Guys, my car is slowing giving me car troubles! I’m so sad — we’re going to fix the few expensive issues it has, but for now I’ve decided I cannot take it up any of the steep San Francisco hills while I’m playing tour-guide with my bestie.
Weeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So what better way to show her the steep roller-coaster-like streets in San Francisco than one that doesn’t guzzle gas, and is just as small as my little Mazda?
We went on a 2 day girls getaway excursion to The City (the locals way of saying San Francisco) and then back down the coast for some beach days? Nothin’ better than it my friends.
The car arrived on my birthday (ahem, May 7th for all those who are late wishing me a Happy Birthday) ;)
I have to be honest, the prius never did call out to me when I was looking for cars. I wasn’t a huge fan of the shape of the exterior, I wanted something round and sportier like my Mazda, or even a cool looking Scion.
The Prius is undeniably a popular car. We were seeing different models of the Prius zip around all of the cities we were visiting when reviewing the car. It’s no surprise Toyota has sold over 1.6million of them since they were first introduced.
Keyless entry to the car is the first feature I certainly noticed, and would like to have on my buy-list for the next car purchase. You also didn’t have a turn-key ignition, just needed to press the start button. Madness to me! At first when the car was dropped off, I had no idea how to work it, so I went to one of my neighbours who has one, and asked him to help me out, haha! He was showing me all the tips and tricks with the car.
Can’t tell you how great this one was on gas, due to all the stop-and-go traffic once you hit San Francisco, and parking was easy because hello I’m a professional parallel parker. No, trust me — I am. If you’re having difficulties I will get out of the passenger seat and into the drivers, and parallel park any car/truck for you. The Prius Five had a backup camera, which was so much help for me, especially considering it was a new-t0-me vehicle.
Enough about my parking brag, the prius is a hybrid and obviously means it’s fantastic on gas. My car holds a 55 liter tank (14.5 gallons), and the prius’ tank is a 45 liter (11.9 gallon). Didn’t have to fill’er up much at all, due to it being an amazing city car to zip around in.
Gas prices are SO much cheaper down here than they are in Canada, so I’m still adjusting to how inexpensive it is to fill up my car while living in the USA. It’s great not having to spend over forty bucks to fill up a tank.
I’m sure some of the prius cars come with a sunroof, but that’s one thing I definitely missed. I feel like I am in a convertible when the sunroof is open, the windows all rolled down and the music just cranked. Wind blowing through our hair, driving through the California coast. I MEAN… COME ON. I love living here. Have I said that yet? :)
The Guy and I will always have a car with a hatch back or a car with a trunk large enough to fit his bicycle, the Prius Five is roomy enough for that.
With my Mazda, I have many buttons on the steering wheel so I can set the cruise control, switch radio stations or crank the volume. Pleased to see it available in the Prius since it comes second nature to me when driving, especially for long distances.
Back seat spaciousness isn’t a huge deal breaker for me, since it’s usually only me or my husband driving each of our cars solo. We don’t usually carry many passengers and I can count on one hand how many times someone has sat in the back seat of my car. Although, that could change in a number of years considering we’re a married couple now!
With my Mazda, I have many buttons on the steering wheel so I can set the cruise control, switch radio stations or crank the volume. Pleased to see it available in the Prius since it comes second nature to me when driving. But the coolest part that sets it apart is that all you have to do is glide your finger over the buttons you want to press on the steering wheel, and in your peripheral vision on the windsheild, you’ll see what button you’re hovering over, so you don’t have to look down and check! Madness. Technology.
The Prius Five was so quiet, and I noticed that especially when I was slowly driving through a parking lot, pedestrians didn’t realize I was behind them because you don’t hear the engine of the car going. So I thought that was a little interesting.
I was not a fan of the center console though nor the built in navigation. I’m not the hugest fan of built-in nav boxes anyway because I feel like I can’t update them as often as I can with my BlackBerry and the maps app on that. The centre console was at an awkward height. I forget which arm it was, but when I was resting either elbow on the two sides, one was significantly lower than the other. And there wasn’t a proper place for a bit of lipgloss, or my cell phone to rest, unless I put it underneath. I’d rather have that space entirely open.
If you’re looking for more information regarding the Toyota Prius Five check out their website.
Disclaimer: The 2015 Prius Five was loaned to me for a week to review. All opinions are my own.
42 Comments
That looks like a great car. I’m actually really surprised that it has so much room inside.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle recently posted..Get Bold at Steak with Outback Steakhouse | $50 Outback Giveaway
I had no idea there was so much room in a Prius. I stayed away from it because I thought it would be way too tiny.
Myrah – Coupon Mamacita recently posted..10 Free eBooks 6/15/15
@Myrah – Coupon Mamacita: Right? I had no idea how large it’d be inside either. So awesome.
Nancy recently posted..Laid back California style with Prius
I have been wanting a Prius for a long time! Living in the Bay Area, it is the perfect car for function and fun!
Elayne recently posted..Motivational Monday: 10 Ways To Make This Summer Count
@Elayne: Yes, it’s SUCH a good ‘around the city’ type of car.
Nancy recently posted..Laid back California style with Prius
The Prius is surprisingly roomy for such a compact vehicle. And while I cannot say that it’s my first choice, I can see why a lot of people choose it.
Kori Tomelden recently posted..Tips for Dealing with Temper Tantrums in Public
Wow!!!!! That Mazda car is so cool! Thanks for the great info and beautiful photos :D
@Diana Villa: It’s not a Mazda. It’s a Prius.
Nancy recently posted..Laid back California style with Prius
Hi Nancy! How cool you got to borrow a Prius for a little romp around the City. I test drove a Prius when I moved to the ‘burbs and needed a car. While I did think it was roomier than expected, I was totally confused by how quiet it was heheh! :)
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West recently posted..How I maintain balance and my weekly workouts
@Ashley @ A Lady Goes West: Sometimes I forgot it was even on! Right?!
Nancy recently posted..Laid back California style with Prius
beautiful car! I absolutely love the color and the exceptional amount of cargo space!
Ronda Ogilvie recently posted..Summertime Family attraction coupons around your state!! (Colorado & Texas edition)
Happy birthday! (As my sister likes to say, “I totally wrote this on time, I just forgot to hit send.” >.>)
That trunk space is huge! I’m so impressed. A Prius has never been on my radar, either, but I think you may have changed my mind.
Alli Smith recently posted..Red, White & Blue Juicy Gels
The Prius cars are so nice! I wanted to rent one when we were in CA, but it was too small. My son is 6’5 1/2″ so we really need a lot of leg room.
Christy Maurer recently posted..8 Books for Summer Reading
What a cute little car. I bet it’s awesome to drive in cities when looking for a parking spot. My son is looking for a new car too.I’ll be sure to let him know about this.
@michele d: It’s great for parking, has a little backup camera and all, too.
Nancy recently posted..Laid back California style with Prius
We have a Toyota right now, and we are looking to trade it in on another car or something. We need to get out and test drive some vehicles.
Terry recently posted..Yes!! You Can Paint The Garage Floor #DIY
Looks like a fun car to weave in and out of traffic in at highspeeds:) I would love to take one for a spin, with lots of insurance of course.
Melissa recently posted..Bad Neighbors Coming to a Street Near You
Wow, that prius looks really nice! What a cool car to take for a nice little spin, I’m sure a lot of people will love it.
What a fun way to tour California! This looks so roomy and stylish!
I absolutely love how spacey these cars are!
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Connie recently posted..Not-so-updated Skincare Routine
The Prius is such a fun car, I need to check out the 2015. I know they did a great job.
Raijean recently posted..Outfit Post: Picnic Season is Upon Us, Check Out Mom & Son’s Picnic Style
Omg this looks like a pretty fabulous car!! I have two friends that have prius’s and they both rave about how awesome the cars are!
Oh wow. This looks like such an awesome vehicle. I definitely want to get one of these.
Mistee Dawn recently posted..Dulce de Leche Cheesecake Recipe. #SweetSwaps
I love all the room that you have in there and the Prius looks so sleek + neat. I love how this isn’t a gas guzzler too.
R U S S recently posted..Enjoying a city home & living the good life at Ortigas Center
That’s a cute car. I love that it has a lot of room inside.
Looks like a really nice car! I need to get on my license this would be a perfect second car. We’d of course need a bigger one for the fam. Looks like you had some great fun too!
What a cute and nice car! The kind of car that the husband likes. He prefers small cars like that because they are easy to park.
Lynndee recently posted..Day at the Museum: Carolinas Aviation Museum (Part 3)
I would love to have a Prius but the initial cost is still too high for us. One day though, one day!
This looks like a fantastic car. I love the red color. I will have to try taking one for a test drive. I do need to replace my one vehicle.
This looks like a very nice car. We bought a Hyundai Elantra G in 2013, it has the push button start. We love that feature. Our next purchase, I will be looking for a sunroof, push button start, heated seats, and back up camera.
The Prius is known for its amazing fuel economy.
Uplifting Families recently posted..7 Things You Should Do After You Get a Positive Pregnancy Test #PrenatalVitamins
Oh wow, it’s so pretty!
Maybe one of the reasons I’m fairly laid back and “boring” compared to some people is that I’m original from SoCal?
Kisa Johnson recently posted..IncrediBundles Giveaway – Ends 6/21/15
I am so jealous of your California adventures. I love the Prius – it’s such an easy drive. Hope to see the coast one day!
Krystal recently posted..7 Seriously Simple Laundry Tips
Weeee! That looks like a really fun car. Sounds like you both had a really fun time too. Thanks for sharing about this car.
I normally don’t like red when it comes to cars (insurance is much cheaper, though), but I must admit that that this red car is adorable! Plus, Toyota cars are one of the best. :)
HilLesha recently posted..Old Fashioned: Chivalry Makes a Comeback
Looks like you gals had a great time. A Prius was never on my radar but we ended up renting one while in Puerto Rico. To this day (4 years) it was the best car on gas I’ve ever driven. The ride was smooth and it wasn’t anything like I had imagined. Great little car for sure.
Michellette “MimiCuteLips” Green recently posted..This body in a 2 piece #MySwimsuitStyle
That’s an impressive car! In the next couple years we’re hoping to get a car so I’ll definitely keep this in mind!
Michelle @ Dishes and Dust Bunnies recently posted..Homemade Alfredo Sauce
This sure is a great looking car with a lot of great features. I would love to have the chance to take it for a test drive.
Kelly Hutchinson recently posted..Want To Be Dads Favorite? Get Him The GoPro Camera From Best Buy!
That’s a nice looking style of car, and the color is pretty eye catching. For some reason, keyless entry on cars make me feel a little nervous. However, I love the color of the stick shift and the inside electronics of the car.
Yona Williams recently posted..Company Highlight: Symmetrical Pottery
This car looks awesome! I’d love to have a car like this to ride by the beach.
Theresa recently posted..Honey Bunches of Oats Breakfast Biscuits Review
I’ve driven an older prius and it was wonderful! If it was anything like my experience, I don’t doubt that you loved it! They are great on gas mileage.