Autocar Prius + First Drive

[CO2SLAVE]

For those of you with an interest in the New Prius+ Autocar have just had their first drive

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Toyota-Prius+-1.8-hybrid/260407/

I wouldn't mind some of those Lithium-ion batteries in my Auris HSD!

[Grumpy Cabbie]

And they've managed to squeeze it in the sub 100g/km bracket which will mean access to London CGZ as well as free road tax.

The price at £25,000 is about what we all expected and is competitive. I think they might be onto a winner.

[dervdave]

For those of you with an interest in the New Prius+ Autocar have just had their first drive

http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Toyota-Prius+-1.8-hybrid/260407/

I was looking to possibly get one but I`m getting an easy average of 47mpg out of the Verso

`Toyota can expect success with its Prius+, mostly because few rivals can match its 50mpg-plus`

[ph47mf]

i really like it, this or the prius gen 4 could be my next step up.

[Flaninacupboard]

Once Dad gets a taste of EV mode he will want more.....

Sounds good to me!

[Chris Dance]

I also think this will sell well. Would you consider one as your taxi GC?

[Glyyde]

25k..... priced around the top spec of verso.... very tempting..... And its coming out when my Gen 3 is about 3 years old

[Grumpy Cabbie]

I also think this will sell well. Would you consider one as your taxi GC?

It's a good car, but as a taxi it is getting into silly money. Sure you make big savings on fuel and have the Prius comfort etc but £26k is lot of money for what is an estate car. The 2 extra seats are just childrens seats and if so won't be licenced as seats in my area. I'd only be able to carry 4 passengers plus lots of luggage, but then luggage capacity is only any good when you're doing airport runs and those are usually down the motorway at 70mph where a much cheaper diesel estate would do well.

It might work as a cab second hand at 3 years old but I feel that values will remain high due to demand. Personally I'm tempted for the PHEV but only IF they sell it at a realistic price. £31,000 is not realistic. I'm beginning to worry that Toyota are taking their hybrid customers for granted. Sure you get mad mpg's but with the costs creeping ever upwards against the gaining competition, hybrids are slowly pricing themselves out. You only have to see how the cost of the Prius has accelerated by £3,000 in 2 years whereas the Avensis/Mondeo's hasn't.

I'm also not jumping for joy with the reliability of the Prius either - sure it's not broken down but it's had its fare share of niggles, and that's before the wrong oil shenanigans. Looking back I don't think I had this much hassle with the Peugeot I had before - and that's saying something!!!

The Prius appeals to the 'inner geek' but the 'inner accountant' is beginning to put his foot down and say get a 6 month old Mondeo for £12,000 and make do with 35 mpg. What I pay in fuel I save in purchase price and no nonsense about wrong oil, numerous rattles, saggy seats and dreadfully expensive steering columns - the car is on its THIRD, thankfully all under warranty!!! (cost £1300+vat+fitting).

You did ask!?! lol

[duncerduncs]

Toyota will need to price it carefully, as looking at it's dimensions, the Prius+ is slightly smaller than the Verso!

A 2.0 diesel T Spirit Verso with leather seats (which is standard on the 'high spec' Prius+) is £26,285. Toyota will probably get away with £25k for 'mid spec' and £27K for 'high spec'.

Saying all that, I'll still probably buy one!

[johalareewi]

A 2.0 diesel T Spirit Verso with leather seats (which is standard on the 'high spec' Prius+) is £26,285.

But is not London congestion charge exempt and is not road tax band A.

Also the automatic version is £28,030.00

[daveybee]

Looks good, and now I've caught the Hybrid bug with our HSD - funds allowing when the time comes, I could well be tempted!

[ol'git]

I'm hoping that the top spec with all the 'bells 'n' whistles' comes in at 28k or less, at a push, the max I will go to is 30k, and for that amount, there's got to be everything included.

[AlexanderC]

Having a Toyota Prius hybrid is great! It is not just for eco-friendly hipsters any more. In fact, there is a healthy history of Prius racing. Events like the 2011 Prius Cup are just one reminder that there are Toyota Prius race cars out there. Even hypermilers need to push the throttle once in a while. This means that not only Porsche can have a hybrid on the race track! Really awesome! Resource for this article: Toyota Prius Cup moving hybrids into the sports car realm

[r04drunner1]

Resource for this article: Toyota Prius Cup moving hybrids into the sports car realm

LOL if you read the article it talks about this being a MPG challenge not an out and out performance race.

But the comment about Toyota running a hybrid in the 2012 Le Mans is interesting