Faults:

Small rattle in the right side dash. At the first oil change service I asked the dealer to take a look at it. They could not recreate the rattle, but it has gone away since the service. Our first oil change/tire rotation service was free.

Otherwise the Prius has been trouble free.

General Comments:

Congratulations to Toyota for selling it's one millionth hybrid vehicle this month! This is by far the smartest car on the road. We have averaged 45 mpg in city/hwy driving and there are lots of steep hills where we live so I'm impressed with the mileage. Pure hwy driving averages 50+ mpg.

We sold a 2001 Subaru Outback Wagon which was averaging 22 mpg and have not noticed a significant difference in the amount of cargo we can haul with the Prius. The cargo room with the hatchback is impressive and the back seat has an amazing amount of legroom. I think it trumps most mid-sized cars for space.

I was concerned at the performance of the hybrid powertrain, but have been impressed with how much power it has when you need it. The electric motor has a good amount of torque and I can take off quickly or climb hills with a full load with no problems.

I have come to like the design of the Prius. I like the high seating, good view and spacious look of the interior. The controls took a little getting used to- but once you adapt you realize they are well planned out and easy to use. We were able to get all the safety features we wanted (VSC, ABS, Backup Camera, etc) by purchasing Package #2 and not forced to spend money on things we didn't want like Bluetooth and Navigation systems. The Auxiliary stereo input is great!

The Prius is very easy to drive- the power steering is light without being too light and climate controls work fast and quietly. I would like to have more options with the seat adjustments- the seats go back and forth, but not up and down. I would also like to have a little softer ride, but most cars today are riding more like sports cars than older models. Cornering is solid for a family car and the ride is quiet.

We paid $23K for this car and compared to other midsize models I felt like it was a bargain. Now that I have this car and look at other cars on the road, I wonder why other cars aren't as efficient since the technology is proven and available. 350 miles on 7 gallons of gas is phenomenal and I applaud Toyota for developing and marketing such an amazing product.