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Highest Ranked: 2005 Toyota Prius
Technologically sophisticated vehicles that are pioneers in their respective segments are often regarded with a skeptical eye toward dependability. In the case of the 2005 Toyota Prius gasoline-electric hybrid, the results of our most recent vehicle dependability study indicate that this skepticism is misplaced. In the compact car segment, the Prius is the most dependable 2005 model by a significant margin, according to the people that own one. It was available only as a 5-door hatchback with more interior room than most people expected, and could be loaded up with leather and a navigation system to appeal to eco-conscious buyers looking for luxury features in a hybrid. Adopted by Hollywood, accepted by mainstream Americans, and able to get between 40 and 50 mpg without trying too hard, the oddly shaped Toyota Prius proved not only popular but the most reliable model in the compact segment.
Like I said, the Prius isn't for everyone. But for regular daily driving - city, suburbs, and highway - where the objective is to get from A to B comfortably (for a compact car) and economically without setting any land-speed records, the Prius is an excellent choice.
However, personally I wouldn't use a Prius as a battering ram.
From what I've read about them, battery powered cars can get crazy amounts of torque and it's a nice flat, wide curve too. I wouldn't be disappointed if the internal combustion engine was replaced by a battery and motor.
Electric motors output instantaneous peak torque. Horsepower is then determined through RPM (hp = [(tq.)*(rpm)]/5250). So technically there are no curves, torque and horsepower are both linear. Also, because of this, no shifting is required.
Location: Still in Portland, Oregon, for some reason
890 posts, read 3,700,888 times
Reputation: 743
Quote:
Originally Posted by tstone
Portland humans must be the weird sub-species.
Strange, though- when I visited for a day (before heading to Cape Lookout SP) no one gave me a look and I was driving a Dodge Charger. That's considerably larger than a Santa Fe.
They are...well...we are.
There is a simple explanation for why you didn't get nasty looks; the Charger isn't an SUV. Sad but the honest truth.
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