosa March 13, 2009, 12:00 AM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
September 24, 2008
I was thinking the other day (always a dangerous proposition, I know) and wondering how all the current (or really, really recently departed) Edmunds/Inside Line long-term vehicles stack up against each other in fuel economy, at least the fuel economy we've been recording during their time with us. So I made a list. For you and for me. In case we were both wondering.
The only current vehicles missing from my list are the Audi R8 and the Dodge Grand Caravan, and that's because no one has entered any fuel data into the tracking spreadsheet for those vehicles yet. The very top and the very bottom of the list aren't going to surprise anybody (I don't think), but the middle is kinda interesting. Seeing the Rondo and the WRX so close to each other made me raise my eyebrows. Ditto the Ford GT's spot above the Veracruz. Ready to check it all out? Follow the jump with me.
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- Posted by: Bryn MacKinnon September 24, 2008, 10:06 AM
- Categories: 2002 BMW M3, 2004 Toyota Prius, 2005 Ford GT, 2005 Volkswagen Jetta GLS TDI, 2006 Lexus RX 400h, 2007 Chevrolet Silverado LT, 2007 Ford Edge SEL, 2007 Honda Civic GX, 2007 Honda Fit Sport, 2007 Kia Rondo, 2007 Saturn Aura XR, 2007 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab, 2008 BMW 135i, 2008 BMW X5 4.8i, 2008 Buick Enclave CX, 2008 Cadillac CTS V6 DI, 2008 Ford Focus SES Coupe, 2008 Honda Accord EX-L V6, 2008 Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD, 2008 Mazda CX-9, 2008 Mercedes-Benz C300 Sport, 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X MR, 2008 Pontiac G8 GT, 2008 Scion xB, 2008 Smart Fortwo Passion Coupe, 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, 2009 Ford Flex Limited, 2009 Nissan GT-R
June 20, 2007
We are ahead of the curve with the regular service on our long-term Prius. Just as the odometer turned 49,055 miles the maintenance light told us it was time to see the dealer for its 50k-mile service.
It turns out this is one of the minor intervals on the schedule. It consists of routine visual safety inspections, engine oil and filter change and a tire rotation...
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- Posted by: Mike Schmidt June 20, 2007, 3:38 PM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
April 12, 2007
It's not often the Prius has an opportunity to run a race track. But as a Long Beach resident, I couldn't resist giving the Toyota hybrid a chance to take on a section of the 2.02-mile Long Beach Grand Prix course on my way home this week.
Construction has been underway since early February or so, and race weekend officially starts tomorrow.
The mighty Prius and I were running the course in reverse, so the view through the windshield is around the bend in the front straight along Shoreline Drive, near the pits and the start/finish line...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke April 12, 2007, 11:49 AM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
February 7, 2007
I took a quick spin in our eldest long-termer, a 2004 Toyota Prius, which is now at 47,470 miles. I still think it makes a very practical city car, although I'd be unlikely to buy one as my only car because of its near total disregard for driver enjoyment. That said, our long-termer is holding up quite well. It's rattle-free and the only terminal wear is the threadbare armrest on the driver door.
Another thing that struck is me is how modern the car still feels on the inside. Four years into the model cycle, a lot of cars already feel dated, but the Prius' cabin electronics are still as high-quality and user-friendly as any you'll find in '07 model year cars. I particularly like the audio system interface.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches February 7, 2007, 2:08 PM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
February 2, 2007
We've been working our way through a full tank of gas in the Toyota Prius since the fuel gauge was recalibrated last week. The dealer told us the only way to verify that the gauge was now working correctly was to drain it and fill up.
After driving it down to one bar on the gauge, we added 6.271 gallons to the tank and ta-da, the gauge illuminated all the way to full.
Problem solved...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke February 2, 2007, 12:02 PM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
January 29, 2007
This weekend I was tasked with running the Prius til it was bone dry, but found it was a lot harder than I thought considering I wasn't going anywhere too far, just in and around town. The request to pack miles on the Prius was due to its odd inability to be sated -- the fuel gauge always displays that it's 3/4 full. So I drove to and from Long Beach, always took the long leisurely way round on my errands and floored it whenever the opportunity presented itself. What did I get for my efforts?..
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- Posted by: Caroline Pardilla January 29, 2007, 2:52 PM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
January 26, 2007
The last two times we topped off the Toyota Prius' fuel tank the gauge hasn't shown more than three-quarters full, so yesterday I took the Prius to the Toyota dealer when I picked up the RAV4.
The service writer said they'd recalibrate the gauge and we'd see what happened then. I went to pick it up today, and still, the gauge only shows three-quarters, even after I added 2.8 gallons of gas after leaving the dealership.
After flipping through the fuel log, I realized we haven't let the tank drain since early November, instead we've been topping off a couple of gallons here and there...
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- Posted by: Kelly Toepke January 26, 2007, 1:24 PM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
December 6, 2006
We're approaching 46k miles in our '04 Prius, which means the warranty umbrella is becoming smaller and smaller. Its small enough now that it no longer covers our recent electrical rebellion from the NAV/radio screen.
It took the dealer a few hours to diagnose the malfunction as an electrical short and recommend replacing the entire display screen. As one might expect, this lightens the wallet substantially: $96.88 for labor, $460 for parts, 1 arm and 1 leg...
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- Posted by: Mike Schmidt December 6, 2006, 9:57 AM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
December 4, 2006
With its snub-nose, hatchback styling, the Prius offers more than a roomy, extremely space-efficient cabin, it also makes for easy parking. While parallel parking, its a snap to back the Prius into place thanks to the additional glass window on the hatchback that allows you to easily judge how close you're getting to the car behind. That handy window isn't an innovation, however (remember the Honda CRX?). And the Prius' Pug-like nose allows you to usually back in and pull out in one shot, whereas a vehicle with more hood typically requires a couple of back-and-forth jockeying moves before it's clear of the car in front.
In other news, the climate/audio interface (aka the nav. screen) is still on the fritz. During this past weekend in the Prius, sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. We're still waiting for the part to come in at Santa Monica Toyota which should be sometime this week.
John DiPietro, Automotive Editor @ 45,786
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- Posted by: John DiPietro December 4, 2006, 11:33 AM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
November 27, 2006
The weekend after Thanksgiving is usually the weekend during which radio stations begin playing Christmas carols. But there were no carols to be heard over the last few days, at least not within the cabin of the Toyota Prius.
Our Managing Editor Donna DeRosa had reported earlier that she'd experienced problems with the car's navigation and audio systems; she'd thought that maybe the issue was somehow linked to her new high-tech cell phone. During my time in the Prius, I experienced problems as well, with nary a fancy-schmancy cell phone in sight...
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- Posted by: Warren Clarke November 27, 2006, 1:05 PM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
November 22, 2006
During my commute home last night, the Prius's nav started going haywire. Unfortunately, a lot of the car's systems are operated out of this computer, like the audio and climate controls. I couldn't access the map and sometimes I would get overlapping display screens.
I was listening to the radio but the car's computer kept telling me the audio system was off...
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- Posted by: Donna DeRosa November 22, 2006, 4:13 PM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
November 13, 2006
When the curiously shaped Mr. Prius first arrived people asked, "What are you? A bird? A plane?" Mr. P replied in a strange, humming voice," I am a hybrid, and I'm here to save the earth." The questions continued, "How do you drive? Are you faster than a speeding bullet?" With a chuckle Mr. P clarified, "No, no, no, I only look like a bullet."
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- Posted by: Mike Schmidt November 13, 2006, 1:02 PM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
November 3, 2006
Having recently turned 44,000 miles on our Prius we were not surprised when the maintenance light came on. The day it was scheduled for service at Toyota of Santa Monica we noticed a problem. The fuel gauge read (an optimistic) half-full but the car wouldn't take any gasoline.
We tried to fill it at one pump to no avail, so we pulled to the neighboring pump with similar results...
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- Posted by: Mike Schmidt November 3, 2006, 9:09 AM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
October 21, 2006
My drive home from San Francisco was unhurried, allowing the Prius to return 44 mpg over the final 300 miles. The fact that one of the highways I'd planned to use was closed (because of a fire) probably helped, too, as I drafted off the trucks on Highway 46 while waiting for an opportunity to pass. Full throttle was essential during passing attempts, but it was hardly a white-knuckle event -- for a hybrid, the second-gen Prius is acceptably quick. Highway 46 is of course where James Dean was killed 51 years ago. Here's a question: If he were alive today, would he trade his 550 Spyder for a Prius? I expect he'd be impressed by the Prius' stability at high speeds, but put off by the vacant feel of its electric steering.
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- Posted by: Erin Riches October 21, 2006, 3:15 PM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
October 20, 2006
Any complaint I've ever had about the Toyota Prius was out of mind as soon I as started driving our long-termer around San Francisco. If you have to have a car in this city, I can't think of a better choice, even with all the new B-segment cars on sale this year. For one thing, the midsize Prius is just as easy to maneuver as a subcompact -- its turning radius is listed at just 34 feet and that's exactly how it feels when you're steering around other motorists and into parallel parking spots. Visibility is excellent from the driver seat, and it doesn't take long to get a feel for the Prius' dimensions...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches October 20, 2006, 12:19 PM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
October 18, 2006
I probably won't make friends with too many hard-core Toyota Prius drivers, because I talk the talk (read The Nation, donate to public radio and shop at the farmers market), but I don't walk the walk (drive our long-term Prius for maximum fuel efficiency). I had planned to play the mpg game on the way to San Francisco, but I left LA too late and had to rush the whole way there. I rolled into the city just after midnight (and by the way, you're probably taking note of the car's bent license plate -- evidently, it's nuzzled a few bumpers). I felt good about myself as I did the rush-hour slog in mostly electric mode and then zoomed solo down the carpool lane (with a touch of the smugness Chris has observed). Then, I hit the Grapevine stretch of Interstate 5 and fell back into my old habits...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches October 18, 2006, 9:27 AM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
October 17, 2006
I got into our long-term 2004 (yes, 2004) Toyota Prius last night, and with 43,281 miles on the odometer, the car still feels tight with no discernable rattles. All the interior bits are intact, and really the only thing that's showing wear is the ivory interior, as the seats look grubby and uninviting. Of course, a good detail job would help, but getting the dark gray interior is probably the better way to go.
The Prius is going on a quick run to San Francisco this week, and I'll post photos, fuel economy and anything else that's interesting enough to share...
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- Posted by: Erin Riches October 17, 2006, 11:42 AM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
June 6, 2006
In light of the recent announcement by Toyota of a steering malfunction in some Prius models built between '02-'05, we thought it a good idea to see if our long-term car was part of the recall.
One member of our staff happens to have a personal friend that works in Toyota customer service, so a quick phone call confirmed that our VIN was not on "the list" for this current campaign. Our recommendation to other Prius owners is to contact your local Toyota dealership and find out if this steering concern applies to your vehicle.
Mike Schmidt, Vehicle Testing Assistant
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- Posted by: Mike Schmidt June 6, 2006, 8:51 AM
- Categories: 2004 Toyota Prius
