Toyota announced the pricing for the third generation of its popular hybrid, the 2010 Toyota Prius. When it goes on sale in late May, the car will start at $22,750, including destination charges. A bare-bones version will be available later for a thousand dollars less.

The 2010 Honda Insight, which went on sale at the end of March, was said to be less expensive than the new Prius, and so it is. The Insight starts at $20,470, including destination charges. Honda has made a big deal out of pricing the Insight at under $20k, but there’s no getting around those shipping fees on a brand-new car.

Here’s how the 2010 Toyota Prius pricing breaks down, according to Consumer Reports:

• $21,750 for the stripped-down edition, available later in 2009
• $22,750 for the standard Prius with push-button start and more
• $23,750 gets you Bluetooth and a couple other techy items
• $26,570 adds leather interior, heated seats, and other niceties to the Prius
• $28,020 is the top of the line, with LED lights and other exterior upgrades

Photo by Kristen Hall-Geisler.

At last: the 2010 Toyota Prius, making its world debut at the 2009 North American International Auto Show.

Here’s the skinny from Toyota’s Group VP Bob Carter, who introduced the car at the Detroit auto show:

• 50 mpg combined — the highest-mileage car sold in the U.S.
• Most aerodynamic production vehicle in the world, with a drag coefficient of .25
• Three driving modes: EV, economy, and power
• 0-60 in about 9 seconds (a noticeable improvement)
• Solar sun roof powers an interior cooling fan while the car is parked
• Sales start in late spring 2009 in the U.S. and Japan

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