Driver's Seat: Toyota Prius Three: Gas saver with some neat features

2011 Toyota Prius Three: City commuters, why aren't we all driving this?

Price: Oh, yeah, because it's $24,520 without options. A slightly less-equipped Prius Two starts at $23,520.

Marketer's pitch: Gas is $3.50 a gallon, dude.

Conventional wisdom: Gas is $3.50 a gallon, dude.

Reality: Gas is $3.50 a gallon, dude. And this isn't a bad car.

Efficient package: I'd read some hybrid-backlash articles this year, reporting that some people contend their mileage may vary so much that they wonder why they bought a hybrid at all. So I thought I'd try out the Driver's Seat.

Murphy's Car: Try out the 2011 model, that is. Toyota is still selling it, thanks to a series of misfortunes, including an earthquake, tsunami, nuclear meltdown, two typhoons, and now flooding in Thailand. The 2012's original sale date of January is expected to be further delayed, a Toyota spokesman said.

Prius Family: Toyota has a Prius Plug-in Hybrid and a Prius V small crossover on the way but will keep chugging out the lovable old Prius, as well. (Dear Toyota, I think I've finally stopped seeing those horrifically creepy TV ads where each body part is a person. What were you thinking? Were the Quiznos ad people unemployed and working cheap?)

Low speed = better mileage: My first order of business on a Friday afternoon was getting stuck in traffic. Here the Prius shined. It got nearly 60 m.p.g. in that 40-mile trip. (The electric motor alone powers the car at slower speeds.) In a week of mostly above 40-m.p.h. driving, I averaged 49.5 m.p.g.

It does matter how you drive: The lovely but lead-footed Mrs. Passenger Seat drove 15 miles or so and knocked the mileage down a full 2 m.p.g.

More than mileage: The Prius looks small on the outside, but there's a midsize car in here busting to get out. The backseat is wide and comfy, and five people can ride in relative comfort. Sturgis Kids 3.0 and 4.0 did not complain back there.

Stow your stuff: The one drawback is the hatch. The battery pack rests underneath, so the storage compartment is shorter than one might expect. And that aerodynamic rear pinches you from above, as well.

A nifty storage space between the foot wells keeps Mrs. Passenger Seat's purse secure. A sliding armrest holds plenty of CDs. And a two-piece glove box means double the cubby.