The Toyota Prius may look small but it's actually surprisingly roomy. (Courtesy photo)

By Derek Price
CNHI News Service

I want to hate this car. Really, I do.

I'm the kind of person who, when the rest of the world turns out the lights for "Earth Hour," runs through my house turning on every single lightbulb to counteract them.

I don't like the environmental movement not because I enjoy radioactive water and filthy air, but because too many environmentalists have gotten apocalyptic about it.

So — full disclosure here — it's only natural that I don't want to like the Toyota Prius, which has become a symbol for the green
movement. It's the car you drive if you want everyone to know how much you love Mother Earth and Al Gore.

The weird thing is that, in spite of me being Mr. Grinch of environmentalism, I actually enjoyed spending a week driving a Prius.

It's certainly not because I felt good about saving the planet — it could be fueled by whale oil and baby seal blood for all I care. It's
that the Prius is such an efficient, comfortable, smartly designed car.

The efficiency is a given. This is the most fuel-efficient hybrid car on the market, rated for 51 miles per gallon in city driving. Sure,
it's slow and not nearly as much fun to drive as the electric Chevy Volt, but it's also a lot cheaper with a starting price of $23,520.

The most surprising thing, though, is how comfortable the Prius is to drive.

This is a car that looks dinky in pictures. Perhaps that's because the original Prius was an exceptionally small car, and today's Prius
retains the same famous shape as its predecessors.

But the Prius isn't dinky anymore. It's grown in size so much that it feels fairly similar to driving a Toyota Camry, with plenty of leg
room in the back seat, a high roof and shockingly big cargo space.

It's more of a "real" car than the Honda Insight, its chief competition, which sells for a lower price but sacrifices usability
and quality.

The Prius is a better car than the Insight, hands down.

It also has some smart, user-friendly features that I've never seen on other cars, including an optional solar panel on the roof.

Why does a car need a solar panel on the roof? To give you something to brag about at your Sierra Club meetings, of course.

At least, that's what I thought at first.

In reality, the solar roof does something absolutely genius. It powers a fan that keeps your cabin cool when it's in direct sunlight. The same solar energy that normally burns your children when they try to touch the seat buckles is harnessed to cool down the interior when the sun shines. That means no more burns.

The solar panel only runs a fan, not the air-conditioning compressor, so it doesn't actually keep the cabin as chilly as if the A/C was running. But don't worry. Toyota has thought of that, too.

There's an optional button on the keyless entry remote that will turn on the air-conditioning compressor before you get to the car. It
doesn't actually start the engine like some other cars do (because that would waste gas), but instead runs the compressor on battery
power for up to three minutes. That means your car can be nice and frosty by the time you get inside.

In the end, I realize a lot of people are going to buy this car to feel good about themselves for saving the planet from cavemen like me.
If that's why folks buy it, great.

There's a better reason to consider it, though.

The Prius is an engineering marvel with features that make it not only a green car, but also a great car, one that's innovative and
surprisingly comfortable to drive.

It's enough to turn a Prius skeptic into a believer.

Derek Price is an automotive columnist for CNHI News Service. Contact him at carcolumn@gmail.com.

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INFO BOX:
RATINGS
Style: 8
Performance: 3
Price: 9
Handling: 4
Ride: 7
Comfort: 9
Quality: 9
Overall: 8

What was tested?
2011 Toyota Prius IV ($28,125). Options: Solar roof package ($4,180).
Price as tested: $32,305.

Why buy it?
It may be the green movement's poster child, but there are a lot of other reasons to buy it in addition to fuel efficiency. A brilliant
solar-powered ventilation system and great cabin layout make it innovative and comfortable.

Why avoid it?
It's still a Prius, so the handling and performance will put you to sleep. Its efficiency comes at the expense of driving enjoyment.

With an electric shift lever and dashboard covered in digital readouts, the Prius has a cabin that looks like a road-going spaceship.
(Courtesy photo)