The Toyota Prius won the North American Car of the Year award in 2004.
The winning car was the second-generation Prius, known by the internal code XW20. Introduced in the early 2000s, it replaced the first-generation sedan with a distinctive five-door liftback, a roomier cabin, and Toyota’s improved Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Its shape and technology made the Prius one of the most recognizable cars of the era.
The 2004 award was presented by the North American Car, Truck and Utility Vehicle of the Year jury, which evaluates new vehicles sold in the United States and Canada. The Prius won the car category ahead of finalists including the Mazda RX-8 and Cadillac XLR. This was a major recognition for hybrid technology, which was still unusual in the mainstream market.
A common mix-up is the award year versus the model’s introduction year. The second-generation Prius appeared as a 2004 model, and the award was also recorded as the 2004 North American Car of the Year. The Prius later won the same broad honor again for the 2024 model year.