| The concept vehicle a few years back is now | | | | |
| making big news around the world. The Toyota | | | | The latest Consumer Reports owner |
| Prius is currentle the cleanest family car on | | | | satisfaction survey reported the Toyota Prius |
| the planet today. Voted as the 2005 European | | | | won near-unanimous praise with 94 per cent of |
| Car of the Year, the Prius sets a new | | | | respondents saying that they would definitely |
| standard on hybrid cars. | | | | get one again. The second-generation Toyota |
| | | | Prius becomes the first hybrid to top the |
| The car was chosen as the winner from a list | | | | list, sending the Lexus LS430 luxury sedan |
| of seven finalists and beat the competition | | | | down to second place. The sporty Honda S2000 |
| comprehensively. It gathered 406 points as | | | | was in third place. |
| compared to Citroën C4 (267), Ford Focus | | | | |
| (228), and Vauxhall Astra (180). Other cars | | | | The owner satisfaction survey is part of the |
| in the consideration were Renault Modus, | | | | Consumer Reports annual survey, which asked |
| Peugeot 407 and BMW 1-series. | | | | its subscribers if they would buy the car or |
| | | | truck they own again, considering its price, |
| Toyota Prius Hybrid featured prominently at | | | | performance, comfort, and reliability. This |
| this year's "Red Carpet Green Cars" event as | | | | year CR received more than 250,000 responses |
| twenty of Hollywood's A-listers are set to | | | | to this question for 2002 to 2004 models, |
| arrive at the Oscars in chauffeur-driven | | | | which were used to determine |
| Toyota Prius hybrid vehicles instead of the | | | | owner-satisfaction ratings and lists of Most |
| customary gas-guzzling limos. Participants in | | | | and Least Satisfying vehicles. |
| the "drive" for global sustainability at the | | | | |
| "Red Carpet -- Green Cars" event include | | | | Awareness of the benefits of hybrids has |
| veterans Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins, and | | | | dramatically increased and fuel economy is |
| Robin Williams, as well as some new faces | | | | the No. 1 purchase reason for the Prius, so |
| consisting of: Selma Hayek, Penelope Cruz, | | | | it's safe to say that rising fuel prices are |
| Layra Linney, and best actor nominee Leonardo | | | | putting a spotlight on hybrid vehicles. |
| DiCaprio among many others. | | | | |