Toyota Prius review | Auto Express

There are two trim levels to choose from, and their Design and Excel names are familiar from elsewhere in Toyota’s line-up. The Excel commands a premium of more than £2,500 over Design, but at the moment, it narrowly slides under the £40,000 mark, avoiding the luxury car premium for road tax.

Both versions of the Prius Plug-in use the same powertrain, which comprises a 2.0-litre petrol engine and an electric motor that makes a combined 220bhp. The battery is a modest 13.6kWh in size, while Toyota’s CVT-style automatic gearbox handles power distribution between the engine, motor, battery and front wheels.

The second generation of Toyota’s TNGA platform is used for the Prius Plug-in, and that means not only is the car just as comfortable around town (provided you go for the entry-level Design with its smaller 17-inch wheels) as it is on the motorway, but it’s also quite enjoyable to drive. The steering feel is reassuring, while the body control in corners is impressive. The engine can sound a little gruff when accelerating hard, and there’s a bit of road noise at higher speeds, but it’s not a deal breaker. Read more about the Toyota Prius’s engines, performance and drive…

With more than 25 years of hybrid development behind it, the latest Toyota Prius Plug-in offers great efficiency. The battery is relatively modest when compared with some plug-in hybrid rivals, but the car’s slippery shape means there is a possible range of around 53 miles (depending on wheel size) from a full charge. Even better than that, the Prius should continue to be efficient once the battery has run down, with 80mpg easily achievable in normal driving without a fully charged battery. Read more about the Toyota Prius’s MPG, emissions and running costs…

There are design elements within the Toyota Prius that are shared with the C-HR compact SUV, but the low-slung body means overall it looks unlike any other model in the Toyota line-up. Inside, it’s very much business as usual, though, with Toyota’s latest infotainment tech, decent build quality and a cabin layout that’s easy to get along with once you’re used to it. Read more about the Toyota Prius’s interior, design and technology of the…

The low-slung shape of the fifth-generation Prius means that the in-car packaging has taken a hit, with rear headroom compromised by the car’s low roof. Boot space is better than in the previous-generation Prius, but it’s still not great because the high floor and low roof create a shallow load space. Read more about the Toyota Prius’s boot space, comfort and practicality…

The fifth-generation Prius hasn’t been subjected to scrutiny from safety experts Euro NCAP yet, but seeing as it shares its platform and electronics with cars such as the five-star-rated Toyota C-HR, we would expect it to perform just as capably to avoid or mitigate a collision. Toyota ranked eighth in the latest 2024 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey, with two of its best-selling models in the top 10 of the best cars to own list, and we anticipate that the Prius will be equally dependable. Read more about the Toyota Prius’s reliability and safety…

Toyota Prius alternatives

The Prius has tended to carve its own niche in the market, and the fifth generation’s swoopy styling means it looks unlike any other medium-sized family hatchback on sale. Its closest rivals are plug-in hybrid versions of the Kia Niro and Hyundai Kona, while more conventional hatchbacks such as the Volkswagen Golf, Vauxhall Astra, Peugeot 308 and Cupra Leon or SEAT Leon with plug-in powertrains are available for a similar price.