Video: 2014 Toyota Prius Five Review

Those brands do make special cars, but I'd argue that Toyota's Prius is also remarkable because it can comfortably carry five adult passengers and get 50 miles per gallon. It's been around in this form for five years now, but it's still an automotive marvel. One of the smartest things Toyota did with the Prius, was give it a unique design, which came about with the second generation car. The hatchback shape became synonymous with efficiency and eco-friendliness and Toyota sold a ton of them. With the third generation car we have here, the styling was sharpened a bit, but the overall profile stayed much the same. There's a practical side to this look too, though, as the car has a low drag coefficient of just 0.25, so it uses less energy to overcome wind resistance. The thing I like about the Prius is that you don't have to change your driving style to get great gas mileage. It's rated at 50 miles per gallon, combined, according to EPA estimates, and during my driving, the trip computer was always reading more than 50 miles per gallon. With the efficiency like that, you can really put some time between stops at the gas station. While the Prius is great at saving gas, it comes up short in other areas. Road and tire noise are bothersome, ride quality could be better, in the eco modes lethargic gas pedal is maddening. Some efficient cars trade interior roominess for great MPG, but the Prius isn't one of them. The front of the cabin is roomy, and it's also easy to see out of when checking your blind spots. The bar separating the upper and lower section of the rear window is always visible in your rear view mirror, which is a little annoying, but it doesn't significantly restrict your views. The Prius's sweeping, futuristic dashboard is starting to look a little dated, especially the green on black instrument layout in the middle of it. I'm really surprised that Toyota hasn't introduced a full color readout, because they're becoming more commonplace and will make a big impact right here. The roominess story continues in the backseat, as the Prius is large enough to comfortably seat two adults and three in a pinch. It's comparable to what you'd find in a mid-sized car like Toyota's own Camry. The cargo area measures 21.6 cubic feet, and the split-folding backseat is nicely executed because it folds flat with the cargo floor and the seats down. But because of the sloping hatchback roof line, there's less heighth to the cargo area, than you'd find in a small crossover. The Prius starts around $25,000, including the destination charge. And even though there are subcompact cars that get good gas mileage and mid-sized cars that offer similar levels of interior space, there's not much else out there that combines the interior room and fuel efficiency that the Prius does at this price. It may not turn heads like a Ferrari, but it's no less remarkable. (car engine roaring)