That $3.25/mile figure is obviously the result of some disingenuous number manipulation to anyone who cares to think about it for more than a moment*. Think about what that would mean: the Prius would cost $325,000 over a 100,000 mile span which, at an average of 12,000 miles/year would be just over 8 years. Wrong, prima facie.

*We'll set aside, for the moment, the lie of the 100,000 mile expected lifespan. I mean, really, since when did carmakers start warrantying their vehicles for the expected lifetime of their cars rather than some period far short of that? They don't because it would cost them a fortune.