Skip advert
Advertisement

Toyota Prius T Spirit 1.8 auto review

Can a hybrid hatchback still be fun to drive? We drive the Toyota Prius T Spirit

Evo rating
  • More involving than you might expect
  • Pricey, still not a keen drivers' car

What is it? The Toyota Prius, the most recognisable mainstream hybrid, whether you know your cars or not. We’ve driven it in top-spec T Spirit trim, which costs £23,895. Technical highlights? That petrol-electric hybrid drivetrain. It links a 98bhp 1.8-litre in-line four-cylinder petrol engine with a 80bhp electric motor, giving a maximum system output of 134bhp, transmitted to the front wheels via a CVT gearbox, a popular transmission on vehicles like this. Similar to Honda’s CR-Z, there are a number of dashboard displays to show how the car’s complexities are working (see image, right). A diagram of the car, with arrows between engine, battery and motor to show where your power is currently coming from, whether the battery is being charged and suchlike, is particularly interesting. There’s also a windscreen head-up display for your speed and any sat-nav instructions. What’s it like to drive? As you might expect, it’s not exactly our ‘Thrill of Driving’ cup of tea. The steering is light, the brake pedal feels artificial and tricky to modulate and the CVT gearbox, already far from ideal for keen drivers, lacks any manual control. But the Prius is better to drive than its most natural rival, the Honda Insight, by still offering some engagement: the body control is good, the turn-in pretty crisp and the ride very accomplished. It’s brisk enough to keep up with (and overtake) traffic, and is very refined when cruising, too, with noise, vibration and harshness all at a minimum. That dashboard display is a plus-point, too – by being so easy to see without distracting you from the road, it offers an extra level of involvement. Trying to use only the electric motor while in slow-moving traffic or adjusting your throttle use so that you can drive quickly while still topping up the battery become oddly rewarding challenges. How does it compare? Like we say, it’s a much more talented car than the Insight. But at £24K in this high-spec trim (the range kicks off at £20,695) it looks pricey, despite the premium feel of the interior and the cache the Prius badge seems to carry with some folk. Toyota claims around 70mpg combined, but a week of mixed, real-world driving saw us average around 50mpg. A good diesel hatchback is cheaper and easier to recommend: a VW Golf TDI Bluemotion is less powerful but feels as quick, and it costs over £5000 less, though you’ll spend some of that specifying options the Prius gets as standard. Like the Toyota, though, its sub-99g/km emissions make it road-tax-free. Anything else I need to know? If you must go down the hybrid hatchback route, Toyota itself provides perhaps the Prius’s sternest rival – an identically powered and equipped Auris Hybrid T Spirit costs £21,325. Though it lacks that all-important Prius badge…

Specifications

Engine1798cc, in-line 4-cyl, plus elec motor
Max power134bhp @ 5200rpm
Max torque105lb ft @ 4000rpm
0-6010.4sec (claimed 0-62)
Top speed112mph
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

More on Prius

2019 Toyota Prius review
Toyota Prius front
Reviews

2019 Toyota Prius review

The Toyota Prius has always made economical driving a game, and the latest version is improved in other areas, too
21 Nov 2018
Toyota Mirai fuel cell car: LA auto show news and pictures
Toyota Mirai fuel cell car
News

Toyota Mirai fuel cell car: LA auto show news and pictures

Toyota promises transportation of the future with its Mirai - a £37,000 fuel cell saloon
21 Nov 2014
Toyota Prius Nurburgring record
Toyota Prius sets Nurburgring economy record
News

Toyota Prius Nurburgring record

Toyota has been to the Nurburgring in the Prius plug-in hybrid, setting a lap record of sorts. Details and pictures here
16 Jul 2014
Skip advert
Advertisement
Toyota reveals 2013 Pikes Peak Challenger
Toyota reveals 2013 Pikes Peak Challenger
News

Toyota reveals 2013 Pikes Peak Challenger

Toyota’s EV P002 to defend 'Electric Vehicle' title in Colorado. New Pikes Peak category record also up for grabs.
19 Jun 2013
Toyota FT-86 gallery
Toyota FT-86 meets the family
News

Toyota FT-86 gallery

The Toyota FT-86 rear-drive sports car meets its Supra, Corolla and Celica family
8 Mar 2010
Prius is Green
Toyota Prius
News

Prius is Green

WhatGreenCar Car of the Year 2009 Awarded to ‘next generation’ Toyota Prius
30 Jun 2009
Toyota Prius
Spy shots

Toyota Prius

Here's a good look at the next-generation Toyota Prius
26 Aug 2008