It's Easy Being Green

It'

s a funny feeling to tool around town in a $20,000 family car and get noticed as though you were driving a Ferrari. But that's exactly what happened when I took the futuristic-looking 2004 Toyota Prius for a spin around New York City. The new, improved hybrid car goes on sale in mid-October, but it's already getting plenty of buzz.

Toyota introduced the Prius in the U.S. in 2000, and Honda's Civic hybrid came out last year. Both cars save gas by drawing power from an electric motor that automatically recharges as you drive — no plugging in required. But the completely redesigned 2004 Prius is the first eco-friendly vehicle that not only saves money at the pump but also serves as a decent-size family car with a little oomph. Best of all, it sells for the same price as the original Prius.

The first thing you will notice is the roomy interior. The 2004 Prius is just 5 in. longer than the old model but has several inches more backseat legroom and a surprisingly large trunk beneath its hatchback. You'll also note the unusual controls: no key is necessary. Instead, you insert a small plastic unit about the size of a matchbook into a slot on the dash, then step on the brake and push the power button. Next you move a small joystick mounted on the dash to the "D" position to start moving. It seems odd at first, but it works just fine.

The best improvements are in performance and fuel efficiency. The Prius goes from 0 to 60 in 10 sec., a significant boost over the sluggish 12.5 sec. of last year's model. More impressive is the 59 m.p.g. in the city and 51 m.p.g. on the highway.

Compared to the similar-size 2004 Toyota Corolla, which has a regular gas engine and gets 29 m.p.g. in the city and 38 m.p.g. on the highway, the Prius could save you nearly $300 a year in gas, assuming you drive 15,000 miles and pay $1.75 a gallon. And you won't spend much time at the pump, because you can go more than 600 miles between refills.

Don't expect frills: no leather, no seat warmers, no sunroof. But the optional navigation system and keyless entry add to the high-tech appeal. And the heads turning on the sidewalk are a nice little bonus.