Models and Production

• The first Prius sold in the United States was a 2000 model. It was a compact, four-door sedan similar to the Prius that Totoya had sold in Japan since the mid-'90s. The first-generation Prius lasted until 2003, with an entirely new Prius going on sale for the 2004 model year. The second-generation Prius was a mid-size hatchback. Toyota retained this configuration in the third-generation Prius, which arrived for the 2010 model year.
  
  

Engines

• Each Prius contains a small gasoline engine and an electric motor. Both power sources drive the car in a parallel hybrid configuration. The first-generation Prius used a 1.5 liter inline 4-cylinder engine with 70 horsepower and a 44 horsepower electric motor. The second-generation model boosted power by tuning the same gas engine to produce 76 horsepower and adding a new electric motor with an output of 67 horsepower. Finally, the latest Prius uses a 98-horsepower, 1.8-liter gas engine and an 80-horsepower electric motor.
  
  

Dimensions

• The first American Prius was smaller than its successors. It was 169.6 inches long on a 100.4-inch wheelbase, 66.7 inches wide and 57.6 inches tall. Starting in 2004, the Prius grew to 175.2 inches long on a wheelbase of 106.3 inches, good enough for mid-size status. It was 67.9 inches wide and 58.7 inches tall. The third-generation model is 175.6 inches long on a 106.3-inch wheelbase, 68.7 inches wide and 58.3 inches tall.
  
  

Other Specs

• All models of the Toyota Prius have used a single-speed transmission with a planetary gear. Mated to the gas engine and electric motor, this configuration gives the Prius its high fuel efficiency. The first generation achieved 52 miles per gallon in city conditions and 45 mpg on the highway. The second generation improved this to 60 and 51 mpg, respectively. For the 2010 model, fuel economy dropped to 51/48 with improvements more focused on adding power. At more than 3,000 lbs, the third generation Prius is also heavier than the the models it replaces.
  
  

Recalls

• The Prius has been the subject of several high-profile recalls by Toyota. Minor recalls included a 2004 action to correct faulty brake light switches and a 2006 recall of less than 150 vehicles with possible airbag problems. Almost four million vehicles were part of a 2009 recall for problems with the accelerator pedal. In early 2010 Toyota recalled more than 148,000 Prius cars because of problems with the their braking systems that could increase the risk of a crash.