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2004 Toyota Prius
By Peter Bleakney
 In the big automotive picture, the 2004 Toyota Prius hybrid is a pretty important vehicle. Whether gasoline/electric hybrid power is the next big thing, or a just a bridge between the internal combustion engine and fuel cell power remains to be seen. Either way, we will be seeing alot more hybrids entering the marketplace in the near future, and this Prius goes a long way towards bringing main stream acceptance to this technology.
While the previous Prius hybrid (sold in Canada from 2000-2003) was a pioneer vehicle, it’s quirky looks and uneven driving experience ensured it never amounted to much more than a technological curiosity. The 2004 Prius, on the other hand, is a stylish, functional vehicle that just happens to be a hybrid. And judging from the reception the car received during a week of driving in the GTA, it’s a pretty hip ride to boot. People are intrigued with the Prius’ swoopy aero profile and love the fact that it leaves a small footprint on our environment. And what’s not to like about exceptional fuel economy?
At first, the opportunity to run a 2004 Toyota Prius for a week in the dead of winter had me a little concerned. How was this gee-whiz electric/gasoline hybrid technology going to handle the typically miserable crap Toronto can dish out in February?
 With great ease, as it turned out. A daily commute from Oakville to downtown Toronto over a mix of suburban roads, smooth highway, and the crater-filled Gardener Expressway was a breeze. The Prius is sufficiently peppy to handle most overtaking maneuvers, and the comfortable and well executed interior sports all the expected modern conveniences. Back seat room is limo-like and the hatch adds a big helping of utility.
My only concern was a surprising sensitivity to crosswinds. Could have been the Toyo snow tires.
The Prius is motivated by Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive - the fascinating high-tech union of a high-compression 1.5 L 76 hp four cylinder gasoline engine, a 50 kilowatt (67 hp) electric motor, a raft of nickel-metal hydride batteries, and a continuously variable transmission. Working separately or together in a seamless flow, the two power sources are quite invisible as they go about their duties.
Energy from braking is regenerated into electric power to recharge the batteries, and the electric motor will act as a generator as well under certain conditions. All this power shuffling and energy flow is colorfully illustrated on the Energy Monitor, displayed on the LCD in the dash.
Toyota has left no stone unturned in their quest for greeness. The super slippery body slices the air with a drag coefficient of 0.26 Cd. and the gasoline engine shuts off whenever you come to a stop. There’s even a stainless steel “thermos” that can keep coolant hot for days, and then cycle it through the cylinder head on start up to reduce hydrocarbon emissions.
 There is a brief learning curve when first operating a Prius. Press the brake, push the big power button on the dash, wait for “Ready” in the display and then... nothing. Flick the stubby gear selector protruding from the dash to “D” or “R” and you’re silently on your way once you press the go pedal. The gasoline engine usually starts moments later. In cold weather, it runs more often to maintain cabin heat.
After a week of driving, I was totally acclimated to the Prius experience. You could never call it an involving drive in the traditional sense, as the steering is quite numb and the car never invites you to get playful. But that is not the Prius’ mission statement. The “performance” you end up seeking with this hybrid involves keeping a close eye on the real time fuel consumption and trying to better your last commute into the city.
Over the course of a week, I burned only 6.1 litres of regular gasoline per 100 kilometers. This is well down from Toyota’s figure of 4.3 L/100 km (combined) but this was driving in the worst possible conditions in bitter cold. In warmer weather, and with a gentler touch on the throttle, I expect that figure is attainable.
The base price for the Toyota Prius is $29,990. My tester had the $4065 “B” option package which includes electronic vehicle stability control, Smart key, fog lamps, anti-theft system, auto dimming rear view mirror, side and curtain airbags, garage door opener, and a pretty decent JBL sound system with a six CD in-dash changer.
 This puts the Prius squarely in the 35 grand family sedan arena, where it holds it own quite nicely. Sure, it’s a tad quirky and a bit on the slow side, but if you’re a techno freak or a devout tree-hugger, this is a car that satisfies your needs with little or no penalty. Even if you don’t belong to that crowd, the 2004 Prius is an incredibly spacious, fuel efficient, user-friendly family sedan.
And with the legendary Toyota reliability on your side, hopefully you won’t be up all night wondering what’s going to happen if or when all this technology starts going wrong.
Worldwide demand has resulted in a four to six week wait for delivery in the GTA, but Toyota will be ramping up production in April, so the Prius probably won’t such a rare sight on our highways for long.
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