How Far Would You Go For the Planet? Part TwoToyota Prius owners like numbers. They rattle off details about their fuel economy as if they were quoting batting averages for the all-star team. Their pride is rooted in statistics. If you want to drive an environmentally friendly car (and see immediate results at the gas pump), the current-generation Prius is one of the easiest ways to do it. In fact, the proposition of owning a Prius was so attractive to so many Americans that Toyota initially couldn't build enough of them to meet demand in the U.S. Now that Toyota has increased the allocation of Priuses coming to the U.S. market, more and more buyers are getting in on hybrid ownership.

In exchange for attractive fuel economy, Prius owners, particularly of the first-generation model, had to put a little extra thought and effort into their car purchase. They sacrificed acceleration and size for the eco-benefits. The second generation, introduced in 2004, wooed new customers for both its environmental smarts and additional features — larger interior, roomy hatchback and automatic climate control. Many buyers have been willing to spend a little extra in order to get a little extra for their environmental consciousness. They often waited for months to take delivery, but now speak about their car as if they've picked a winner. (In fact, Edmunds.com consumers have rated their Prius an average 9.4 out of 10.)