2008 Toyota Prius Consumer Reviews

Wipers and power points

Written by: jtjtruth on 10/26/2009

Vehicle

2008 Toyota Prius Standard 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

For the most part the Prius is a good vehicle. The most annoying thing is the Wiper control and placement. It is to easy to hit and start a real circus of front and rear wipers. Secondly with a vehicle that is one big battery, Why was it designed to kill the power to the power charge points when the vehicle is off. This is completely illogical and quite annoying in today's use of so many required electronics.

Favorite Features

Quick little car.

Suggested Improvements

Increase braking ability. Severely under braked. Really dangerous. Move the wiper control include always on Power points.

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Cannot help but like it

Written by: RF in Ohio on 10/16/2009

Vehicle

2008 Toyota Prius 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

Wife wanted one. I drive it on weekends and have taken it on a few road trips. Other car is V6 Accord and until Prius were always Honda people. When we bought the Prius, we gave 03 Civic Hybrid to one of our kids. Typical Toyota steering feel, soft, unlike the Hondas so many of us like. Beyond that, great car. Unbelievably spacious, excellent sound system, runs very well at highway speeds, and gets very good gas mileage. I check mpg manually with regularity. The gauge mpg readout can be right on, or off as much as 5% high or low. Same with Civic but not as bad. Have gotten as much as 53 on highway, typically 41-43 in mixed, lower in dead of winter. Would not hesitate to buy another one.

Favorite Features

less greenhouse gases per mile, spaciousness, comfort

Suggested Improvements

lose the cheap tires

4 out 5 people found this review helpful

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Rermarkable Car!

Written by: Toby on 10/15/2009

Vehicle

2008 Toyota Prius Standard 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

This is the most remarkable car I have ever owned. It is economical, roomy, comfortable (I am 6'2" and have heard about how it doesn't fit tall people. Nonsense!), and fun to drive. I love the fact that it delivers great economy without producing tons of emissions while at the same time it is quick off the mark and able to climb mountains without hesitation (I have also heard about its supposed defects in this regard). I replaced the tires with Michelin Energy Savers A/S and saw the economy jump nearly 9%. I highly recommend those tires.

Favorite Features

Looks, reliability, economy. I regularly get upwards of 52 mpg all around.

Suggested Improvements

I don't like the back-up beep. The touch screen is invisible in bright sunlight. The tires are cheap and wear out quickly. There should be a lumbar support on the driver's side (at least). Heater wont go below 65 degrees. We like it cool in the winter.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Great Car!!

Written by: Hugh on 10/05/2009

Vehicle

2008 Toyota Prius Standard 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

Within months of purchase my wife and I drove to Western Montana (over the continental divide) and back to Minnesota. We got 53 MPG at a time when gas was about $4.00 a gallon. Extraordinary! There's plenty of room inside, but I do not like the touch screen -- you can't see it in bright sunlight. I'm glad they got rid of it (for the most part) in the new ones. I wouldn't trade this car for any other on the road. It's the best car I have ever owned. I disagree with those who find it slow off the mark. It has plenty of get up and go.

Favorite Features

Economy and lack of pollution.

Suggested Improvements

More leg room on passenger front side. It's a bit tight for long-legged passengers. Eliminate the touch screen. Lumbar support in the driver's seat.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Gas fillup

Written by: Quinton Qualls on 10/04/2009

Vehicle

2008 Toyota Prius 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

Since purchasing this car we have had difficulty filling the gas tank. It continually cuts off and just keeps clicking off before we can complete filling the tank. Finally the tank was replaced but we still have the problem. What is the problem. Never had this problem with any other car.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

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Heat issues in Michigan

Written by: Dan D. on 08/30/2009

Vehicle

2008 Toyota Prius Standard 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

I bought my Prius just before the economy crashed. Don't drive it in the winter as it takes forever to warm up and won't keep ice or snow buildup off the windshield. I'm concerned about comments on quitting for no reason and dead battery. I stored mine last winter and started it every couple of weeks with no problems. But didn't get it out until March. Mileage goes south when weather is cold. So I just drove my Pickup beginning in late Nov. until March. Also noted that tire wear is excessive. They must have used a cheap tire as OEM. Wouldn't buy another as insurance is high and needing a different vehicle for the seasons defeats economy of transportation. It's built well though.

Favorite Features

fuel economy

Suggested Improvements

heater is poor

7 out 9 people found this review helpful

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Frequent Dead Battery

Written by: candance king on 08/04/2009

Vehicle

2008 Toyota Prius Standard 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

We have a company car also, so whenever I don't drive the Prius for ten days, I find a dead battery! I've used up my AAA for the year already, and have an expensive repair ($120) from trying to open the back hatch- you are completely locked out! No one ever warned us about this! Don't go on vacation w/o getting your car a babysitter!! Also, I want to complain about an irritating design feature: when driving at night, there is a bad glare, a green bar of reflection onto the windshield right where you look to drive from the the display! If the top frame of it was extended a little, like a hood, it wouldn't happen. And I can't fix it. Same problem in the daytime, gps screen needs shade- bleached out.

Favorite Features

GPS very good but you can't see it in the daytime without shading it, also, passenger can't find things while we're driving due to lockout safety. Bummer.

Suggested Improvements

As above. Hard clearance to get in & out, especially if short & seat pulled forward, knees hit bad when turning to get out. Back up camera distance unusable, too hard to translate to visible reality. If u call it parking camera, ok! Need drawers under passenger seats- can't see front end car!

6 out 7 people found this review helpful

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Disappointed in fuel economy

Written by: reid on 08/03/2009

Vehicle

2008 Toyota Prius Touring 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

I had a 2007 Prius which got 47 to 53 mpg. This car was totaled and I was so happy with the car itself and then definitely the safety features. I purchased a 2008 Prius and now only get 36 to 43 mpg. I have been to a local dealer to no avail and I am heading to the dealership where I bought the car today. Leaving on big road trip in September, I hope they can do something!!

Favorite Features

I like everything about the car except the mileage and the fact that they can't add Mexico to the GPS. The update costs for GPS is prohibitive.

Suggested Improvements

Improve gas mileage on this vehicle.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Safety and reliability

Written by: Snow on 07/13/2009

Vehicle

2008 Toyota Prius Touring 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

I own a Prius for more than 18 months now. It's a fun car to drive with great fuel economy. The only thing that bothers me is how safe I am in this car. Had met with 2 accidents and the car got damaged badly in both. Luckily I was alone in the car on both the occasions. The body is not strong. A simple hit can cause bumps. Just wonder, is economy that better than the safety!!

Favorite Features

Bluetooth, AC, rear mirror, fuel economy

Suggested Improvements

More sturdy exterior, Navigation system can be used by the passengers when the car is in drive mode

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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The Devil Is In the Details

Written by: Savannah Cook on 06/23/2009

Vehicle

2008 Toyota Prius Standard 4dr Hatchback (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)

Review

I had done so much research on the Prius that I was totally confident in my purchase. I have been so disappointed in some of the design features. The rear window is difficult to see out of because of a bar running horizontally across ... the dash dims when the headlights are turned on, making it difficult to see how fast you are going, and the dash is difficult to see in bright sunlight. The car salesman raved about the new seat fabric, but it is already stained. I would have preferred leather, but was talked out of it. Of course, the gas mileage can't be beat, but it's a shame the other elements don't measure up.

Favorite Features

Gas mileage.

Suggested Improvements

8 out 8 people found this review helpful

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