What does it cost?
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.
What Car? says
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
There are 4 Toyota Prius versions available
Buyer's notes
Target Price team says:
Whichever Toyota Prius you choose, you get 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.
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Our pick of the range
Toyota Prius Hatchback 1.8 VVT-i T3 5dr
The cheapest Prius is also the greenest Prius, and surely that's the point, isn't it? It still comes with all the kit you really need, so this is our favourite version of the car.
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