Toyota has swept the automotive world with its “Hybrid Synergy Drive,” now the “gold standard” of hybrid technology. The Prius is a deft combination of fuel efficiency, mid-size capacious interior, price, and because of its unique shape, a clear hybrid “green” statement.

The Prius is powered by a small 1.5 liter, 76 hp, 4-cylinder, DOHC engine and a 50 kilowatt electric motor, with a total available 110 hp. The power is transmitted to the front wheels via Toyota's own version of a constant velocity transmission (CVT). The entire complex-drive system is smooth and seamless. Toyota offers the Prius in two versions, a $22,795 four-door hatchback and a $23,690 touring four-door hatchback. The touring version has a tuned suspension, 16-inch wheels and high intensity headlamps.

The ride is smooth over most surfaces, a little harsh over rough patches and generally quiet over noisy surfaces. Driving or riding in this car is a comfortable experience. Handling is fair, certainly adequate for most drivers. But if you have some Earnhardt blood, this may not be the car for you. It leans a little on most corners and a little more on severe ones.

The Toyota Prius

The available power from the combined efforts of the gas engine and the electric motor will certainly get you on the freeway without extra heartbeats, and you can climb hills with the rest of the traffic but you'll have to put up with some buzz from the engine compartment.

One of the major reasons for buying this car is the miserly fuel consumption. How miserly? Initial EPA estimates are 60 mpg city/51 mpg highway or a combined result of 55 mpg. Now the EPA has admitted its testing and estimating systems are overly optimistic, particularly for hybrids, and do not necessarily represent what the consumer will experience in everyday driving.

Most Prius owners - as represented by consumer reviews in auto Internet sites and auto magazines - report 45 mpg to 50 mpg overall. Some have complained that their fuel consumption is no better than 40 mpg. The Prius we tested delivered 43 mpg overall. Pretty impressive, since few cars at any technological level can even achieve 40 mpg.

This leads to the question of whether the hybrids make financial sense. In the case of the Honda Civic hybrid, the calculation is easy since we have a gas engine version of the same car to compare. The Prius lacks a gas engine equivalent.

Assume that a gas engine version of the Prius achieved an overall fuel consumption of 30 mpg. At $3.50 per gallon of gas and 15,000 miles per year the gas engine version would consume 500 gallons of gas which will cost $1,750 per year. The hybrid, at 45 mpg would consume 333 gallons of gas, which will cost $1,163, an annual savings of $587. The annual savings, which is similar to the savings in a Honda Civic, is not exactly persuasive, since most hybrids cost $2,500 or more than their gas equivalents. It seems you have to have a desire to reduce emissions and help create cleaner air to make this purchase.

Options for the Prius come in packages, leaving some buyers stuck with features they may not want. Package 1 offers rear parking camera, AM/FM radio with CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers, smart key system with no key push button starting for $825, Package 2 offers rear parking camera, vehicle stability control system, traction control with engine power reduction system, AM/FM radio with CD/MP3 player with 6 speakers and smart key system for $575. Package 3 includes everything in Package 2 plus upgraded JBL stereo system with six-disc changer, Bluetooth wireless communication system with voice activated controls, smart key and securityalarm and homelink systems for $2,105.

Package 4 adds high intensity discharge and front fog lights to Package 3 at a cost of $ 2,580. Package 5 adds a navigation system with steering wheel controls for $3,280. Package 6 adds leather seats and a leather wrapped steering wheel for $4,550.

The 36-month, 36,000-mile warranty offered by Toyota is not consistent with the excellent reliability noted by consumers. Even the power train warranty at 60 months and 60,000 miles is fairly miserly compared to General Motors 60 months, 100,000 mile power train warranty on most of its vehicles.

Whether or not this is your vehicle depends on how you feel about hybrids and the environment. There is no compelling financial advantage to buying the car unless gasoline reaches $5 per gallon, at which point your savings on fuel would reach around $1,900 per year, allowing the hybrid premium to be repaid in the first two years.

Motoring since 1952, Austin Lynas has owned 55 cars and at one time raced mini-sedans in England. An aerospace engineer, he was instrumental in developing the anti-skid systems used in British military aircraft that preceded today’s ABS systems. Lynas can be reached by e-mail at austin@sandiegometro.com.