General Information on the Toyota Prius

The Toyota Prius is the first mass-produced and marketed hybrid automobile/car. In Latin, prius means "before." The Prius first went on sale in Japan in 1997, and worldwide in 2001. By the end of 2003, nearly 160,000 units had been produced for sale in Japan, Europe, and North America. The Prius (2000 to 2003 model years) is certified as a Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SULEV) by the California Air Resources Board (CARB). With the 2004 model, the Prius was redesigned as a midsize hatchback and certified as an Advanced Technology Partial zero-emissions vehicle (AT-PZEV). The 2000 model Prius slotted between the Echo and Corolla in the company's North American lineup. The 2004 model slots between the Corolla and Camry.

 Read the 2006 Toyota Prius Review