Okay, What’s the Catch?

The distinctive look of the Prius sends a message, which can be interpreted any number of ways. For some, it declares that we must take steps to reduce our voracious thirst for oilaˆ”with all its negative consequences in terms of the environment and geo-politics. For this camp, the Prius is like a middle-finger-on-wheels aimed at Hummers, Suburbans, Escalades, and the like. For others, the Prius’s message is smug: “Aren’t I special? Don’t I know better?” If you like to blend in, the Prius’s unique profile may be a deal-killer. Most Prius drivers like the aesthetics, inside and out, but there are certainly quite a few detractors who think the Prius is gimmicky, if not entirely ugly.

Then, there’s the “Prius blind spot.” The hatchback design limits the driver’s visibility through the rear window. That makes some people crazy and is a non-issue for others. You have to take a test drive to see how it feels to you.

Another issue has to do with your interest in and tolerance for new technology. The Prius has been on the road in Japan since 1997, and in the United States since 2000. The performance of the new technology has been remarkable, but not without a blemish. In Oct. 2005, following a number of reports that Priuses were inexplicably stalling on the highway, Toyota recalled 75,000 Priuses in the United States. Apparently, the vehicle’s computer system needed to be resetaˆ”and all was well. (Some hybrid drivers complained of reduced mileage after the procedure.) It seemed routine that nearly 17 million vehicles were recalled in the United States last year. But the novelty of the hybrid technology made the recall of the Prius a news item, and made some jittery shoppers leery of the Prius.