I recently spent a week road testing the revelation that is the fifth-generation Toyota Prius…
When it was launched in 1997, the pioneering Prius may not have been the most attractive of cars, but it was the first mass-produced petrol-electric hybrid, and several million have been produced.
Now in its fifth iteration, it’s better than ever – and it has finally emerged as a swan.
Available only as a plug-in hybrid, the new Prius turns heads, for all the right reasons.
Once a favourite of Uber drivers, the latest version – with its futuristic, aerodynamic styling, low roofline, cool C-shaped headlights and stretched wheelbase – has a much broader appeal.
Athletic and desirable, it’s up against a variety of family hatchback PHEVs, including the Audi A3, Volkswagen Golf, Peugeot 308, Skoda Octavia and Vauxhall Astra.
Priced from £37,895, the Prius pairs a 150bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and 13.6kWh lithium-ion battery, giving a healthy total output of 220bhp and a claimed EV range of up to 53 miles.
All that power translates into a 0-62mph time of just 6.8 seconds and a top speed of 110mph, while CO2 emissions are as low as 12g/km.
On paper, it’s capable of as much as 564.9mpg if your journeys are modest and you keep your battery charged up. However, as with all PHEVs, on longer trips it’s simply running as a regular hybrid.
The difference with the Prius is that rather than fuel economy dropping down to the late 30s/early 40s mpg (like some rivals), this car is super-efficient.
Without much effort, I achieved 60mpg on a long run and 50mpg in everyday driving.
If I’m honest, part of the reason for that is down to the CVT auto gearbox, which revs uncomfortably high if you accelerate hard, then settles down again. In other words, a sensible, smoother driving style is the only way to avoid the engine din.
That said, the CVT is much improved, but it does dent the driving fun, which is a shame because the chassis is more than up to the job.
If you do press on, the car is agile, stays flat in more challenging corners and delivers a decent turn of speed. And because the driving position is low, you feel more involved with the car.
Grip levels are good for a front-wheel drive car, while the steering is light and, overall, the Prius feels planted.
You can choose between HEV (default) and EV modes, plus Normal, Eco and Sport drive modes too. There’s also a ‘B’ on the gear shifter, which increases the intensity of the regenerative braking, slowing the car down more effectively and charging the battery on downhill stretches of road.
Inside, there’s plenty of space up front, but taller passengers won’t be so happy in the back, where the low roofline means that headroom is compromised and getting in and out can be a struggle.
It’s not perfect up front though for taller drivers either, because in order to see the driver’s display, the steering wheel has to be lowered so it’s nearly on our lap. Peugeot drivers may be fine with that, but it’s not ideal.
Visibility is another casualty of that rakish design. It can be challenging to see round those sharply-angled A pillars. Oh, and there’s no rear wiper on that slim, tailgate window.
The infotainment system is OK and does the job, but it is pretty basic. On the plus side, it’s nice to have physical buttons for climate control, and the heated/cooling seats.
Uber drivers won’t be happy with the luggage space on offer. A shallow 284-litre boot is modest for a family hatchback-sized car.
Overall, the build quality is good, but there’s a bit too much hard, black plastic inside the cabin.
The seats are comfy though and the ride is good, ironing out all but the worst imperfections our roads have to offer.
Finally, the Prius offers peace of mind. Toyota has long been associated with reliability. Now the brand offers a market-leading warranty to back that up.
If you service your car at a Toyota dealer every year, the warranty (initially three years) continues for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.
Verdict: If you’re looking for a super-economical family hatchback with serious kerb appeal and relaxed long-distance cruising, then the latest Toyota Prius should top your shortlist. Just remember to try before you buy because it is not without a few compromises.
