Toyota Prius Hybrid The 3rd Generation

Toyota Prius Hybrid The 3rd Generation

Toyota strives to build vehicles to match customer interest and thus they typically are built with popular options and option packages. Not all options/packages are available separately and some may not be available in all regions of the country.

If you would prefer a vehicle with no or different options, contact your dealer to check for current availability or the possibility of placing a special order.

Some vehicles are shown with available equipment. Seatbelts should be worn at all times.
For details on vehicle specifications, standard features and available equipment in your area, contact your Toyota dealer. A vehicle with particular equipment may not be available at the dealership. Ask your Toyota dealer to help locate a specifically equipped vehicle.

All information presented here in is based on data available at the time of posting, is subject to change without notice and pertains specifically to mainland U.S.A. vehicles only.

Toyota Prius Hybrid Prices :

• Toyota Prius Two : $ 24,000
• Toyota Prius Three : $ 25,565
• Toyota Prius Four : $ 28,235
• Toyota Prius Five : $ 29,805

For Price detail please come to http://www.toyota.com

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Sport utility vehicles have been famous for their features and looks. When they came out, the vehicle became a favorite among celebrities and people were more than willing to buy it. Unfortunately a lot of people are also against it for its size and fuel consumption. It does have the power but at the expense of your wallet and environmental conscience (that is if you have one). Fortunately Ford has decided to follow in the Footsteps of the Toyota Prius. The first ever hybrid car sold on the market.

Due to soaring gas prices, the new technology was supported and Toyota dominated the hybrid automobile market. Ford made a hybrid version of their Ford Escape which started the SUV hybrid. After the successful launch of the Ford Escape, Toyota decided to jump on the bandwagon and created the Highlander Hybrid SUV.

A step up from the Prius

Although it is not clear if Toyota earned a profit from the Prius, they still continued to develop and manufacture hybrids. Sales didn’t pick up until 2004 and when other motor companies decided to make hybrids of their own it was clear that the technology was worth investing in. Toyota then decided to make a hybrid version of their commercially successful Highlander.

The highlander, like other Toyota’s creations has the hybrid synergy system but with a new power train to be able to sustain load carrying requirements of the SUV. It is a formidable propulsion management system in hybrid technology that was also used in the Ford Escape. It has a 3.3 liter V6 engine and two permanent magnet electric motors with a peak power of 270 horsepower (combination of gas engine and electric motor).

The highlander comes in front wheel and four wheel drive. It has daytime running lights, power windows, tilt steering wheel, door locks, cruise control, and a radio and CD sound system with six speakers. It also has a navigational system that monitors on which and how much power it will use from the gas engine and the electric motor. The highlander is also an example of a full hybrid and can run off the electric motor alone.

The highlander, like other Toyota hybrids has regenerative braking, continuous variable transmission, anti-lock system, and Vehicle Dynamics Integrated System. It has the advanced airbag system for the driver and the passengers. The highlander can be expensive but it will be beneficial in the long run.

Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota Camry Hybrid

There are many hybrid vehicles on the market today. Unfortunately due to the unique technology they don’t come cheap, developments and experiments with high powered engines made them more expensive. The perks provided by luxury cars come at a price. If being environmental friendly is this heavy on the wallet then why buy?

Hybrid vehicles may be an instant shock to the wallet but they are beneficial in the long run. Apart from SUVs and luxury vehicles there are also compact four doors that may provide an alternative for the average Joe. Following the success of the Camry, Toyota has decided to give the model a fresh new trim by turning it into a hybrid. Using Toyota’s latest hybrid technology, the Camry may provide to be an alternative to expensive hybrids.

Camry facelift

The original Camry didn’t give its owner many problems. It’s priced right, big and powerful enough for the average Joe. With soaring gas prices, more people are willing to support and pay for hybrid technology. This prompted Toyota to hybridize its Camry to give customers a break from expensive sedans and Sports Utility vehicle hybrids.

Like other hybrids today, the Camry is equipped with a gasoline engine and electric motor combo. It has a 192 horsepower and runs at 38 miles per gallon. It still has the same accessories as of the previous Camry like alloy wheels, daytime headlights, power heated mirrors, six CD changer on the dashboard, eight way power and eight stereo speakers. The CD changer is compatible with a mp3.

It’s still equipped with standard safety features such as airbags in the front, on the seat mounts for side impact, at the side curtain, and for the driver’s knee.

The main difference is additional features. The hybrid Camry has a push button start system, Smart Entry keyless locking, power door locks, anti-lock out windows and the air-conditioning relies on the electric motor. It also has anti-lock breaking system and Toyota’s Vehicle Dynamics Integrated System. The latter has traction and stability control with other electronic devices for vehicle control.

The Camry may not look as stylish as other luxury sedans and SUVs. But if you are looking for an affordable car that has been tried and tested this would be a good car for you. You don’t really need lots of horsepower for city driving. The Camry provides the best of both worlds while still being able to be accessible for the average Joe.

Midsize Hybrid Cars on the Market

Midsize Hybrid Cars on the Market

There are 4 competing midsize hybrid electric vehicles on the market: Honda Accord Hybrid, Toyota Camry, Lexus GS 450h, and the Nissan Altima Hybrid.

Honda Accord Hybrid.
Even before the release of the Hybrid, the Honda Accord was the second best selling car in the country. But the Accord Hybrid did not live up to the title "best-seller". After soaring success in 2005, car sales plummeted when its rival the Toyota Camry Hybrid hit the market. In 2007, the hybrid version of the Accord was discontinued.

However, buying an Accord Hybrid will give you a good 30mpg/37mpg fuel rating. Accord is run by a powerful 3.0 L engine that produces 240-hp and 232 lb.-ft at 5000 RPM of torque. The electric motor is 16-hp with 100 lb.-ft at 840 rpm of torque. The sticker price of the Honda Accord Hybrid is approx. $30,000. You cannot buy a brand new Accord Hybrid from Honda but that's not the only place where you can buy a car, right?

Toyota Camry Hybrid.
Camry is known for its comfort, safety, and dependability. And surely, these characteristics are carried out with the Toyota Camry Hybrid. Powered by 2.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and 105-kW electric motor and 244-volt battery pack, the Camry can deliver a total of 192 horsepower. It promises to run 33mpg in the city and 34mpg on the highway. The Camry's sticker price is at approx. $25,200. (The second generation Toyota Prius is classified as a midsize car.)

Lexus GS 450h.
If you think that a hybrid should have a small engine, then, the Lexus GS 450h will change the way to think. This hybrid has 24-valve, 3.5-liter gasoline engine that produces 297-hp. That's just the half of it. The electric motor-generator produces 197 hp giving the driver of this car the power and sheer adrenaline rush. But don't be fooled, the Lexus GS 450h may perform like a sports car but it definitely has the luxury features you want in a midsize car. And why not? At the price of $55,000, you surely have to set high expectations.

Nissan Altima Hybrid.
If you don't like the Toyota Camry and can't afford a Lexus GS 450h, then you can go for the Nissan Altima Hybrid. It is powered by a large 2.5-liter engine that produces 198 horsepower and 162 lb.-ft at 2800 RPM of torque. The Altima is only available in selected states including Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and California. Fuel economy is impressive considering the size of the engine. It is rated at 35mpg/33mpg and priced at approx. $25,100.

Honda Civic Hybrid

Honda Civic Hybrid

Hybrid technology has come a long way since Toyota released the Prius. Sales substantially picked up in the market prompting other automobile companies to make their own hybrids. Following in the footsteps of Toyota in 1997 Honda made its own hybrid.

The Honda Insight was a moderate success. Although it was a fuel efficient car it had different technology under the hood. The hybrid technology was new at that time and the public perceived the Insight to look to odd to be driven around the city.

Honda then turned to one of its famous compact sedans. The Honda Civic was released in a hybrid version in 2003. The design was pretty much the same with the conventional Honda Civic incorporated with Honda’s own hybrid technology.

Honda Civic Hybrid Technology

The first generation Honda Civic hybrid came out in 2003. It operates with a different hybrid technology compared to the Toyota Prius which is the basic template for all hybrids. Instead of the hybrid synergy system, the Honda Civic hybrid uses an Integrated Motor Assist system that was also used in the Insight.
The first generation was produced from 2003 to 2005.



 It has a 1.3 liter lean burn internal combustion engine with Honda’s VTEC cylinder cut-off system. This allows 3 cylinders to stop operating while decelerating which reduces friction losses. This in turn creates a more effective way of regenerating energy.

It has a 15 kW permanent magnet motor which also serves a generator for recharging the batteries. It also has a 120 V nickel metal hydride battery, 5 speed manual transmission, regenerative braking, electric power steering, and low rolling resistance tires.

The second generation was also equipped with the same thing with a few changes. A high profile camshaft was added, fourth generation Integrated Motor Assist and third stage VTEC and Variable Cylinder
Management replaced the previous ones.

It has a satellite-linked navigation system and an audio system that supports mp3 and WMA. It also comes in with an average fuel consumption regulator. An idle stop feature automatically shuts off the engine in idle periods.

The second generation was also an improvement from the first one which used lean burn engine.
Honda has stopped producing Civic hybrids to replace them with smaller and affordable types to compete with Toyota.

Nonetheless previous the second generation proved to be a worthy competitor to the Prius. Although they may differ in terms of technology, fuel efficiency was still attained.