Toyota introduced the second generation of the Prius in 2004 for the world market and, in 2006, it refreshed the lineup revealing new options and smarter features.
The Prius was the car that started the hybrid revolution. It wasn’t the first hybrid, but it was the first that enjoyed considerable success among the customers. Despite its odd shape and bland interiors, the Prius convinced its customer’s thanks to its high fuel-efficiency, especially in city traffic.

For 2006, the Japanese carmaker introduced a facelifted version that brought a few improvements. Its aerodynamic coefficient was dropped from a good 0.29 to an excellent 0.26. Thus, the car could save more fuel on the highway, where it didn’t offer big advantages over other regular, non-hybrid vehicles from its class. In the rear, the carmaker installed LED taillights to lower energy consumption. It wasn’t much, but it was a statement.

Toyota introduced more comfort features such as the keyless entry and start system. With the keyfob in the pocket, the driver could approach the vehicle, push a little button on the door’s handle to unlock the car. A push-button start brought the car alive. The infotainment system offered a detailed view of fuel consumption showed on bars every five minutes of driving.

Under the hood, Toyota featured a 1.8-liter Atkinson-cycle engine that sent its power to the front wheels via a CVT transmission. The electric motor worked in parallel with the internal combustion for-pot unit. Unlike other hybrid vehicles on the market at that time, the Prius could have been driven with the electric engine only, for a short distance.