Here in lies my only problem with the prius or any hybrid. The claimed highway mileage for the best is in the same class of a mid 1990's geo metro 2 door 5 sp. mom and dad bought the 4 door, has ac, auto model and still got 58 on the highway, close to 40 in town. cars of this efficiency have been available without the high cost and technical complexity for better than 10 years. Don't get me wrong, its WONDERFUL that the average american is at least considering a lower emmision, more efficient vehicle than their one person in an escalade 3 mile to work ride, however the claims make me a little mad in light of the cars of the last decade. my best friend's mom from high school bought a 1989 toyota mr-2 with a 7 gallon gas tank that got almost 60 mpg on the highway!