The next great hybrid is here

Will real people really buy a hybrid?

They will buy this one. Or so Toyota hopes, because of the differences. From expanded room and performance to new design and technology, the 2004 Toyota Prius is a hybrid car for the rest of us. Not a hybrid vehicle disguised as a compact, not a cramped two-seater or a trend-mobile with little space and less performance, like the previous Prius. Nope, this newest Prius is a statement wrapped in practicality; common sense and idealism tied together with four wheels and an engine that proves driving doesn't have to be dirty, and that driving right actually can be fun. Perhaps not as much fun as chirping the tires in second gear, or going 0-60 in the blink of an eye. But the Prius is fun in other ways, such as missing an appointment with the gas station, or an easy drive on freeways, in traffic and around city streets.