They have divided the car into 5 price categories:
Prius I To be released at a later date $21,000
Prius II $22,000
-- 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle engine
-- P195/65 R15 all-season tires with alloy
wheels & covers
-- Smart Key (driver's door) and Push Button
start
-- EV, Eco, and Power modes
-- Multi-Informational Display with energy
monitor and fuel consumption history
-- AM/FM/MP3 CD player with six speakers and
satellite radio capability and auxiliary
audio jack
-- Cruise control
-- STAR Safety System and active front headrest
-- Seven airbags including driver knee airbag
-- Four-wheel disc brakes
-- Tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio and
HVAC
Controls with Touch Tracer Display
-- Six-way adjustable driver seat
-- Auto up/down on all windows
-- Color-keyed foldable power heated side
mirrors
Prius III In addition to Prius II features: $23,000
-- JBL AM/FM/MP3 six-disc CD changer with eight
speakers
-- Integrated satellite radio capability
-- Hands-free phone capability via
Bluetooth((R)) wireless technology
Prius IV In addition to Prius III features: $25,800
-- Three-door Smart Key system
-- Leather-trimmed interior
-- Heated front seats with driver lumbar support
-- Driver and front passenger water repellant
windows
-- Plasmacluster(TM) ionizer
-- Auto dimming mirror with HomeLink(R)
Prius V In addition to Prius IV features: $27,270
-- 17-inch alloy wheels and P215/45 R17 tires
-- LED headlamps with auto leveling and washers
-- Integrated foglamps
Optional Equipment:
Navigation Package $1,800
Voice-actived
touch-screen
DVD navigation system
With JBL AM/FM/MP3
four-disc CD changer,
eight speakers,
integrated satellite
radio capability, XM
NavTraffic capability,
hands-free phone
capability and music
streaming via Bluetooth
wireless technology
and integrated backup
camera
Solar Roof Package $3,600
Includes Navigation
Package equipment
plus power tilt/slide
moonroof with Solar
Powered Ventilation
System and Remote Air
Conditioning System
Advanced Technology Package $4,500
Includes Navigation
Package equipment plus
Dynamic Radar Cruise
Control (DRCC),
Pre-Collision System
(PCS), Lane Keep Assist
(LKA), Intelligent
Parking Assist(IPA)
So buying a Prius V along with the Advanced Technology package plus $750 destination charge will cost $32,500, and the solar roof is not an option. Also buying a Prius that is not a plug-in car does not allow any tax credits.
A Chevy Volt in the mid to upper 30 thousand range take off $7500 for government tax credit could very well cost the buyer less and likely be similarly equipped with creature comforts.
I am told GM is "still investigating" what if any option packages the Volt might have or if it would be one well-equipped model.
The cost of driving without gas, of course, is priceless.