Save Green by Going Green!

The 2012 Toyota Prius remains the king of the “green” car movement, with untouched fuel economy and a host of eco-friendly details inside and out.

For 2012, Toyota introduced a few new variants to the Prius family, including the larger Prius V and a plug-in version of the Prius. There are also a few updates to the standard Prius for the 2012 model year, the most notable being the addition of Toyota’s Entune multimedia system as an option. Entune connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth® and integrates services like Pandora, iHeart Radio, and Bing searches into the Prius. On the outside, the Prius gets a few updates to its front styling including a revised front bumper and headlamps. Also, the standard stereo now features a 6.1-inch touch-screen and an integrated backup camera.

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Prius’ eco-chops is its fuel efficiency, but the story only begins there. There is an available solar-panel moonroof that powers a ventilation system to keep the car cool as it sits in parking lots on hot days. The headlights are LEDs that take less power to operate. It uses eco-plastics derived from plant resin which produce less CO2 during the manufacturing process. So if you’re looking for a car that is environmentally conscious, the Prius fits the bill.

Under the hood, the 2012 Prius uses a hybrid system combining a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 134 total horsepower. The Prius, besides being extremely aerodynamic, also uses a few drivetrain tricks like exhaust gas recovery and regenerative braking to maximize efficiency. All told, the Prius gets 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway, good for a 50 combined mpg number that eclipses the competition.

Inside the 2012 Prius, the instrument panel is still seated atop the center of the dashboard and the center console flows down into the center storage bin. Above the shift knob, there are three buttons which allow you to change how the Prius drives: EV keeps the Prius running on battery power (as long as possible), ECO mode calibrates for efficiency, and Power mode for better acceleration. Standard features include automatic climate control, auxiliary audio input, a multi-information display, remote keyless entry, push button start, and power windows and locks. Options include the aforementioned Entune system, a navigation system, leather upholstery, heated front seats, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port for your iPod.

As if all of this wasn’t enough, the 2012 Prius is also one of the safest cars around, with a full five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA (the highest possible score) and a Top Safety Pick Award from the IIHS.

So if you’re looking to go “green” the 2012 Toyota Prius delivers with unsurpassed fuel economy and environmentally conscious materials, while still offering plenty of interior features and value.