2008 Toyota Prius Overview
The 2008 Toyota Prius is a four-door, five-passenger sedan available in three trims for 2008, including the Base, Liftback and the Touring. The introductory Base model has a starting MSRP of $21,100 and is equipped with a 1.5L inline four-cylinder. This 1.5L engine produces a mere 110-horsepower, which is more than enough for the lightweight Prius in everyday driving situations. A variable speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on all trims.
The real story behind the 2008 Toyota Prius is the technology that makes the Prius the most fuel efficient production car currently sold in North America. The core technology consists of a combined hybrid system which can run on gasoline or electric power depending on speed, power needs and other conditions. Like all current mainstream hybrids, the Prius uses a self-contained regenerative braking and generator system to charge the battery pack. The estimated life of the battery pack exceeds seven years, making its useful life only a concern if buying a used Prius. What all this means to any potential owner is 48-mpg city and 45-mpg highway. These fuel economy figures give the Prius nearly 550 miles of cruising range. The Prius was introduced in 1997 for the Japanese market and then rolled-out to other major markets in 2001. Since that time, hybrids have become firmly entrenched at dealerships across the country. All major automakers and some smaller manufacturers now have hybrids on the lot or coming soon to a showroom near you. Hybrid technology is no longer the sole domain of tiny economy cars. Full-size sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks and mid-size sedans are also getting in on the hybrid action. Even the mighty Chrysler HEMI will soon be hybridized. But for now, the Prius is one of the most advanced and reliable hybrid systems on the market.
2008 Toyota Prius Exterior
introduction, the car has been updated from time-to-time and now has a more wagon-like appearance. This trend toward the functionality of a wagon or hatchback body style is a direct result of consumers increasingly demanding their cars to do more than ever. Fortunately for Prius buyers, the Prius delivers on its usefulness. The current styling ethic blurs the lines between the traditional gasoline powered sedan and the first generation of quirky hybrid cars. Most manufacturers have chosen to hybridize their existing models, but Toyota has kept the Prius a pure-play hybrid and does not offer a gasoline-only trim.
The technology we spoke about earlier is not limited to the fuel system. The 2008 Toyota Prius features all of the standard equipment one would expect on an upmarket car, even though the Prius is well under the current average selling price for all passenger cars -- $28,500 at the time of this writing. Features such as traction control, electronic brake assistance, four-wheel anti-lock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and fly-by-wire throttle and shifter are all part and parcel of the Prius. Oddly enough, even with all this tech, Toyota has outfitted the Prius with drum brakes in the rear. A basic technology that goes back decades.
2008 Toyota Prius Interior
The high-tech nature of the 2008 Toyota Prius continues into the interior. Unlike most vehicles, the gauge cluster is not behind the steering wheel. Instead, the Prius mounts instrumentation in a heads-up position in horizontal bar at the top of the dash. This unusual layout takes a little getting used to. All other controls are in more-or-less their usual positions, including steering wheel mounted controls for the A/C and radio. The Prius, even the base model, is loaded with little conveniences that really put the car over the top. Small touches such as delayed power retention window operation and illuminated entry can push a buyer into the Prius' court. The car is standard with an AM/FM audio system with six-speakers and an in-dash CD-player. Automatic climate control is also standard on the Base model and includes a cabin filter and rear HVAC ducts to keep backseat drivers happy.
Safety Features
The 2008 Toyota Prius has an excellent safety record, and scores very well in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) testing. The Prius scored four-stars in both driver and passenger frontal crash testing, five-stars in front seat side impact crash testing and four-stars in rear seat side impact crash testing. The Prius has a 13-percent chance of rollover (four-stars) with no tip-up in NHTSA tests. Standard safety equipment includes advanced features such as side and head curtain airbags.
Standard safety equipment includes:
| • 4-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS)
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| • Driver/front passenger advanced airbags
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| • Front seat-mounted side airbags
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| • Side curtain airbags
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| • 3-point seatbelts w/front pretensioners, force limiters, front passenger automatic locking retractor (ALR/ELR)
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| • Adjustable front seatbelt shoulder anchors
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| • Driver & front passenger seatbelt warning sensor
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| • Rear seat child restraint system/lower anchor points & top tether anchors
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| • Child-protector rear door locks
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| • Traction control (TRAC)
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| • Side-impact door beams
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| • Front/rear energy-absorbing crumple zones
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By: Todd Jensen, Autotropolis Editor
2008 Toyota Prius Numbers at a Glance
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Starting MSRP:
| 2008 Toyota Prius 5dr HB Base (Natl): $21,100.00
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| 2008 Toyota Prius 5dr HB Base (Natl): $23,370.00
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Base Technical Specifications:
| Displacement: 1.5L/91
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| Engine Order Code:
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| Engine Type: Gas/Electric I4
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| Fuel System: EFI
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| SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM: 76 @ 5000/67 @ 1200 - 1540
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| SAE Net Torque @ RPM: 82 @ 4200/295 @ 0 - 1200
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