For The Prius swaps smoothly between petrol and electric power, and is effortless to drive around town, plus the cabin is roomy enough for families. Emissions are low and resale values high.

Against The interior plastics are disappointing, especially as the Prius is so expensive. Rear visibility is poor, there’s barely any feel in the steering and the ride can be unsettled.

Toyota Prius Hatchback
33 5stars

The Toyota Prius makes a good family car as well as a good green car, thanks to its spacious cabin and big boot. However, it’s disappointing to drive and makes more sense as a company car than a private buy.

What Car? readers say

4
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The full Toyota Prius review


There are 4 Toyota Prius versions available

Hatchback 1.8 Plug-In 5dr TBA
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.8 VVT-i T3 5dr £21,600
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.8 VVT-i T4 5dr £23,355
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5
Hatchback 1.8 VVT-i T Spirit 5dr £24,910
What Car? says:3 stars out of 5

Buyer's notes

Target Price team says:

Whichever Toyota Prius you choose, you get the same engine – a 98bhp 1.8-litre petrol that's linked to a CVT gearbox and backed up by an electric motor. That doesn't mean all models give you the same CO2 emissions and fuel economy, though.

The entry-level T3 comes on 15-inch alloys, and so returns 72.4mpg and emits 89g/km of CO2. The T4 and T Spirit trims come with 17-inch alloys, and that's why they do slightly worse at 70.6mpg and 92g/km, respectively.

That's one reason why the T3 is the one to go for – the other is that it's much cheaper than the others, and still comes with all the kit you need.

Alternatively, if you do lots of short journeys, you might want to consider the Plug-in version. It’s significantly more expensive, but sits in a lower tax band, returns 134.5mpg on the combined cycle and can run for over 15 miles on electric-only power.

Across the range, you'll get a warranty that covers the car for an impressive five years/100,000 miles.

Reader test team says:

Toyota Prius Hatchback 1.8 VVT-i T Spirit 5dr

I did about 5000 miles this year and have mixed feelings. The dealer was nice but reluctant to give discounts, so the extras like the leather seats,…

Dmitri Rezaev

4 out of 5 stars

Toyota Prius Hatchback 1.8 VVT-i T3 5dr

After many years of owning large, cosseting, Volvos I finally bit the ‘sustainability’ bullet and purchased a 3rd generation Prius T Spirit. Quite…

Kim Slowe

4 out of 5 stars
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