When the Prius first hit the market, hybrid vehicles weren't the ubiquitous force that they are today. Quite the little pioneer, that first Prius to hit the streets in Japan in 1997. Fast-forward nearly 15 years and three generations, and you have a whole family of Prius hybrids. Which made the choice for "Best Green Car to Buy," very difficult for Green Car Reports. Plus, the Prius was up against some very impressive green competition, including the M35h, the Civic Hybrid and the Mitsubishi i electric vehicle.

What put the Prius family over the top? Well, including the original Toyota Prius, and the Toyota Prius v, as well as the yet-to-be released Toyota Prius Plug-In and Toyota Prius C, the lineup is one of the greenest on the road. This time around, Toyota not only takes home the award for the greenest cars on the market, they reset the bar for the hybrid market by offering such a wide range of options.

We think Green Car Reports Editor John Voelkter breaks it down the best when he says, "The Prius is more than just one car this year. With a new Prius v and the Prius Plug-In Hybrid, it's now a family of vehicles with some of the highest gas mileage on the market today, and the Prius name is likely to help encourage buyers to take the plunge into plug-in vehicles."¹

Think you're ready to learn more about owning a member of the greenest vehicle lineup in the country? Stop into Magnussen's Toyota of Palo Alto to take one of these 50-mpg champs for a spin. You'll find us at 690 San Antonio Rd Palo Alto, CA 94306, and we're always happy to give you a tour of the entire Prius family.

Source:¹http://toyotanewsroom.com/releases/toyota+prius+family+receive+greencarreports+2012+best+green+car+buy+award.htm