The Toyota Prius name seems to have been around since the invention of the wheel and has been a hugely popular car since its introduction in 1997 selling more than five million models globally.
It offered a whole lot of car with economical running costs and technology that was ahead of its time, all packaged neatly in a car that was also competitively priced. So, it was always destined to be a success, especially as it was the first mass-produced electrified vehicle – ever.
However, the bubble started to burst or at least deflate and, with Prius sales in the UK dwindling to just 563 units in 2021 and many Toyota customers switching to the ever-growing alternative hybrid models, such as the RAV4, Yaris and C-HR, bosses here took the brave decision to discontinue selling the model that had graced our roads for more than two decades.
So, when the fifth generation Prius went on sale in Europe in 2022, there were no plans for it to appear in UK showrooms.
Fast forward to 2024 and following feedback from existing customers who aired their disappointment about the lack of a UK Prius, the company has backtracked and made a complete U-turn.
The result being the all-new fifth-generation Prius is available to order now and will be appearing in showrooms very soon for customer demonstrations, with deliveries expected towards the end of the year.
It is only available here in the UK and in Europe with plug-in hybrid technology, but there’s no denying this car is all-new, including a dynamic, powerful look guaranteed to turn heads. Previous generations may have been a little bit ‘beige’ but this model certainly puts the colour back into driving.
Customers can choose between two trims called Design and Excel which cost £37,315 and £39,995 respectively. Both are powered by a 2.0-litre plug-in hybrid system that benefits from the fifth generation of Toyota’s hybrid technology. With 220bhp on tap, which is a significant increase on the 121bhp on the fourth-gen car, new Prius can complete the 0-62mph dash in just 6.8 seconds and tops out at 109mph.
The 13.6kWh battery allows the Prius to be driven in EV-only mode for about 53 miles and it boasts the lowest ever carbon emissions figure for a Prius at 12g/km. The combined fuel figure is yet to be announced.
We tested the range-topping Prius Excel and it lived up to the big build-up. Firstly, the styling – its front end is steeply raked giving the car a dynamic appearance and there are smart light clusters, privacy glass, a gloss black surround on the grille and wheel arch mouldings, a powered tailgate and 19-inch alloys.
The interior is modern, clutter-free and feature-rich with powered seats that can be ventilated or heated and have memory settings, which is ideal if there is more than one driver.
The main focal point is a 12.3-inch infotainment screen with full smartphone connectivity, sat nav, DAB radio, a voice assistant activated by saying “Hey Toyota” and lots more besides.
Out on the open road, the front-wheel drive Prius is nicely balanced with plenty of power on tap for sharp bursts of pace to overtake. It has a lower centre of gravity than previous models thanks to the battery being positioned beneath the rear seats (without compromising passenger space) and it is really grippy when pushed on through tight bends. The cabin is well insulated against outside noise and there is all manner of ways to personalise your driving experience.
A ‘B’ setting will help recoup energy in busier stop, start traffic, while there are drive modes that alter the dynamics of the car. These are called Eco, Normal, Sport and Custom – the latter of which allows you to control settings for the steering, powertrain and even the air con. In addition, there are three levels of regenerative braking to choose from, although these are rather tucked away in drop-down menus accessed via steering wheel controls.
Comfort levels are exceptional and the driver also benefits from great all-round visibility which is a real plus-point on any family car. Charging is easy too with a zero to 100 per cent charge taking four hours via a 220v mains supply.
We were also given the opportunity to test drive a first-generation Prius that dated back to 2000 and oozed charm in its own individual way. The first thing you notice is the amount of light that floods into the cabin. The windows are all bigger with less tech and dashboard eating into the interior space.
This car, priced at £16,495 was driven by a four-cylinder, 1.5 litre petrol engine that delivered 58PS while the motor added 40PS for a combined 70PS. It could reach 62mph from a standing start in 13.4 seconds, maxed out at 99mph and could deliver a combined 57.6mpg with carbon emissions of 114g/km.
Despite being almost a quarter of a century in age, the original Prius was still packed with tech and featured a CD and cassette player (remember those?), plus air conditioning, mapping, powered door mirrors and lots of safety kit, including ABS brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, a crash resistant body structure and Isofix child seat restraints.
The other really surprising element whilst driving this older model was the CVT transmission. On more than one occasion, modern Toyota cars have screeched in protest at the slightest hint of throttle pressure and the acceleration needs to be gradually increased to avoid this. Yet here we have an early example of the CVT technology working at its very finest. Admittedly the power at your disposal is not massive, but this car is as smooth as they come without a hint of a tantrum.
The gear selector is a simple lever and all the temperature, radio and other functions are controlled via large physical dials and switches. No fancy drop down touchscreen menus here, simply a screen that shows the power output and a speedo positioned in the centre of the dashboard.
Driving-wise this Prius was easy to handle with its huge steering wheel and, we really liked its simplicity without being beeped at every two or three seconds.
When it comes to the dimensions of the old versus new Prius, it has certainly grown over the years. Generation One was 4,315mm long, 1,695mm wide, 1,475mm high with a wheelbase of 2,550 and boot capacity of 392 litres.
The current 2024 Prius is 4,599mm long, 1,782mm wide, 1,430mm in height with a 2,750mm wheelbase and boot capacity of 284 litres. It’s worth reminding ourselves that the original Prius was a four-door saloon, while the modern-day car is a five-door hatchback, so the boot can offer a far larger capacity with the rear seats folded flat.
All in all, it’s great news that Toyota listens to its loyal fanbase and has decided to sell the latest Prius here in the UK. The sales volume is not likely to be huge as there are so many alternative Toyota PHEV models these days, but it is nice to see the Prius as an option too.
And credit to Toyota for still coming up with great names for the colourings. Our first-gen car was supplied in a Caspian Blue shade, while the latest vehicle looked dazzling with its Lunar Shadow. Both of which are a dark shade of blue to you and me!
