Top 10 Reasons to Get a Toyota Prius

10. Durability
The Prius is built by Toyota. Toyota is known for building some of the most durable cars in the market. J.D. Power rates the Prius as 5 out of 5 for overall mechanical quality. This Japanese car is mechanically sound and will continue to operate without breakdown for years.

9. Roominess
The Prius is surprisingly roomy for its small size. People over six feet tall can sit comfortably with plenty of head room. Leg room is sufficient from any seat in the car. The rear trunk area has lots of room for groceries. A rear storage compartment pops up for added storage and a tonneau cover rolls out to cover up the trunk area. The rear seats fold down for even more room if needed.

8. Style
Let’s face it; the Prius is not the best looking car out there. It has an odd, dome like shape which looks out of place on the SUV filled roads of America. However, over the past few years the Prius has gained a style all of its own. It is the style of the concerning individual. The car tells the world that you care about the environment and that you are doing something about it. The Prius is not about being a pretty face. Under the hood is where its true beauty shines.

7. Tax Savings
The Toyota Prius qualifies for the federal hybrid tax credit. This means that new Prius owners could qualify for a tax credit of over one thousand dollars. This is great news for a car that is not too expensive in the first place. Additionally, many states offer tax incentives of their own for the purchase of a hybrid vehicle.

6. Status Symbol
The Prius has transformed itself into a status symbol for any discerning environmentally conscience individual. It is now seen on TV, in blockbuster movies, and shown off to friends in driveways across the country. However, don’t buy the Prius just to one-up a coworker; there are so many other features that make it so great.

5. Safety
The Prius comes with today’s latest safety features, as you would expect in any new vehicle. The driver and front passenger are protected by an advanced air bag system. The rear seats benefit from side curtain air bags. The car comes with your typical alphabet soup of safety features, including: anti-lock brake system (ABS), electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), traction control (TRAC), and has available vehicle stability control (VSC). This means you can drive with peace of mind.

4. Green Technology
What makes the Prius so great? It has the latest green technology. Toyota calls it ‘Hybrid Synergy Drive.’ This system monitors the car constantly and provides the perfect mixture of battery power or engine power to keep the car moving down the road. When sitting at a red light this system will shut off the engine and keep the car running on silent battery power. It sounds as if the car is off and saves gas. In fact the car can drive on batter power alone or, when needed, on engine power alone.

3. Price
Perhaps one of the most deciding factors when purchasing a new car is the price. While most hybrids are expensive the Prius is able to break that trend. The car has a starting MSRP at $22,000 and comes fully loaded for around $30,000. Additionally, the Prius will save on gas and offers tax incentives which help cut costs.

2. Adaptability
The Prius has been around for a few years now and as such the aftermarket shops are creating systems which enhance the car. You can now modify your Prius from its stock hybrid system into a plug-in hybrid system. These shops will add new batteries which will allow the car to run on battery power alone. Once that power is drained the system will then revert back to normal hybrid functions. Just recharge the batteries by plugging-in to a wall outlet once back home.

1. Gas Saver
The number one reason to get a Prius is all the gas you are going to save. The EPA estimates that the Prius gets 45 mpg in the city. That is double what most cars get these days and triple what large SUVs are getting. Prius owners will save hundreds of dollars on gas each year. It’s not all about the money. The Prius uses less fuel therefore is burning less fossil fuels. Fewer emissions mean a greener planet. That is something we can all be happy about.