New Prius at old price

Toyotas new Prius hybrid will start from the same price as the outgoing model when it reaches showrooms in August.

The entry-level T3 model costs 18,370, while the range-topping T Spirit is priced at 21,210, which is also the same as before. Only the mid-spec T4 has an 835 price rise, climbing to 19,990.

Buyers of the new model will get more kit for their money. T3 cars gain a new head-up display, Toyotas Touch Tracer multi-function control on the steering wheel, a drivers knee airbag, heated door mirrors and front fog amps.

T4 versions get 17-inch alloys, Bluetooth, an eight-speaker stereo and rain-sensing wipers. T Spirit gains a hard-drive satellite-navigation and music library, plus improved rear parking sensors with a rear-view camera.

The new cars fuel economy is much better than the old cars, improving 10% to 72.4mpg. Carbon dioxide emissions of just 89g/km are among the lowest of any car on sale. That means owners will pay no road tax, and puts the car in the 10% bracket for company car tax.