Jim Resnick

It began as a meager, nondescript little appliance and grew into nothing less than a rolling business card that explained a corporate philosophy. The Toyota Prius hybrid explains what Toyota thinks of itself, the car business, and society far better than most carmakers’ products over the past decade. And the Prius has been an enormous hit, legitimately becoming that overused term in marketing: a brand.

Realistically, plug-in hybrids are yet another transitional moment on the path to full electrics, just as hybrids have been. Most Americans drive no more than 30 miles (48.2km) per day, so a plug-in hybrid that exceeds that figure with a reliable buffer will work better for the vast majority of buying intenders. The gas engine becomes an on-board, real-time insurance policy against range anxiety.