Getting 31 Miles a Gallon: Is the 2009 Toyota Prius Base Better than Last Year?
The restyled Prius Base is equipped with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine that utilizes 16 valves. The engine is mated to a N/A four-speed transaxle. This has resulted in an increase in horsepower and torque over the 2008 version.
The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are drum. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The Prius uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. Load balancing is provided by coil front springs and coil in the rear.
Statistics
The Prius is 189.20 inches long, 71.70 inches wide, and 57.90 inches high. It has a wheelbase of 109.30 inches. It is able to seat 5 comfortably.
A powertrain guarantee is provided (60,000 miles/60 months), and a 36,000 mile, 36 month guarantee also comes with the Toyota Prius. This is average compared to the rest of the car market.
The original manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) was $19,770 when new, with a dealer invoice cost of $18,088. This price was in line with the industry average price for a 4-door Hatchback.
Fuel Efficiency
For the 2009 Prius, the fuel configuration is a electronic SFI, using ELECTRIC/GAS for fuel. A fuel-injected MFI configuration. The gas tank holds 18.50 gallons.
The 2009 Prius gets 31 miles/gallon on the highway and only 21 in the city. This is below average for a hatchback car.
What We Think of the Toyota Prius
The 2009 model year was very successful for the Toyota Prius. The introduction of several trim levels (along with the Base version) meant that buyers could find the version that best suited their needs.