Car of the Year 2005: Ecology for all
The winner takes all. No less than 37 jurors gave their top points to the hybrid Toyota. The margin of victory was higher than any winner since the first Ford Focus six years ago. The second placed Citroën C4 scored twice as many top nominations as the new Focus, but the Ford received points from all Jury members – as did the winner. See the Voting Grid for details of how the Car of the Year Jury allocated its points.
Toyota Prius
The pioneer Prius of 1997 set a new standard for clean emissions among petrol-powered cars but Toyota’s first hybrid lacked performance, handling and refinement. TheCar of the Year 2005 is everything the original was not. It has appealing looks and good accommodation. Performance is relatively lively, with the availability of 110 hp when combining the thrust of the Atkinson-cycle engine and the electric motor. Fuel economy may be outstanding when a gentle driving style is applied, encouraged by the character of this vehicle. At the touch of a button it can even run –silenty – as a pure electric vehicle, but the batteries alone won’t take you very far.
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Technical data
Body: Two-box hatchback, 5-door.
Size: 4.45 X 1.72 X 1.49 m.
Front wheel drive.
4-cylinder petrol engines: 1.5 (57 kW, 77 hp)
Electric motor AC Synchron (50 kW)
Click on the pictures to enlarge
Prizegiving in Stockholm