I drove the 2024 Toyota Prius - here’s why I’d actually consider buying this one

Questionable street cred aside, the Prius has been an enormous commercial success with over five million cars sold globally. Despite that, when the latest version of the car was revealed in 2022, Toyota indicated the vehicle wouldn’t be available in the UK market, citing weak sales and a shift toward SUV-style models.

But now, five generations in, the 2024 Prius has finally reached our shores and has regained some of its Je ne sais quoi. Aesthetically the car has had a serious glow-up. In the Hybrid market, just like the all-electric segment, aerodynamics are king and the new sleeker Prius has a drag coefficient of 0.27. This is actually a higher number than the outgoing model but, overall, the wedge-shaped 2024 model is more aerodynamic.

The interior might lack some of the drama of the coupe-style bodywork, but it’s ergonomically spot on, with a balance of touch-screen and physical controls, good choice of materials and Toyota’s characteristic solid build quality. The view from the cabin is excellent and everything feels spacious front and back in terms of legroom. Headroom for rear pasengers is, on the other hand, compromised slightly by the new, sloping, roofline.

The cabin, on the whole, like the exterior is a big leap forward compared with the outgoing model, if a little drab. Graphics on the 12.3-inch touchscreen display are sharp and the system is responsive to use. Like the rest of the interior it’s a major improvement on the previous technology.

The boot, once a big selling point of the Prius compared with competitors, is considerably smaller than the last car at just 284 litres. It’s still competitive for the segment, but it may drive some of the aforementioned private hire market toward models like the Corolla estate instead.

EV range and efficiency

We like big boots and we cannot lie, but the chief selling point of the Prius has always been fuel efficiency and low emissions. The fifth generation model is a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV), with a 13.6kWh battery enabling up to 53 miles of all-electric driving, after which the car reverts to a self-charging hybrid drive mode.

Were I reviewing the Prius a year ago, this would have placed the car best in class, but the latest Volkswagen Golf GTE sports a 19kWh battery and a claimed ev-only range of up to 62 miles.The latest Prius achieves its best-ever combined WLTP Co2 emissions figure of 12g/km. Using WLTP rules the fuel consumption figure is between 403 and 565mpg.

Driving the Prius - performance, ride and handling

It’s also fast. The 2.0-litre engine develops 150bhp and, combined output with the 161bhp motor is 220bhp. That might sound wrong, but it’s because the engine and motor don’t produce maximum power concurrently.

Funky maths aside, the engine and electric motor combined are enough to propel the Prius to a very respectable nought to 62mph time of 6.8 seconds.

In most urban situations it’s smooth and refined as you cruise around in EV mode - assuming you are in a position to charge the battery at home or on a public charger. Put your foot down and the engine kicks in to provide extra power and you’ll experience the first bit of noise from the 2.0-litre engine hiding under the nose.

It’s generally a smooth transition and Toyota’s electronic continuously variable transmission (E-CVT) is a terrific example of the breed with proven reliability.

With power available when you need it, a low centre of gravity and sharp steering, the Prius is verging on the sporty. During our test route through Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park it was thoroughly enjoyable at speed, with great control in the corners and smooth driving on more sedate stretches.

Verdict - should the Prius be on your list for a test drive?

There’s so much to like about the Prius-plug-in, appealing looks, strong performance, decent EV-only driving range and fuel efficiency that will save you money in the long-term without compromising long-range driving.

Our Excel trim test car skirted dangerously close to the luxury car tax threshold of £40,000, so buyers will need to take care when adding on optional extras to avoid a penalty. That threshold is a danger point for a significant proportion of the electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle market however.

For eco-conscious buyers not quite ready to take the plunge into all-electric motoring the Prius should be one of the cars at the top of your test drive list. And for the non eco-conscious? Honestly, it’s worth a test drive too.