The Toyota Prius Hybrid in its current
'Hybrid Synergy Drive' form with significant body changes has been
available since 2003. Hollywood stars and politicians are amongst
the Prius owners proud to show off their eco-friendly credentials and
proves that you don't have to compromise on practicality or fashionable
looks to achieve economy or eco-friendliness.
The Prius is not a cheap car to buy, prices start from £17,780 for the
T3 Hybrid and go up to £20,280 for the T Spirit Hybrid. All are
powered by the same 1.5 litre 76bhp petrol engine along the Hybrid
Synergy Drive system. The Prius combines the low speed torque of an
electric motor (up to 22mph) with the high speed efficiency of a
combustion engine. 0-60mph is therefore reached in 10.9 seconds
thanks to the assistance of the high torque 50kW electric motor.
< View the GreenCarSite Toyota
Prius Video.
Statistics
CO2 emissions: 104g/km
MPG Combined: 65.7 mpg
Engine: 1497cc Petrol / Electric
Motor
Transmission : 4 Speed Auto
BHP/Torque: 76/115 NM
Kerb Weight: 1300 kg
NCAP: 5-Star
Top Speed: 106 MPH
0-62 MPH: 10.9 secs
Insurance Group: 8
Warranty: 96 months / 100k miles on Hybrid system
Economy is quoted as an impressive 65.7mpg although this is slightly
less in the real world, however the economy is still better than most
diesels of a similar size and even some superminis. Carbon dioxide emissions
are a low
104g/km which is the
Prius's party piece. This means
low
company car tax bills and exemption from
London's congestion charge.
The Prius has a five star NCAP safety rating which is the highest
possible result helped by its eight standard fitted airbags and curtain
bags and a rigid design. The build quality, reliability and dealer
service are what you would expect from Toyota; all very good. In addition
to the three year warranty, Toyota guarantees the hybrid system for
8years/100,000 miles meaning resale value should be more competitive
than most hybrids.
The entry-level T3 is well equipped. The T4 adds a 6-CD changer,
foglights and cruise control. The range topping T Spirit has a DVD-based
sat-nav system with voice recognition and Bluetooth. It is roomy and
comfortable. Three adults should be reasonably comfortable in the back
however space is short is in the boot due to the battery packs.
There are a limited choice of hybrids available in the UK compared to
the US as they still only make up a small proportion of sales. The
Toyota Prius though is on the road to becoming a mainstream family cars
that demands few compromises, and is extremely cheap to fill up, has
super low emissions and an eco-friendly image.
Notes
ECU's software recall on cars built between August 2003 and November
2004.
2006 facelift including new front grille and revisions to head and
taillights. Soft-touch materials feature inside and a new leather
interior is on offer.
Offers and Savings available on the web:
Model
RRP (OTR)
Autobytel
Broad Speed
New-Car-Discount
Possible
Saving
Prius T3
£17,777
£16,746
£15,999
£16,528
£1,778
Prius T4
£18,577
£17,498
£16,719
£17,248
£1,858
Prius T Spirit
£20,677
£19,472
£18,609
£19,138
£2,068
Other models may be available. CO2 emissions can vary significantly
within the same model according to specification, fuel type and whether
the car is manual or automatic. Prices are for guidance only.
Hire
Hertz Green Collection (
) offers you the chance to hire the environmentally friendly Toyota
Prius in London and across Europe.
Toyota Prius T4: I bought my Prius new in
May 2007 and have since covered 11000 miles of mostly city driving and
it is returning me 53 mpg. I managed 58.6 mpg on a motorway journey to
Cornwall last summer, so I wonder if Christopher from Newbury who
reviewed on 17 August 2007 claiming that it (The Prius) only does 40 mpg
actually owns or has driven one. I suspect he is one of those people who
review cars on the evidence that he has heard from his mate in the pub
who`s knows somebody who has a mate that test drove one once! The Prius
is an excellent car quiet, comfortable, powerful enough for the average
motorist by which I mean its no slouch and with petrol at around £1.15 a
litre, economical. The build quality is everything you expect of a
Toyota. The cabin is roomier than most family cars, rear leg room is
excellent, my son is 6ft 4ins and with him driving I can sit behind him
in the back in comfort and I`m 6ft 1in, try doing that in a Peugeot 406!
I enjoy driving it and the attention it receives, and yes people really
do ask where do you plug it in! Anybody that is wondering about buying
one can rest assured that they will not be disappointed.
Review by Ian from Herts on 23 May 2008
T4: I've had my Prius for 3 1/2 years, and
regularly get 61mpg (in the summer when the engine doesn't need to run
so much). Anyone who gets less than 55 mpg must be a really lead-footed
driver. The smoother you drive a Prius, the better the economy becomes.
Reviewed by Jean Jackson from Manchester on
17 March 2008
Toyota Prius T spirit: Excellent car in
every way.
Comfortable (front & back) responsive, quiet, economical, and reliable.
Toyota servicing is excellent. I've read reviews which say it's
slugguish: NO! I do 20,000+ miles pa on motorways and it accelerates
well. Will buy another.
Reviewed by Kieran from Cheshire on
20 November 2007
I could not agree more the Toyota Prius is
an excellent vehicle, I use my everyday as a sales rep up and down the
UK motorways, it looks good, it runs smoothly and it does so many miles
to the gallon. I was not sure about it when I first started to consider
a hybrid car but after reading reviews which help me give me all the
pros and cons i was convinced, my only worry is its second hand value.
Reviewed by Mick Williams from Cheshire on
02 November 2007
I am taking delivery of my Prius in
January 2008. The main reason for my choice of car is the tax break I
get on company car tax.
I must however debunk a few comments in another review:
The battery is warranted for eight years or 100,000 miles and Toyota
have a recycling program in place. It may interest you to know that the
NiMH battery contains a large amount of metallic nickel – which Toyota
want to recover, and the electrolyte is a strong alkaline, similar to
cleaning products. The electrolyte breaks down very quickly to form
salts which are not hugely damaging to the environment. As to problems
recycling the car – not true. Aside from the NiMH battery the rest of it
is no different to recycling a traditional car and a PC.
I also note that yet again like for like has not been compared when
looking at MPG figures. I had a Prius on loan from Toyota UK for a week
to evaluate. My current Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTI gives 40-45 MPG over a
week and I go through a tank a week (around 600 miles). I used the Prius
in exactly the same way, same cruising speed on the motorway, same route
to work, same holdups. I returned 50 MPG, which does not seem to be much
of a gain. However, I did not drive the Prius in an MPG friendly way. If
I did I would expect to be closer to the 60 MPG figure.
Yes small diesels are very efficient, but I need a large load space in
the rear for equipment I need to take with me, and in the Prius we got
four adults and a toddler in his seat and all the stuff for a day at the
beach comfortably. More to the point, even fully laden it was still
quite rapid thanks to the torque produced by the 50Kw motor.
The final point I would like to make is the Prius is big inside and has
more effective room in it than my Vectra. There is no transmission
tunnel, no central console as in a traditional car. This gives a very
spacious cabin. I will be very pleased to take delivery of my Prius and
have a car that does not eat my tax code and I can still have fun in.
Reviewed by Christopher from Newbury on 17
August 2007
The Prius is supposed to be the
economic car revolution. My
friends, it is far from it. A
Prius is "supposed" to average
60mpg, in reality a Prius will
on average earn a 40mpg; when
driven carefully. A Peugeot 406
2.0 litre diesel can easily earn
an average of 45+mpg. The worst
part about the Prius is trying
to recycle the "car". The
battery is next to unrecylable
due to the chemicals used; and
because of the complexity of the
car it requires 3x the carbon
emissions to separate the
different materials, this also
applies to the manufacture.
However these cars are the
quietest cars you will ever
drive, and with it's central
computer it is reassuring
knowing what the car is doing at
all times.
Reviewed by Chris from Sheffield on 26th
July 2007
Excellent car, easy to drive and
comfortable. So much focus on mpg (I average 58) and technology, people
overlook the high seat cushion height, comfortably shaped seats and
relaxed drive that make it the best long distance car I have ever owned.
Internal storage is also brilliant. I only discovered the tray at the
bottom of the armrest block last week!!
Reviewed by Steve from Kendal on 17th
July 2007
Brilliant. Must be the easiest and
quietest car I've ever driven - and although the speed performance is
not amazing, I'm very happy with the 55+ mpg average over the first
15,000 miles.
Boot space is 50% more than a Golf, and most of our journeys have been
cross country with boxes of books. Maybe 25% Motorway - 40% A roads -
and then all those wiggly, hilly bits that join Cumbria.
Yeah - it's expensive, but it i very refined and so easy to drive.
Reviewed by Jo from Dorset on 18th
February 2007
Am very happy with my 2nd hand Prius, with
smooth acceleration, responsive handling & more room than my former
Honda Accord, both in the front & the back! The boot is still roomy
enough for all the Christmas shopping for a family of 4.
When running on "silent" I tend to spook the local horses who see me
coming but can't hear anything! Also, I've discovered that most people
rely on their ears rather than their eyes before crossing the road: I've
learned to be extra alert if a pedestrian shows any sign of stepping off
the pavement, because, chances are they won't look, & if I'm running
silently, they won't hear me either!
Am delighted with the cheaper tax, & services are remarkably short &
cheap too!
My husband is now thinking of replacing his car with a newer Prius as,
even with the Air Con on in the summer, we're still getting an average
55 mpg!
Brilliant!
