Toyota Prius

Toyota Prius Reviews :

The 2008 Toyota Prius reliability score of 10.0 out of 10 is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS).

Toyota provides a basic warranty for the first three years or 36,000 miles. The 2008 Prius also has a powertrain warranty for five years or 60,000 miles and corrosion protection for the first five years, regardless of mileage. Potential buyers should be aware of the reliability concerns unique to hybrid vehicles -- even after eight years on the road, the technology is new and constantly evolving. As a partial firewall against this possibility, Prius warrantees cover many components of the hybrid drivetrain for eight years or 100,000 miles.

Acceleration and Power

The 2008 Prius is powered by Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system, which mates a 76 horsepower, 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine to two electric motors, which produce 67 horsepower. Reviewers are generally pleased with how the system automatically runs on one or both of its power supplies to balance acceleration and fuel economy without having to charge the batteries. Reviews often compare the acceleration of the Prius to that of four cylinder midsize cars -- a compliment to how far the car's hybrid powertrain has come, since the first-generation Prius was widely viewed as sluggish. It uses a continuously variable transmission that includes no gears -- yet the Prius electronically simulates gearshifts. The Prius is clearly built, however, for maximum fuel economy. In that respect, it succeeds. The EPA gives the Prius an mpg rating of 45/48. No other production car can match those numbers.

The 2008 Prius is a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, available in 3 trims, ranging from the Base to the Touring.

The 2008 Prius is a carryover from 2007.

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Toyota Camry Hybrid

Toyota Camry Hybrid Reviews :

The 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid's green technology ups the ante for a competent sedan. New Car Test Drive says, "The Hybrid is a good performer and one of the most fuel-efficient mid-size vehicles anywhere."

Despite the fact that the four-cylinder engine works with a 105-kilowatt electric motor, Forbes reports: "The driving experience in the Camry Hybrid is remarkably normal. Most of the time you can quite simply forget that you're driving a hybrid, because it behaves almost exactly like a gasoline-engine car -- which says a lot about the sophistication of the hybrid system." But there were a handful of test drivers stuck on the learning curve. Cars.com states, "Once I trained my right foot to know exactly where the threshold was, I was able to drive in electric mode as high as 20 mph before the gas engine started up. Drivers behind the hybrid may have little patience for this, as engine-free acceleration is slow." New Car Test Drive also had to adjust. "When it's started, and sometimes even when you press the accelerator, the gas engine does not immediately fire, so you won't hear it or feel its slight hum of vibration," the review states. "As a result, you may not realize that this Camry is ready for action. So you'll press the start button again, thinking it didn't fire the first time, and actually turn the car off."

The 2008 Camry Hybrid is a 4-door, 5-passenger family sedan, available in one trim only, the 4-Door Sedan.

Upon introduction, the Camry Hybrid is equipped with a standard 2.4-liter, I4 , 192-horsepower, hybrid engine that achieves 33-mpg in the city and 34-mpg on the highway. A variable speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard.

The 2008 Camry Hybrid is a carryover from 2007.

Reliability

The 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid reliability score of 8.0 out of 10 is the Predicted Reliability rating provided by J.D. Power and Associates. This score is based on trending the past three years of historical initial quality and dependability data from J.D. Power's automotive studies, specifically the Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and the Initial Quality Study (IQS).

Toyota offers a three-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty for the Camry Hybrid, which is also covered by Toyota's five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty. All hybrid-related components are covered by an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.