Car of the Year for 2001: The Toyota Prius
As time has gone by several things can be said about the Toyota Prius series: including the strong reaction most buyers have towards their car. The 4-cylinder engine is at the core of the strong emotions, it is reliable for its class and delivers a huge amount of torque.
Toyota Prius Engine Specs
The restyled Prius Base is equipped with a Toyota 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that utilizes a total of 16 valves. The engine is paired with a Toyota 4-speed transaxle. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for Toyota.
Fuel is handled for the Prius is a SFI design, running on ELECTRIC/GAS fuel. The ELECTRIC/GAS is managed by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The 11.90-gallon tank provides the fuel storage for longer trips.
Steering control is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The Prius has power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are drum. The car uses coil front springs and coil in the rear.
Vehicle Statistics
The Prius is 169.60 inches long, 66.70 inches wide, and 57.60 inches high. It has a wheelbase of 100.40 inches. It is able to seat 5 comfortably.
The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $19,995 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $18,793. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 4-door Sedan.
A powertrain warranty is provided (100,000 miles/96 months), and a 36,000 mile, 36 month guarantee also comes with the Toyota Prius. This is standard for the price range.
Fuel Efficiency
The Prius Base received a miles-per-gallon rating of fifty two in-city driving and fourty five when it came to long-distance. Being a electric/gas-powered hybrid car, this was exceptional.
We Think…
The 2001 model year was telling year for the Toyota Prius. The introduction of several trim levels (along with the Base version) meant that buyers had several options to choose from..