2003 Toyota Prius Reviews

Ewan Kennedy road tests and reviews the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 Toyota Prius as a used buy.

When Toyota released the Prius hybrid the green debate was in its infancy and climate change sceptics poured scorn on this radical newcomer, but the debate is now driving our choice in cars and the just-replaced second generation Prius has become an option for environmentally aware used car buyers.For many years now we've had laws to limit the emission of unburnt hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides, the stuff that causes smog and leads to all sorts of health problems, but those gases are only part of what comes out of the tailpipes of our cars. The bulk of what is emitted is carbon dioxide, now better known as greenhouse gas and blamed for causing global warming and climate change.While it's possible to effectively control hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides by treating the exhaust gases before they enter the atmosphere the only way to cut carbon dioxide is to reduce the amount of fuel burnt. Enter hybrids like the Prius that reduce our reliance on the petrol engine, and therefore the amount of fuel burnt, by combining it with an electric motor.MODEL WATCH Toyota launched its first generation Prius hybrid here in 2001 with claims it would cut fuel consumption by 50 per cent and tailpipe emissions by 80 per cent. In 2003 it followed up with the improved second-generation model and claimed it would better those numbers.Driving a Prius was a completely new experience, one that was mostly silent. Silence was something the Prius driver had to come to terms with because there was little of the noise they'd become used to with cars over the decades.The front-wheel drive Prius five-door hatch used a combination of a small 1.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor for motivation, and depending on the driving circumstances, one or both could be in use.When at rest, at traffic lights or wherever the Prius comes to a halt, there's an eerie silence as neither motor is running. When it comes time to move off the electric motor does the work, it's only when more acceleration is called for that the petrol motor starts and joins in to help out.Once a cruise is reached it's the petrol motor that does most of the work, as it's at its most efficient when running at a steady speed. At that time the electric motor becomes a generator and feeds the system's batteries. Energy is also harnessed during braking and that's also fed into the batteries to keep them charged. The Prius drives smoothly at all times and the changeover between petrol power and electric motivation are seamless.Best of all the driver can observe what's happening with the drive courtesy of an energy readout in the dash, which informs them of the energy being consumed, or better still, that being stored for future use. While the primary aim of designing the Prius was to be frugal and environmentally friendly, Toyota didn't do it at the expense of the driving experience.The Prius was a good car to drive, quiet and smooth with decent performance in traffic and out on the highway. When pitted against the clock it would match a Corolla for acceleration. If the focus was on the hybrid drive system there was also all the features you could want in your daily driver.It came standard with climate-controlled air, cruise, remote central locking, immobiliser, power windows and mirrors, and six-speaker CD sound. The I-Tech model boasted all of that plus a six-stacker CD, leather trim, nine-speaker sound system, reversing camera, and sat-nav.IN THE SHOP Driving a Prius effectively links you to a Toyota dealer, as they are the ones with the knowledge and equipment to service and repair it. The hybrid technology is still relatively new and hasn't flowed on to local workshop level yet.There is some concern about the life of the batteries used in the Prius, for good reason, as they are expensive to replace at around $4000. That said, Toyota says they will last the life of the car, and better still the company says it has only sold a handful through its spare parts service in the eight years the Prius has been on the market here.Because of the complexity of the Prius it's best to adopt a cautious approach when thinking of buying one second hand, and have it checked by a Toyota dealer to make sure all is well. Apart from checking the operation of the hybrid system make the usual checks for crash repairs and regular servicing.IN A CRASH The Prius was packed with all the safety features going. It has dual front airbags, and seat belt pretensioners standard, plus head airbags and side front airbags in the I-Tech. For active safety there was ABS antiskid brakes, brake force distribution, emergency brake assistance, and traction control, but if you stepped up to the I-Tech you also had electronic stability control.AT THE PUMP While the Prius is primarily about reducing greenhouse gas emission owners are keen to point out its fuel-saving virtues as well. But the amount of fuel you save with a Prius is very dependent on the type of driving you do.The more stop-start city driving the more fuel you will save; the savings out on the highway where the petrol engine is used more are much less. Tests of a Prius by carsGuide in 2005 showed that around the city the hybrid would comfortably do 4.1 L/100 km, whereas out on the highway it would run in the high-fives and wasn't any more economical than a small four-cylinder petrol or diesel car.LOOK FOR . Deafening silence. Smooth driving. Low fuel bills. Complexity beyond local mechanic. Comfortable and roomy. Environmentally friendlyTHE BOTTOM LINE It's not a gimmick, the driving future is here, but it isn't cheap and it is yet to be fully proven over the long term.RATING 80/100

Newsflash. It didn't happen.The Prius was too costly, complicated and threatening – and too much of a stretch for people who are happy to not use plastic bags to help the environment, but won't pay $40,000 for a green-power white elephant.The eco-friendly brigade were also a Honda target for the futuristic-looking Insight, which was even less practical and enjoyable than the Prius. Another loser.But times change. Hybrid cars, too. And the Prius.Toyota went back to basics with the petrol-electric concept and came up with a Prius II that makes far more sense.It could appeal to ordinary Australians intrigued by the idea of a hybrid car, wanting to do something for the environment, and who like a vehicle that's running ahead of the pack.The basics are simple: It has a small-capacity petrol engine and a battery-powered electric "booster" motor for acceleration.The new Prius is said to match the performance of a 2.4-litre Camry, getting to 100km/h in 11 seconds, with overall fuel consumption that's around half the family car's.The hatchback has much more space inside, a Star Wars-style dashboard that includes an instant readout of the hybrid system, and a price of $36,990 – a $3000 cut – to lift showroom appeal.The car now seats five adults and the drag co-efficient has been slashed to an impressive 0.26, against the 0.30-0.32 of most production cars.The value is even better, thanks to everything from electric aircon and steering to cruise control and satellite navigation.Toyota is trumpeting a customer benefit that adds up to about $5000, making an $8000 overall increase in value.The new deal already looks to be working, at least compared with the original Prius.That car was really only a novelty for government departments and educational groups, and it's reflected in tiny sales – 200 cars in two years – and rock-bottom resale prices.But the new Prius is going pretty well in showrooms, with sales of 91 cars in November, compared with 16 for the same month in 2002 with the old model.The Prius will face a new challenge soon when Honda introduces its own second-generation hybrid, a petrol-electric Civic that makes far more sense than the quirky Insight.But for now, its biggest battle is to convince ordinary Australians, not just the greenies, that hybrid power is sensible and cost-effective.On the roadOur first drive in the Prius II was a 15-minute cruise around Taren Point, up the road from Toyota Australia's Sydney base.First impressions? It was surprisingly brisk, very roomy, and had styling that helps to emphasise its breakthrough hybrid drive.It didn't make the sort of noises we expect for a car so brisk, with a very subdued engine note, but it did the job.When Toyota launched the car, it trumpeted its radical self-parking system, not yet approved for Australia. And it used Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, the ABC's resident egghead and the man who warns about the dangers of a ¿micro-sleep¿ on the road, to explain the technology.But it was still the car that starred, and we were keen to get one home.Now, after a week with the Prius, we are fans. There are still some bugs, but this Prius is the first hybrid we'd be happy to recommend.The bugs The power steering feels odd, with not enough feedback in corners and a generally woolly' feeling that the suspension angles are wrong.The battery pack means the boot is fairly shallow.And the work on cutting drag and noise means the Prius is extremely quiet – unless a Kenworth truck rattles past your ear, when it can sound as if it's coming in through the door.Still, it's a massive leap forward from the original Prius.That car, to our thinking, was an over-complicated Corolla with a $40,000 price tag, a compromised cabin and boot, and not enough bells and whistles to lure people who rush to have anything new.We don't claim to fully understand the new Prius, except to know it has a baby engine that gets more than enough extra oomph from its battery pack when you want it.It also uses far less petrol and its tailpipe emissions are among the cleanest in the business.What we wanted to know was how it drives.The answer is that it drives pretty well. It gets along surprisingly swiftly, has good overtaking power and strong brakes, and is very, very quiet at all times and all speeds – unless you are rattled by a Kenworth.The only shortcoming is the suspension, which feels under-damped and has settings that would be better in Japan.We've come to expect a firm but compliant ride on local Toyotas, but the Prius is a generation behind.We were also captivated by the roomy cabin, comfy seats, all the standard equipment and a design inside and out that's a bit edgy.The overall shape of the five-door hatch is trendy but not extreme, while the cabin treatment has a funky central display for the hybrid system, satnav, aircon and entertainment.There's a sporty-ish wheel, plenty of storage space and new plastic trims that look more advanced than your average family Toyota.We also liked the way the hybrid drive works so well but gives no real signs of its operation.You can get easily distracted by the dashboard display, which has flashing arrows and revolving wheels and all sorts of colours.Still, we think it's a winner and want to get a car for a longer-term look at what's emerging as the future of motoring.