
The Toyota Prius, now Toyota's third best-selling model in the United States, hit our shores 10 years ago.
The first-generation version, destined to become a classic, wasn't quite the hit the next two would be. It lacked the hatchback body style that made Prius generations two and three such practical cars. The original Prius's stubby trunk lost a lot of space to the battery pack.
The later versions also looked totally unique. This first version looked almost indistinguishable from Toyota's Echo compact car.
"The Toyota Prius now stands as the definitive hybrid," said Kevin Smith, editorial director of the automotive Website Edmunds.com.