I have only owned mine for about 2 weeks but I took a trip to West Virginiaand there it ranges from 1500 to 4500 elevation and it handled it wonderfully. As stated in last post it will rev high going up but I set cruise at 65 and it held it right at 65 and of coarse with going up a hill normally there is a down part as well where your engine could be off for a mile or so. I averaged 45-50mpg whole time I was down there which was about 400 miles of driving around the mountains.

The thing I am most impressed by in the Prius is its pickup it was my biggest concern buying the car but is now the last thing on my mind. As I have seen stated a few times it has a awkward point around 40-50 mph but its barly noticeable. I think the really hilly areas help you more than where I live which is a moderatly hilly area. I jsut drove around Allegany forest in PA and got a avg of 51 mpg it ranges from 1000 to 3000 feet elevation. With the sounds of your communte you would do very well as you would likely use little to no gas going there and jsut turn off the screen on way back up should average out nice.