2008 Toyota Prius review from North America
"Interesting but flawed"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Faulty suspension component caused premature tire failure and clunking noise.
Antilock brakes do not work in snow (handbrake works better!)
Traction control immobilizes car if it senses slightest slippage - causes vehicle to come to a stop on gravel roads that other cars have not problems with.
Has more rattles than any other vehicle I've owned.
General comments?
The car is very comfortable and the mileage is truly amazing. We live in the Sierra Nevada foothills, and my evening commute takes me from 100 feet above sea level to 2700 feet over 52 miles. The overall mileage that this car has achieved over 26k miles is 48.7 mpg. Very impressive considering the mix of freeway stop and go, 75 mph uphill runs, etc.
The car has experienced a surprising number of glitches, including a faulty suspension component, antilock brakes that are worthless in extreme conditions, traction control that works poorly, and numerous squeaks and rattles. Not at all what we expected from a Toyota.
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | No |
| Model year | 2008 |
| Year of manufacture | 2008 |
| First year of ownership | 2008 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2009 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 5 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 3 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 1 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 26000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 22nd April, 2009 |