Toyota Prius 2nd Generation 2004-2009 (XW20) Review

The 2nd-generation Prius received only one facelift for the 2006 model year and the changes were so slight that they can easily be missed.

New headlights are fitted, but they retain the shape of the old ones . The main headlight lens is a bit taller, and the turn signal above it is a bit smaller. On the side of the cluster, the previous amber side marker light adjacent to the turn signal gets supplemented with an extended amber reflector below it in the new headlight design¹.

The new taillight clusters no longer have the dark top section to blend in with the darkened glass on the liftgate but are now clear from top to bottom¹.

In profile, only the new wheel designs can be seen¹.

No changes are made to the cabin design, but darker seat cloth is used¹, and the center of the instrument panel gets a different texture².

There was only one drivetrain for the 2004-2009 second-generation Prius - Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive comprising a 1.5-liter Atkinson-cycle inline-four coupled to an electric motor and 1.31-kWh Ni-MH battery.

Fuel economy is what it's all about with a Prius and the stellar figures the second-generation Prius XW20 generates make the lack of performance a lot more palatable. Being a hybrid that switches off its gas engine in traffic, its city consumption is better than its highway consumption, and the EPA estimate of 46 mpg combined is borne out by the real-world consumption figures of owners, which range from 45.9 to 47.7 mpg. With an 11.9-gallon gas tank, a Prius should be able to travel nearly 550 miles. The battery and hybrid system are affected by cold weather, which also causes the gas engine to run for longer periods of time, so general gas mileage in winter is reported to be noticeably worse than in summer.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

The second-gen Prius was tested according to the NHTSA's less-strict pre-2011 crash-test criteria and fared well, scoring five stars for the driver's frontal impact and four stars for the rest. For the 2006 model year, it lost that fifth star for the driver's frontal impact. A 2007 safety update made side and curtain airbags standard, upping the score for the driver's side impact to five stars.

Back in 2004, safety features were thin on the ground, and driver-assistance features were limited to parking sensors - if you were lucky. The 2004 Prius is kitted out about as expected in terms of safety, having ABS brakes, traction control, and dual airbags as standard - but that's it. Stability control, side airbags, and curtain airbags were available but had to be selected from the options menu, so check whether they have been fitted. The same goes for xenon headlights. The 2006 facelift brings with it standard tire-pressure monitoring, and a backup camera becomes optional. From 2007 onward, the side and curtain airbags are standard.

There was only one 2nd-generation Toyota Prius trim for the first three model years, the specification level of which could be varied by adding options at extra cost. More standard features are added every year. For the 2007 model year, the Touring trim is added at the top of the lineup and, for 2008, a new decontented entry-level delete package is available below the existing Base trim.

The interior is not plush by any means, but the ambiance is lifted by dabbling in the options list and adding features such as leather upholstery. What cannot be faulted is the durability of it all, and everything is bolted down securely, giving an impression of longevity. The tech on offer is good, and the driver has to try not to be distracted by the multi-information screen displaying in real time what the hybrid drive is up to and where the power is coming from. It's also commendably spacious inside, with 38.6 inches of rear legroom, even if the 37.3 inches of headroom back there is somewhat limited by that sloping roofline. There is also an ample 14.4-cubic-inch trunk, its practicality aided by the hatchback design.

The Prius' minor lube services are performed every 5,000 miles, but there is a bigger service at 30,000 miles when the air filters for the cabin and engine have to be replaced as well. The 30,000-mile service costs about $340 at an independent shop or $570 at Toyota. If you're buying it yourself, the air filter will cost about $60, which is quite steep and double the price of an air filter for a typical car in this class. The cabin air filter's price is $22. At 100,000 miles, the inverter's coolant must be replaced, which means that this service cost around $460-$680 and at 120,000 miles, the transmission fluid must be replaced, which is why this service costs $835 - $1,210. However, this is pushing things a bit for a CVT and in view of the steady number of transmission complaints recorded, we'd halve that transmission fluid replacement to 60,000-mile intervals in the interest of transmission longevity.

The spark plugs must be replaced at the same 120,000-mile service, and if you do it yourself, a set of four will cost you about $42. The only spark plug replacement problems on a Toyota Prius engine you're likely to run into is that they might be difficult to remove from the cylinder head after such an extended period, so take care not to break them. After 100,000 miles, you can also expect the hybrid battery pack to let go at short notice, even if it can last quite a while longer in some instances. A remanufactured one with a five-year warranty should cost no more than $2,000. Having a new one installed by Toyota will set you back at least $3,500.

基本服务需要机油和filter to be replaced every 5,000 miles or six months, whichever comes first. We would not budge from this mileage one little bit because in a hybrid, the engine oil breaks down faster due to the engine often switching off and being restarted, rarely reaching operating temperature in city traffic. Also, the majority of the engine problems on the 1NZ-FXE are oil-related, and you can defer oil consumption and cam chain problems by frequently replacing the oil. To add insult to injury, the engine's oil capacity is only 3.9 quarts, so your biggest problem after an oil change on a 2004-2009 Toyota Prius is keeping a hawk's eye on the oil level - any leak or oil-consumption issue leaves little leeway and will have the oil running dangerously low very quickly.

This lube service should not cost more than $170 at an independent shop or $335 at Toyota. Check the oil level frequently and use only fully synthetic oil. This basic service is repeated every 5,000 miles, but various other items are checked and inspected along the way, depending on the mileage. The 5W-30 oil type and oil filter for this normal lube service shouldn't cost much more than $53 if you're going to do it yourself.

There weren't too many 2004-2009 Toyota Prius hybrid recalls:

• The 2004-2009 Toyota Prius steering recall was issued to replace a steering intermediate extension shaft made of splines of an insufficient hardness, causing them to wear away, leading to a loss of steering ability. An additional steering recall on 2004-2006 models replaced the intermediate shaft and sliding yoke, both of which may fracture under stress - this power-steering problem on 2004, 2005, and 2006 Toyota Prius models is the only other one of note.
• Toyota recalled 2004-2009 Priuses to replace the inverter's electric water pump that might have suffered internal damage during manufacturing, causing a short that makes the hybrid system shut down, leading to a stall. On a 2004-2009 Prius, P0a93 is the error code that usually accompanies an inverter-cooling problem.
• As part of Toyota's unintended-acceleration scandal involving nearly 4.5 million vehicles, all 2004-2009 Prius models were recalled to replace or refund floormats that may cause the accelerator pedal to jam, as well as replace and modify pedals and floor surfaces, as required.
• There were a few recalls relating to the restraint system. In a recall of the 2004-2006 Prius, Toyota replaced improperly assembled airbag inflators that may not inflate some of the airbags properly, and a recall on 2009 models was issued to recalibrate the occupant-detection sensors that may otherwise fail to deploy some of the airbags in a crash. There was no 2007 or 2008 Toyota Prius airbag recall.
• The 2004 Toyota Prius was recalled to replace a brake light switch that may fail. On a 2004-2009 Prius, P0571 may be the accompanying error code.
• Many Toyotas, including the 2005-2009 2nd generation, were recalled to replace incorrect load-capacity labels.

Some of the typical OBD-II error codes you might encounter on a 2004-2009 Prius are:

• The P0001 and P1159 error codes are fuel-system-related codes. P0001 indicates a problem with the fuel-volume regulator and P1159 means the fuel-rail pressure is too high. P0201 on a 2004-2009 Prius is a fuel-injector error code.
• On any 2004-2009 Prius, P0011, P0012, P0016, P0391, P0394, P093a, and P0391 are cam position error codes.
• The P0031, P0037, P0038, P0136, P0137, P0138, P0171, P0172, P0420, and P0880 codes on 2004-2009 Priuses are related to the oxygen sensors or their readings.
• P0100, P0101, P010a, and P1101 on 2004-2009 Priuses are error codes from the mass airflow (MAF) sensor.
• P0113 is an intake-air temperature (IAT) error code.
• On a 2004-2009 Prius, P0117, P1116, P1117, P1121, P1122, P1123, P1150, and P1151 are engine coolant error codes. P0117 is an engine coolant temperature (ECT) error code, and both P1116 and P1117 indicate a low coolant level. P1121, P1122, and P1123 are coolant-flow control-valve error codes. P1150 usually indicates an overheating condition, and P1151 shows a problem with the coolant heat-storage tank.
• 在2004 - 2009年普锐斯,P0121和P1120 throttle-position sensor (TPS) error codes.
• P0300 is a random misfire error code and, if the last digit is not a zero, it indicates the number of the cylinder misfiring, so P0301, P0302, P0303, and P0304 on 2004-2009 Priuses indicate a misfiring cylinder on one, two, three, or four, respectively. P0351, P0352, P0353, or P0354 indicate that ignition coil A, B, C, or D, respectively, is malfunctioning.
• P0401 is an exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) sensor error.
• On a 2004-2009 Prius, P0441, P0446, P0455, P0456, and P1455 are evaporative emissions control (EVAP) system error codes.
• P0505 is an idle-air control system error code.
• P1106 is a barometric pressure-sensor error code.
• On a 2004-2009 Prius, P0517, P09ac, P0a9c, P0a82, P0aa0, P0ac0, P1a10, and P3000 are hybrid battery-pack error codes. P0517, P09ac, and P0a9c are temperature-sensor errors. P0a82 indicates a problem with one of the battery pack's cooling fans. P0aa0 is a batter contactor-circuit error. P0ac0 is a current-sensor circuit error, and P1a10 indicates that the hybrid system has been shut down to prevent the traction battery from discharging. P3000 is a battery-control-system error.
• The P0600, P0606, P0607, and P0630 error codes indicate a problem with the electronic control module (ECM).
• P0705 and P0825 are transmission error codes. P0a3f means there is a problem with the motor resolver (which is a transaxle speed sensor).
• On a 2004-2009 Prius, P0a09, P0a94, P0a0a, and P0a0d indicate problems with the hybrid system. P0a09 and P0a94 are DC/DC converter errors, and both P0a0a and P0a0d are high-voltage system interlock errors.
• P0a0f is an engine non-start error code.
• P0a1d is a hybrid-system control-module error code.
• P0a2d is a drive-motor temperature error code.
• On a 2004-2009 Prius, P0a40, P0a46, P0a78, P0a7a, and P0a93 are drive-motor errors. P0a40 and P0a46 are position-sensor errors, while P0a78, P0a7a, and P0a93 are inverter error codes.
• P0a4c and P0a4d are generator position-sensor errors.
• P0aa6 means there is a high-voltage leak.

Besides the foul smells on occasion and a defroster that may sometimes not work properly, there aren't a lot of 2004-2009 Toyota Prius heater/heating or AC problems, and the HVAC system is reliable - but test it properly on a test drive. Should the AC compressor be tired, a replacement will cost over $2,000. The throttle actuator can fail after 100,000 miles, and the job to replace it runs to more than $1,000 with labor. Some problems with paint cracking and peeling, along with some rust and corrosion, are reported at higher mileages, but these aren't too commonplace. Carefully check for signs of the paintwork deteriorating or corrosion, especially on cars used in rust-belt states with salted roads. While not as widely reported on the 2nd-gen Prius as on other Toyotas, rodents do seem to have an affinity for the Prius' wiring and it would be wise to check for chewed wiring, rodent droppings, and random, unexplained electrical, charging system, starting, or fuse problems on 2004-2009 Toyota Prius models. Stay clear, because invasive wiring harness repairs can be very expensive.

有报道,一些业主2006年的模型dashtop can become sticky in hot weather and problems with the 2004-2009 Toyota Prius' door locks or rear hatch handle's button mainly revolve around the rubber parts melting, although the actual liftgate latch can also fail. The odd door-lock actuator can fail too and replacing these are quite pricy at $600 a pop. A few owners have found it difficult to fully top up their gas tanks.

CVTs can be unreliable but the unit in the 2nd-generation Toyota Prius seems reliable if the fluid is changed on schedule. As is the case with all complicated mechanical systems, it can fail, but it's the exception rather than the rule. Failures generally don't occur before 137,000 miles, although there have been exceptions. It seems to be a surprisingly reliable CVT and most problems with the 2004-2009 Toyota Prius' acceleration aren't transmission shifter issues but simply down to the low power output of the engine. If the transmission does give out, a replacement is in the region of $4,500.

With all the major and minor problems covered, you'd be pleased to learn that the following system and subsystems rarely cause problems:

• Besides the fact that it has to be cleaned periodically on old cars and the already-mentioned throttle-actuator issues, there are no notable 2004-2009 Toyota Prius throttle-body problems.
• 没有任何实际的丰田普锐斯音响问题ms, but it's worth noting that the upgraded nine-speaker JBL system is far superior to the base audio system.
• The fueling system is reliable and almost no problems with the 2004-2009 Toyota Prius bad gasoline/fuel injectors, oxygen sensor heaters, catalytic converter, lines, pump, and tank are reported, although some owners did mention that the tank can be hard to top up fully.

There isn't a bad trim in the lineup and while the Standard only takes away a few nice features, losing the cruise control is the most irritating of all; it also didn't have access to the optional packages, so what you see is what you get. We'd avoid it. The Touring is a little pointless and although the 16-inch wheels look nice, the firmer suspension makes little sense in a slow hybrid. Test it to decide whether you're happy with the ride quality on poor surfaces before deciding. Going by the huge number of complaints about the Touring's standard HID headlights, we'd be circumspect of such an important safety feature potentially being unreliable. We'd also avoid any model on which the optional side and curtain airbags and stability control were not specified, as these are important safety features in less-safe old cars like this Prius.

We'd go for a 2007 Standard, which has all the most important features of the Touring but with more sensible and cheaper tires, a softer ride, standard side and curtain airbags, and the tweaks from the 2006 facelift. We'd furthermore make sure that the boxes for an upgraded audio system, the stability control, and the backup camera were ticked - the latter is quite an important feature we take for granted nowadays and can go a long way to eliminate visibility problems in the Toyota Prius for people of shorter stature. For ultimate reliability, the 2009 model is the best, registering the fewest oil consumption reports and the fewest faults - barring the optional HID headlights.

The second-generation 2004-2009 Toyota Prius is a spacious and unpretentious hybrid that delivers on its most important USP - fuel economy. Having said that, you'd have to live with the limp acceleration. Reliability is good, but things tend to start going downhill from 100,000 miles; at this point, oil consumption and battery-pack issues can become prevalent. Negotiate on the price to cover you for a battery replacement and do not even consider a car that has not had fresh engine oil at least every 5,000 miles or six months, because failing that, you'll certainly have an oil drinker on your hands before long. A meticulously maintained car can last you a long time.