2002 Toyota Prius Review
2002 Toyota Prius Review





+43
Used Prius for sale
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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Environmentally sound sedan, competitive price, full load of equipment, excellent warranty coverage.
Cons
- Funky styling, weak performance compared to gas-engine cars, technology doesn't come cheap.
What’s new
Initially offered as a single specification with no factory options, Toyota's advanced gasoline/electric hybrid now offers a choice of several new options for 2002. These include a navigation system, cruise control, side airbags and daytime running lights. There are also two new colors: Brilliant Blue and Blue Moon Pearl.
Edmunds says
Currently, the 2002 Toyota Prius is the best hybrid on the market, but watch for the upcoming hybrid Civic.
Vehicle overview
With fuel prices hovering around $2 a gallon, hybrid vehicles have been getting increased attention from the American public. Hybrid cars combine a gasoline engine with an electric motor. Since hybrids are still fueled by gasoline, they don't have to be plugged in or recharged. The result of hybrid technology is reduced emissions and improved fuel efficiency when compared to a normal gasoline-powered car.
There are currently two available for mass consumption: the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius. While the Insight gets amazing fuel mileage thanks to its lightweight aluminum body and aerodynamic shape, the Prius trades ultimate fuel economy for increased utility. It holds five passengers and a good bit of cargo, meaning it functions as a useable family car.
Toyota is keen on pointing out that Prius (on sale in Japan since 1997), and not Insight, was the first mass-produced gas/electric hybrid vehicle in the world. The company held off on introducing the model to U.S. customers until it could gauge consumer interest and boost power levels.
An all-aluminum 1.5-liter gasoline engine makes 70 horsepower. Variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) helps maximize engine efficiency while minimizing emissions, and power is put to the ground via a continuously variable transmission driving the front wheels. The electric drive motor is worth another 44 peak horsepower, bringing the maximum potential horsepower output to 114.
The Prius operates on either electricity or gasoline alone, or a combination of both. Depending on speed and load, the ratio of power provided by each system is constantly adjusted by electronics to keep the vehicle in its most efficient operating mode. Even then, acceleration is slow; 0-to-60 mph takes 12.8 seconds. We're thinking Prius is for use primarily in the city and not for blitzkrieg runs to Vegas.
Driven with care, Prius will achieve 52 mpg in the city and 45 on the highway while meeting squeaky-clean SULEV emissions standards, according to the EPA. With its 11.9-gallon gas tank, the car has a maximum city range of just over 600 miles.
A single model is available, loaded with amenities like air conditioning; remote keyless entry; cassette stereo; power windows, locks and mirrors; height-adjustable front seats; and 14-inch alloy wheels. Gauges and controls are located in the center of the dashboard, including an LCD screen that can be used to monitor fuel mileage in real time. New options are available this year, including a GPS navigation system, cruise control, side airbags and daytime running lights.
Thanks to a tall stance, seating is upright with plenty of head- and foot room. Toyota likes to refer to the Prius as a "real car," implying that Honda's hybrid Insight is not a real car. If the definition of real is capacity for more than two people and 10 cubic feet of stuff, then they're not fibbing.
Whatever the case may be, it is obvious that hybrids are meeting with acceptance in the court of public opinion. Like the Insight, the Prius offers a viable alternative to gasoline powerplants without the limitations posed by electric-only cars like the GM EV1. If your blood runs green and not red, drop by your local Toyota dealer for a test drive.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2002 Toyota Prius.
Most helpful consumer reviews
4.38 out of 5 stars
2002 Prius with 193,000 miles
manatee624,07/04/2012
4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
Bought it new in June 2003. I'm amazed the car
it still gives me 42-46 mpg each fill up in mixed city/highway driving in busy Miami traffic. This has been the most reliable car I have
owned in 40 years of driving. Repairs so far: full brake job at 100,000 miles, replaced replaced rear wheel bearings at 155,000 miles, replaced ABS brake module and engine belt at 165,000 miles, replaced … steering rack at 175,000 miles, added refrigerant gas to AC at 190,000 miles for the 1st time. As a preventive measure I also replace the small 12V battery every 3 years. The car is still running fine on the original high voltage battery. Everything thing else is original. I love it!
4.63 out of 5 stars
02 PRIUS
sstk100,03/26/2011
4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
We've had the 02 Prius for about 2 years (our first Prius), and our experience has been great.
In fact we bought an 08 Prius and gave the 02 to our son to drive to school.
I expect we will always have Prius for the foreseeable future.
Gas mileage is lower in winter (35-39), and as high as 48 mpg in summer on a 700 mile road trip.
It's still weird when the engine shuts down when at a … stop light....but that's just money in my pocket !
There have been zero-nada problems with anything. It just purrs along all the time.
We like the 08 even better because Toyota updated many things like a a fold down rear seat, better stereo radio, and even more room in back seat.
5 out of 5 stars
15 years and still going
Bill A,12/02/2016
4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
I bought this car used in 2009 from the state motor pool with 95,000 miles. It has now gone 155,000 and it is still getting 44 mpg on the highway. Since buying it it is has only done 40 mpg in town. I've replaced ball joints, rear shocks, rear bearings, small battery, fan belt and the steering rack (a free recall). The fluids have all been replaced and the A/C was recharged once. … Dash lights are starting to burn out and it cost me $85 to replace the green headlight on indicator. So far this is the best little car I've owned in my 73 years of life. Now if it will just run another couple of years until the tires wear out.
5 out of 5 stars
Fabulous
Rina Gene,02/18/2018
4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT)
I am not knowledgeable about cars, not at all. I bought this car 10 years ago, with 160,000 miles on it. I've replaced or refurbished the hybrid battery twice. Some other part had to be replaced, some sensor. As a single parent, I took my child everywhere without a worry. Other than routine maintenance, it hasn't required anything else until recently. It now has over 360,000 miles on it … and sadly, it is time to buy another car, simply because so much is age worn and will likely become problematic. There is some issue with melted wires impeding the computer receiving accurate information regarding the hybrid battery, so the bells and whistles come on when in fact nothing is really wrong.
Safety
NHTSA Overall Rating
The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverallNot RatedDriver3 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverallNot Rated
- Side Barrier RatingOverallNot RatedDriver3 / 5Passenger3 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront SeatNot RatedBack SeatNot Rated
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of RolloverNot Rated
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More about the 2002 Toyota Prius
Used 2002 Toyota Prius Overview
The Used 2002 Toyota Prius is offered in the following submodels: Prius Sedan. Available styles include 4dr Sedan (1.5L 4cyl gas/electric hybrid CVT). The Used 2002 Toyota Prius comes with front wheel drive. Available transmissions include: continuously variable-speed automatic. The Used 2002 Toyota Prius comes with a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. basic warranty, a 3 yr./ 36000 mi. roadside warranty, and a 5 yr./ 60000 mi. powertrain warranty.
What's a good price on a Used 2002 Toyota Prius?
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
Which used 2002 Toyota Priuses are available in my area?
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Can't find a used 2002 Toyota Priuss you want in your area? Consider a broader search.
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Should I lease or buy a 2002 Toyota Prius?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Toyota lease specials
Check out Toyota Prius lease specials
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