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Within the industry, Toyota is regarded as the Gold Standard for quality. There are other companies that may equal it, but model-for-model—from the entry level Toyota Echo to the luxurious Lexus LS400—none beats it. So it was with considerable interest that I approached my recent tests of two cars bearing the Toyota badge: the Echo and the Prius hybrid.

The Echo is among the highest fuel-mileage non-hybrid passenger cars offered today, and makes Toyota quality available for just a little over $10,000. The Echo appeals to first-time buyers and those who need a reliable, high-efficiency second car.

Its unique profile, cab-forward design provides an exceptionally roomy interior that combines the low floor height of a sedan with a higher seating position of an SUV or minivan. The functional payoff is easy ingress/egress, commanding visibility and real comfort for four full-grown adults. I know what I'm talking about in this regard, for my test occurred during the last days of the annual Renaissance Festival down near Annapolis, and I chauffeured two couples through the gridlocked traffic. Except for a mild case of "clutch foot" from the stop-and-go traffic,I and my passengers arrived rested and eager to revert to medieval times.

The Echo is powered by a 1.5-liter aluminum alloy engine that sports double overhead camshafts and produces 108 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. Fuel economy is among the best of any gasoline-powered, non-hybrid vehicle you can buy, with EPA city/highway ratings of 35/43 mpg with the standard five-speed manual transmission and 33/39 mpg with the four-speed automatic.

Recently, Toyota introduced the all-new, second-generation Toyota Prius gas/electric hybrid vehicle featuring significantly more power and performance than the previous model, as well as best-in-class fuel economy and emissions performance. Moreover, it's the first hybrid vehicle available to provide the room, comfort and features of a midsize sedan.

The Toyota Prius was the world's first mass-produced electric-gas hybrid vehicle when it was launched in 2000. It has since become the best-selling hybrid vehicle in the world. Sales in the U.S. have steadily increased from 5,600 in its first year on the market to just over 20,000 in 2002.

The new Prius uses Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive—the third-generation electric-gas hybrid powertrain technology. The new system offers acceleration comparable to a 4-cylinder midsize car. Thus, the new Prius can accelerate from 0-60 mph in about 10 seconds, compared to 12.7 seconds for the previous model, and it offers significantly improved passing performance, as well.

At the same time, Hybrid Synergy Drive yields even better fuel efficiency, with a combined EPA city/highway mileage estimate of 51/59, respectively. This economy doesn't come cheaply, though. The base price of the Prius is $20,510.

In sum, I was impressed with the value that has been put into the remarkably affordable Echo. On the other hand, I'm still not convinced that hybrids are worth the extra cost. But, it's your money and Toyota has offered two worthy contenders here. R&D