2008 Toyota Prius Touring Edition

I am pleasantly surprised by the Prius. It fulfills its purpose superbly. It's great on gas, it's easy to drive, and easy to get in and out of. With the trend of high beltlines and short windows seeping into every segment, it's refreshing to be in a vehicle that has such a clear 360-degree view out. The low windowsills take me back to the eighties when it was still possible for me to comfortably rest my left elbow on a vehicle's sill while driving. In modern cars, I can rest my elbow but only if I don't mind it being nearly shoulder height. With four doors and a hatch, the Prius is people and stuff friendly and can be both at the same time. It's too bad the hatch is so steeply raked down to the rear bumper because the cargo area is fairly deep and could possibly hold as much as some small SUVs if the angle were less severe.

The interior feels less special than what I expected from this car but its roomy and comfortable. The beeping while the car is engaged in reverse is completely unnecessary and annoying. A single beep is plenty.

Jennifer Misaros, Production Editor