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HOME > GREEN CARS > HYBRID CARS > TOYOTA
Toyota Prius 1.5 VVTi

 

Click here to write a Review about the Toyota Prius

 

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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.

Used Hybrid Cars - Classifieds

 

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.

 

Links

Plug-in Prius hybrid one step closer

Intelligent transport - Toyota iQ concept

Toyota Plug-in Hybrid public-road tests

Toyota Hybrid sales reach One Million

Toyota Prius tops 2007 J.D. Power Award

Dream Toyota Prius

World Premiere of Toyota Hybrid X Concept

UK Hybrid Cars

Honda Civic IMA

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Lexus RX-400h

Lexus LS 600h

 

 

 

Click here to write a Review about the Toyota Prius

Reviews:

 

Review by Archie from Bedford on 09 June 2008

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!

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