DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Andrea At Bentley University

Q: Hi Andrea! Thank you for participating in Defend Your Ride Boston. Love the Prius. Does that mean you're an environmentalist?

A: I am very interested in the environment and doing the right thing socially. Cars are not that important to me, only owning something like the Prius that is more a symbol of doing the right thing for the environment and having minimal impact on the environment. I get 50 mpg in the Prius, so that was the best car for me.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your Prius?

A: It's a 2005 Toyota Prius. I got it new. It was the first car that my husband--then boyfriend--and I purchased together. It was kind of my dream car at the time.

Q: What is your favorite thing about the Prius?

A: I love the smart entry feature. As long as the key is in your pocket or a purse, you never have to take the key out. You just put your hand on the handle and open. That's good for me because I don't always know where my keys are in my bag.

Q: Does it have any other gadgets?

A: Instead of a regular shifter, it has a joystick like you would use for a video game. To start the car, you just push the button. A lot of times when people are in the car with me, they're surprised that the car is on because it is so quiet. Instead of using the gas and engine right away, it starts on the battery, making a much quieter car. One might say, stealthy.

Q: How do you charge the Prius?

A: The breaking is regenerative. When the driver breaks, that energy goes back into charging the car. There are other things you can do while driving that help charge the battery that then runs the electric motor. If you're a little annoyed by the slow Prius driver, they are probably trying to maximize their mileage.

Q: With the baby coming, how is this as a family car?

A: We're not really SUV or minivan people. We feel really good about the mileage this car is getting and we know how much it can fit. We've stuffed it to the brim, so we know all the baby gear is going to fit in. We already have a car seat in mind that we know will fit!