Overview & Reviews
Initially offered as a single specification with no factory options, Toyota's advanced gasoline/electric hybrid now offers a choice of several new options for 2002. These include a navigation system, cruise control, side airbags and daytime running lights. There are also two new colors: Brilliant Blue and Blue Moon Pearl.
- Environmentally sound sedan, competitive price, full load of equipment, excellent warranty coverage.
User Reviews:
Showing 41 through 50 of 78.00-
free to drive - 2002 Toyota Prius
By prius owner - April 19 - 2:00 amexcellent car gas milliage is wonderful,drives with pep and hugs the turns
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Kansan loves the Prius - 2002 Toyota Prius
By Jerry N. - April 16 - 10:30 amAfter four and a half years of Prius ownership we have sold ours to our son and bought a new one. The only real failure we had with the 2002 model was a computer failure that was repaired under warranty. We really love the way the Prius educates you to be a more economical driver. Would I buy another? Already have!!
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Cool technology - 2002 Toyota Prius
By Another Matt - December 5 - 10:00 amThis car definitely delivers on its mileage promise. Like other reviewers, Ive been getting about 45-50 mpg in regular driving. The most impressive mileage I got was 53 on a roughly 500 mile journey -- did the whole thing with one tank of gas. Mileage seems to vary with weather (the engine runs more in the cold). I looked up a bunch of the patents behind this car. Man those guys are clever. The connection between the gas engine and electric motor is truly elegant.
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The Last Car Ill Ever Own - 2002 Toyota Prius
By LMBwillbeaPhD - September 6 - 2:00 amMy husband and I both drive a 2002 Prius and will never own a different make or model. Its evenly weighted, easy to drive, and really does get 50+ miles to the gallon. The gas crunch has not been a concern for us! It has a smooth, quite ride with a huge interior. Four adults really can be comfortable inside. Weve had nothing more than routine maintainence since their purchase. Even here in the mountains we have found no problems with power. It is the families car of choice for long trips. Its a great car even for people who arent conservation minded.
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Great little car - 2002 Toyota Prius
By spock42 - July 31 - 2:00 amThis car has the smallest turn radius of any car Ive ever driven--smaller even then our miata. Tooling around in electric mode with the continuously variable transmission is a lot of fun. Parking it is a dream as well--reverse gear is all electric and you have such fine control of the acceleration on the electric, not anything like the surge from a gas engine.
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Fun Car!! - 2002 Toyota Prius
By v4rider - June 2 - 10:00 amWe are the second owners of this car. I am a former auto tech and not really sure about performance or reliability with this car, but after test driving and now owning the car for awhile I am impressed with the overall value and driving experience. It has been well engineered and has many extras that are usually expensive options on other cars. Smooth acceleration and gear changes. I have had many friends and co-workers ask about the car and I tell them if anything ever happened to it I would buy another without hesitation. I am really impressed with 45 MPGs WHILE OPERATING the A/C! I live in NM and that is a plus.
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02 PRIUS - 2002 Toyota Prius
By sstk100 - August 3 - 2:48 pmWeve had the 02 Prius for about 2 years (our first Prius), and our experience has been great. In fact we bought an 08 Prius and gave the 02 to our son to drive to school. I expect we will always have Prius for the foreseeable future. Gas mileage is lower in winter (35-39), and as high as 48 mpg in summer on a 700 mile road trip. Its still weird when the engine shuts down when at a stop light....but thats just money in my pocket ! There have been zero-nada problems with anything. It just purrs along all the time. We like the 08 even better because Toyota updated many things like a a fold down rear seat, better stereo radio, and even more room in back seat.
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Wheee! - 2002 Toyota Prius
By suze - September 26 - 4:13 pmI Love this car! The new technology is very exciting and fun. My actual mileage has been closer to 45mpg than 52mpg, but I think that is par for the course. I have not had one problem with this car. My main concern when I went to see it was: how would it perform? and the answer is great. Good pick-up, cruises at 65mph no sweat, handles easily. Interior very comfortable, even on several hundred miletrips. Comfortably seats 4 adults. One caveat: The hybrid engine read out on the dashboard is so cool to watch, When I first had the car, I almost rear ended someone!
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Excellent car and minimal repair costs - 2002 Toyota Prius
By Jacob - August 29 - 3:18 pmI have owned Prii all my life and have learned to work on them myself. The cars are immaculate in terms of just about everything. But do remember- this is a car from 2002 and will have different interior and what not from cars today. The first generation Prii are just about as good as you can get. Over the 2 I have had, I constantly average about 48 MPG. 44 @ 70+, 55 @ 55+, 55 @ 30-55 MPH. The headlights do SUCK on these! But that is nothing that cannot be fixed with about $30, Amazon, and something called XENON headlights that will light up the road. Costs $30 and takes about 20 minutes to set up. I want to make something clear to those who say the repair costs are tremendous: you are wrong! If the main hybrid battery were to fail, the cost is NOT $2000+. I repair 2000-2009 Prius hybrid batteries as a side job all the time. I personally buy working used batteries with less than 120k miles on the for between $200 and $500 and it takes less than an HOUR to replace yourself or if you find a shop, or if you chose to have someone replace it, then expect around $300 to install. On average I charge $700 to replace the hybrid battery completely- thats the cost of EVERYTHING. If you want a new battery and want Toyota to install it personally, then of course expect a couple thousand- what did you expect for a car that was $20,000 when it first came out? Thats like buying a brand new engine from GMC when your head gasket goes out. I mean seriously? Use your brain! Not only this, but the hybrid battery almost never fails entirely- it is usually a couple of cells which cost less than $40 and I charge less than $70 each to replace. Shop around at your local shop, replacing the battery is actually simple. For those of you who are willing to learn, look a video on youtube of how to change a prius hybrid battery. My first time took me 50 minutes. Takes about a full hour after you put extra features that will protect the newly installed battery. Not only this, but you can RECYCLE the bad battery for about $150 and thats the price I buy the bad batteries at(which can be repaired by simply replacing cells). I also drive this car on average around 40,000 miles a year because I travel so often. This is a review from someone who not only has 3 total cars that are 1st-3rd generation Prii and not a single other type of car and who works on them and learned by himself. For those who do not know, 1st generation= 1997-2003(1997-1999 Japan only), 2nd generation= 2004-200, 3rd generation= 2010-2015 :). And an extra note- I buy my Prii on Craigslist and generally get them with less than 140k miles for under $1,900.
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Toyots Prius - 2002 Toyota Prius
By Cael Zander - August 11 - 2:00 amI really enjoy this car, in the city or on the road. I do get the reverse of the estimated milage (50/53 mph on the road, 46 in town). The trunk is amazingly roomy, the seating comfortable for four.
