The Toyota Prius Base for 2009: Improving on 2008
The 2009 Prius is an important vehicle to Toyota for the hatchback market segment. The Base is a member of a series of two trim levels for the Prius which include Touring and Base. The four-door car with its front-wheel drive is positioned to aggressively fill this niche for Toyota. There is strong competition from vehicles from Lexus.
Toyota Prius Engine Specs
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 fuel system for the 2009 Prius is a SFI design, using ELECTRIC/GAS fuel. The fuel flow is controlled by a electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The fuel capacity of the fuel tank is 18.50 gallons.
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 dimensions of the Prius Base are 71.70 inches wide by 189.20 inches long. It sits 57.90 inches off the ground. It seats a standard five passengers, with 4 doors. The wheelbase of 109.30 allows for extra leg room for the rear passengers.
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.
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.
Fuel Efficiency
The 2009 Prius gets 31 miles/gallon on the highway and only 21 in the city. This is subpar 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.
No less than 5 of my friends have a Prius. I can’t say more than two of them are happy with it…
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