Road test: Toyota Prius Business Edition

Toyota’s Prius hybrid gets a welcome reboot, says Mike Stone

Better balance: the new Toyota Prius is more fuel-efficient and less polluting

29 April 2016

About 20 years ago, Toyota sparked a small revolution when it introduced the first mass-produced hybrid car, powered by a petrol engine and an electric motor.

The Toyota Prius went on to find 3.6 million buyers and spawned a generation of other hybrids.

The first three versions were clever, reliable and successful, but as a driving experience, it was about as much fun as a trip to the dentist. Its engine screamed when asked for acceleration and the car felt obstructive much of the time.

A new decent-to-drive version was needed, which brings us to the new fourth generation car, which feels a great deal better. Even more fuel-efficient and less polluting, the new Prius sits lower and feels better balanced. The new 1.8-litre petrol engine still wails under acceleration, but these days you don’t need ear protectors.

Styling is brave — it is a bit fussy at the back, with a spoiler across the rear window which hinders your vision. The well-built cabin is spoilt by white plastic trim on the steering wheel and centre console which looks like something out of a bathrooms catalogue. There is plenty of room in the front, but the swooping roofline hinders rear headroom. The boot is even more vast than before, thanks to a smaller but more efficient electric motor beneath the rear seats.

At the car’s launch in Valencia, a complicated place to drive, the sat-nav fell woefully short, constantly failing to re-plan our route when we ignored its orders to enter non-existent streets. Toyota bosses seem determined to address this before the cars reach customers.

Priced between £23,295 and £27,450, the new Prius is a vast improvement on the last car. But there’s still room for improvement.

Toyota Prius Business Edition

Top speed: 112mph
CO2: 70g or 76g/km (depending on wheel size)
Combined MPG: 94.1
Price: £24,195

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