Toyota Prius review – desirable and efficient, but lacks boot space

Verdict – is the Toyota Prius a good car?

The Toyota Prius is now a plug-in hybrid hatchback with a stylish new look, and that means it’s more desirable than ever. Forget its reputation as an Uber-driver favourite – it’s now a car aimed at private buyers and is much more fun to drive. The problem is, it’s not particularly practical, and a high entry-level price means some buyers will need convincing.

Toyota Prius models, specs and alternatives

The Toyota Prius was a car that was way ahead of its time when it first launched over 30 years ago. With many of the brand’s models now featuring hybrid technology, including the Corolla, C-HR and Yaris, Toyota chose not to bring the new Prius to the UK after the old model was discontinued a few years ago. Now, though, Toyota has taken a U-turn and decided to bring the latest fifth-generation model to the UK – this time solely as a plug-in hybrid.

Over the years, previous generations of the Toyota Prius became staples of Uber and taxi fleets thanks to their ability to return great fuel economy and low running costs. The Corolla and Corolla Touring Sports hybrid models have since replaced it in that role, and Toyota says it’s targeting private buyers with the latest Prius this time around. This time it costs from £37,000, which is around £5,000 more than the previous plug-in hybrid Prius.

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Right off the bat, the latest Prius makes a much better impression than previous iterations with a design we think will be more appealing to the average buyer. It features much less fussy styling than the version that came before it and is almost coupe-like in design. At the front the Prius gets C-shaped headlights that are in line with the styling of other models like the C-HR, while the rear end features a full-length light bar surrounded by black trim for an almost retro look. Overall the Prius’ design is swoopier and smoother than that of its angular predecessor.

The latest Prius is offered in just two trim levels; the entry-level model is called ‘Design’, while top-spec models are known as ‘Excel’ like many other model trims in the Toyota family. Toyota reckons the majority (around 70%) of sales will comprise the Design models.

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The latest Toyota Prius is offered as a plug-in hybrid only, rather than being a self-charging hybrid like the majority of its predecessors. That means it has a rather lofty mpg figure and will need to be periodically charged up, so is likely only to make sense if you have access to a home wallbox charger or another means of keeping it topped up.

The benefit to its plug-in hybrid system is that it can run on electricity alone for longer periods of time compared to a traditional hybrid. The official electric range in the Prius is up to 53 miles to a charge in Design specification, but the Excel models’ larger wheels reduce this to 44 miles.
 

How efficient is the Toyota Prius in the real world?

During our time with the Toyota Prius efficiency was actually better than its on-paper figures when we used it in electric-only mode. We were able to do 4.3 miles per kWh, which translates to an electric range of 58 miles. The Prius comes with a heat pump as standard, too, which helps condition the battery and keep it at optimal operating temperatures in colder weather conditions to help preserve range.

How much will the Toyota Prius cost in tax?

Because the Prius is a plug-in hybrid and can run on electric power more often, it has a low CO2 emissions figure of just 12g/km and therefore sits in a very low Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) band, making it a great choice as a company car. Its status as an alternative-fuel vehicle also means it qualifies for an annual VED (Road Tax) at the discounted rate of £180 per year at the time of writing. Design and Excel models both start from less than £40,000, too, meaning it won’t incur the luxury car tax surcharge from years two to six, but be aware that if you add any options to tip that price over the threshold, you’ll have to pay it.

What will the Toyota Prius cost to insure?

The Toyota Prius gets a surprisingly high insurance group rating of 31 out of 50. We suspect this could be due to its advanced hybrid system, relatively high power output and the fact that it’s a popular car for commuters in cities and urban environments, which can increase the likelihood of a crash.

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While fuel efficiency has always been the order of the day for the Toyota Prius, the brand has clearly tried to reinvent the model this time around to be a little more inspiring to drive than before. Language used in Toyota’s press material and by its representatives includes words like ‘agility’ and ‘responsiveness’ to describe the Prius, so these have been a focus for the model.

Once you sit in the driver’s seat of the Prius you’ll notice the small steering wheel and a small, futuristic driver’s display above it sitting close to the windscreen so as to make it easier to keep your eyes on the road. It’s almost reminiscent of Peugeot’s driver-focused i-Cockpit setup and gives the driving position a sporty feel.

Because of the focus on aerodynamics in the latest Prius, the driving position is set quite far back from the windscreen as a result of its sleek shape. The downside of the vast dashboard is that it creates some blind spots that become noticeable when pulling out of junctions or parking.

There are a variety of driving modes offered on the Prius which include Charge, EV, Hybrid, Eco and Power. They’re mostly self-explanatory, but the Charge mode allows you to top up the battery via the petrol engine if you so wish. EV mode – as you’d expect – forces the car to run on electricity alone, while Hybrid – you’ve guessed it – juggles between the electric motor and combustion engine as it sees fit. Eco mode will prioritise efficiency over performance, and Power mode unleashes the Prius’ full performance potential for optimal acceleration when you want it.

We’d say that Toyota’s been successful in its goal of making the Prius more fun to drive. The plug-in hybrid system is punchy and the Prius feels more than capable of dealing with that power – body lean is kept to a minimum through the corners and as a result it feels rewarding on twisty country roads.

In urban environments, where it’s expected the Prius will spend most of its time, there’s a surprising heaviness to the steering. While some might prefer it to be lighter given the amount of manoeuvring you have to do in town, we found it to feel weighted to our tastes, even if there’s not a whole lot of feedback through the steering wheel. Comfort is definitely a plus point, because even at low speeds the Prius soaks up potholes and road imperfections with ease.

While the Prius is fun to drive, it’s also very refined when you take it on the motorway. It’s very quiet thanks to its aerodynamic shape that keeps wind noise to a minimum. If you ask for extra shove and the combustion engine kicks in it does let out a gruff noise, but at a steady cruise this isn’t a problem. There’s a little road noise that gets into the cabin because of the Prius’ narrow eco-friendly tyres, too, but overall driving it is a serene experience.

The Prius feels comfortable to ride in while cruising along on the motorway, thanks to the supportive, yet supple seats.

Plug-in hybrid models

This time around there’s no self-charging version of the Toyota Prius – instead, the plug-in hybrid system is the only option, and uses a 150bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine combined with a 161bhp electric motor for a total output of 223bhp. Impressively that’s over 100bhp more than the previous PHEV version of the Prius. For context, a 223bhp figure puts the Prius in the same ballpark as hot hatchbacks in pure power terms. We think the transition between electric power and the combustion engine is very smooth.

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There’s been a big step up in quality for this generation of Toyota Prius and everything feels well nailed-down and solid. That said, there are still some cheaper, harder plastics used in certain areas, but the points you’ll touch most often are, at least, made of higher quality materials. One area in the old Prius that let down the interior quality was its gear selector – this time it’s a piece that you’ll also find in many premium Lexus models, which is finished in a leather-like material.

Is the Toyota Prius’ infotainment and sat-nav system easy to use?

The driver’s display is pushed very far forward to the base of the windscreen in the Prius which makes it easy to see over the small steering wheel and means it’s easy to keep your eyes on the road. We much prefer this setup to the comparable Peugeot i-Cockpit setup as it felt more ergonomic to use – we think most buyers will agree, whereas the i-Cockpit is more Marmite.

We love the Prius’ new 12.3-inch infotainment screen – it’s much more pleasing to use than the old model’s system, it’s responsive to your inputs, submenus are easy to navigate and the system feels quick to load. It’s not perfect though – we wish the on-screen buttons were a little bigger so they were easier to click on the move.

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Toyota says it has ‘listened to what customers want’ in terms of offering a balance of physical and virtual controls, and as a result the climate controls sit on the middle of the dash rather than being incorporated into the infotainment. They’re simple buttons, but that means they work perfectly and feel refreshing in a modern car.

While the Prius does get a reversing camera, it’s a shame there’s no option for a 360-degree camera because rearward visibility is poor.

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While the design focus on aerodynamics has led to great efficiency and sleek, low-slung styling for the latest Prius, the downside is that the low roofline comes at the expense of some practicality and interior space. It’s also longer than many competitors which could make it harder to park.

Up front there’s plenty of space for the driver and passenger in terms of elbow, leg and headroom, but in the rear the Prius falls short – that’s surprising considering how the old Prius was a favourite with taxi drivers. There’s not much headroom back there, so six-foot tall adults could find it claustrophobic, but there’s at least decent amount of legroom. A high window line means the Prius doesn’t feel particularly light and airy to sit in. Useful touches include ISOFIX points as standard in the rear, so buyers with young children can easily fit child seats.

Does the Toyota Prius have a big boot?

The Toyota Prius has a small 284-litre boot so you may need to reconsider if you’re a buyer looking for a car to regularly transport large items or luggage. Still, that’s a significantly larger boot capacity than the old plug-in hybrid Prius’ 191-litre figure. There’s no load lip at least, so if you need to lift heavy items into the boot it should be less challenging. The plug-in hybrid version of the Peugeot 308 boasts a more generous boot capacity of 361 litres.

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Toyota has long been known for producing reliable cars and the brand offers a competitive warranty to back that up; keep your Toyota serviced every 12-months or 10,000 miles by a main dealer and your warranty continues for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles. Safety is yet to be proven given the Prius still needs to be tested by Euro NCAP, but its list of safety tech is reassuring.

While the Prius itself is too new to have featured in the list of the top 50 models, Toyota came in an impressive eighth place out of 32 manufacturers in the latest 2024 Driver Power customer satisfaction survey. Buyers consider the brand’s cars good value for money, built to a high quality, good to drive and to have low running costs. Interior quality is less well-received, and Toyotas are not considered the most practical cars on the market. Just 18.1% of buyers reported an issue with their Toyota in the first year, which is much lower than average.

How safe is the Toyota Prius?

The Toyota Prius has yet to be tested by Euro NCAP, but whether you go for the Design or Excel specification, the list of safety kit is the same. This includes pre-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-change assist, lane-departure warning and proactive driving assist. The latter applies gentle braking and steering force into curves and when nearing pedestrians, cyclists and other road users to avoid collisions.

Should you buy a Toyota Prius?

The Toyota Prius is an improvement over its predecessor in terms of efficiency, quality and driver appeal, so it’s definitely worth your consideration if you’re in the market for a plug-in hybrid hatchback.

While beauty may be subjective, the Prius is also arguably more attractive to look at than any of its predecessors thanks to a rakish, coupe-like silhouette and clean design which adds to its appeal and makes it more desirable than ever.

While Toyota has openly mentioned the Prius is aimed more towards the average buyer than Uber or taxi drivers than before, its lack of practicality is still surprising. The aerodynamic design may be good to look at and result in efficiency gains, but headroom is tight for rear passengers and the boot is rather small.

What is the Carbuyer pick of the Toyota Prius range?

The Toyota Prius lineup is very simple given it has just the one powertrain option and two trim levels. It’s gone up in price, though, so we’d stick with the entry-level Design model because aside from the fancy leather seats in Excel, there’s not a great deal more thrown in that you necessarily need. It’s also worth considering the fact that the larger 19-inch alloy wheels on Excel cut the on-paper electric range by nine miles.

Toyota Prius alternatives

The Prius’ closest competitor, the Hyundai Ioniq, was discontinued a few years ago, but plenty of PHEV versions of well-known hatchbacks have cropped up in recent years which are definitely worth your consideration.

• Volkswagen Golf eHybrid
• SEAT Leon eHybrid
• Peugeot 308 plug-in hybrid
• Kia Niro PHEV

How we tested the Toyota Prius

We tested the Toyota Prius in September 2024 on UK roads in Excel trim.