Test Drive: 2006 Toyota Prius

The biggest change, at least superficially, to the 2006 Toyota Prius seems to the big ol' hybrid badge they've added on the side of the car. As if the silvery-green paint, unique aerodynamic profile, and space-age details weren't enough.

Now into its second generation as the poster car for environmental responsibility, it's not as if the Prius isn't instantly recognizable. Its distinctive shape makes it easy to pick out on the road, and its unofficial status as the cool car for big-bucks but green-thinking Hollywood stars to drive has made it a bit of a star in its own right. Such instant recognizability has led the Prius to impressive sales success in North America, leading the pack for four-door hybrid sales, even though it costs, for instance, thousands of dollars more than the Honda Civic Hybrid (and in some cases, almost as much as the much more powerful Accord Hybrid).

Driving a hybrid car has become about more than just using less fuel and saving the environment. It's also a bit of a status statement, and the fact that the Prius doesn't look like other vehicles out there has played to its advantage. And as it's become a status symbol, Toyota has begun to offer more and more luxury features for its drivers who, often as not, are high-end customers as they are economical types.

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